FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 25, 2017

Contact: Rabiah Burks
rburks@famm.org
202.822.6700

FAMM Testimony Urges Baltimore to Remove
Mandatory Minimum Sentence from Handgun Bill

 

WASHINGTON – FAMM President Kevin Ring submitted testimony today to the Baltimore City Council Judiciary and Legislative Investigations Committee in which he expressed opposition to the proposed one-year mandatory minimum jail sentence for illegal handgun possession (Proposed Ordinance 17-0111).

The testimony recounts the experiences of other states, such as Massachusetts and Michigan, which passed similar legislation in the 1970s and 1980s and found that mandatory minimum sentencing laws are ineffective, costly, and create significant negative unintended consequences. Like Baltimore, Detroit sought to curb gun-related crimes by imposing mandatory minimum sentences, but the laws did not reduce violence in the city.

FAMM acknowledges that Baltimore’s elected leaders are committed to reducing gun violence. We believe, however, that these leaders should resist the temptation to “just do something” and instead adopt policies that will actually help make Baltimore safer.

Read Kevin Ring’s testimony here.

 

FAMM, which celebrated its 25th anniversary last year, promotes commonsense sentencing and prison policies that increase public safety.

 

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