(Photo: MGN)ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP)- The Maryland Senate has voted to keep one of the most controversial parts of a gun-control bill - a licensing provision for handguns that would require owners to submit fingerprints.
The Senate rejected an amendment on Wednesday that would have taken the licensing part out of the bill on a 20-27 vote.
Sen. Brian Frosh, D-Montgomery, says the provision will sharply reduce the number of guns that end up in the hands of criminals by making it far less likely for people to buy guns for them when they are prohibited from owning the weapons.
But Sen. E.J. Pipkin, R-Cecil, argued that the licensing part of the bill is "extremely onerous" to law-abiding citizens.
Senators are scheduled to reconvene at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday to consider more amendments to the bill.
