PRINCESS ANNE, Md.- Just one year after the Las Vegas mass shooting, the state of Maryland is getting serious when it comes to gun control. On Monday, three new laws went into effect in the state, aimed at reducing gun violence.
The first law is the "red flag law," which allows concerned family members and law enforcement to ask a judge to temporarily restrict firearm access to those who may be at risk to themselves or others.
The second law bans the sale and possession of bump stocks and other rapid fire accessories.
The third law requires convicted domestic abusers to give up their firearms.
It's been a deadly year for Maryland especially. In March, one student at Great Mills High School was shot by a classmate before the 17-year-old gunman turned the gun on himself.
In June, a gunman attacked the capital newspaper in Annapolis, killing five. And last month a Baltimore man open fired at a Florida video game tournament killing two and injuring 10.
Maryland lawmakers believe creating new gun-control laws could help prevent another tragedy like the aforementioned ones from happening again.
For some in Somerset County, hunting is a lifestyle. Jamie Wink, co-owner of Wink's Sporting Goods, relies on gun sales. While he doesn't think these laws will necessarily hurt his business, he's not sure the new laws will do much to help.
"There's a lot of laws on the books and if they would lock people up for the laws they've already broken, they wouldn't be able to do that," Wink said.
Others think these laws taking effect today are the first steps towards a safer future.
"I think that we do need better gun control and in certain areas I believe it's important for us to be able to own weapons if need be, but I believe there should be more regulation on them," Taylor Earley said.
Gov. Larry Hogan, who signed the laws that took effect on Monday, said he's been a strong supporter of tougher laws to keep guns out of the hands of the mentally ill and people with a criminal background.
