EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0351*
SENATE BILL 351
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CF 4lr1658
By: Senator Watson
Introduced and read first time: January 15, 2024
Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Criminal Law – First–Degree Assault – Assault With a Firearm 2
FOR the purpose of adding a certain intent requirement to the elements of the crime of 3
first–degree assault, with regard to committing an assault with a firearm; and 4
generally relating to first–degree assault. 5
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 6
Article – Criminal Law 7
Section 3–202 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 10
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 11
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 12
Article – Criminal Law 13
3–202. 14
(a) In this section, “strangling” means impeding the normal breathing or blood 15
circulation of another person by applying pressure to the other person’s throat or neck. 16
(b) (1) A person may not intentionally cause or attempt to cause serious 17
physical injury to another. 18
(2) A person may not INTENTIONALLY commit an assault with a firearm, 19
including: 20
(i) a handgun, antique firearm, rifle, shotgun, short–barreled 21
shotgun, or short–barreled rifle, as those terms are defined in § 4–201 of this article; 22 2 SENATE BILL 351
(ii) an assault pistol, as defined in § 4–301 of this article; 1
(iii) a machine gun, as defined in § 4–401 of this article; and 2
(iv) a regulated firearm, as defined in § 5–101 of the Public Safety 3
Article. 4
(3) A person may not commit an assault by intentionally strangling 5
another. 6
(c) A person who violates this section is guilty of the felony of assault in the first 7
degree and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 25 years. 8
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 9
October 1, 2024. 10