Judge: Baltimore Gun Registry Unconstitutional
BALTIMORE (AP) -- A Circuit Court judge has found Baltimore's 4-year-old gun registry law to be unconstitutional in a nonbinding opinion.
The Baltimore Sun reports that Judge Alfred Nance said the city police department had failed to establish clear regulations for the registry, and that the program was "unconstitutionally vague and overly broad."
The program requires those convicted of gun crimes to furnish addresses and other information to the city every six months for three years. Nance said a requirement that they provide "any other information" required by department rules seems to give police "limitless discretion."
Sheryl Goldstein of the mayor's Office on Criminal Justice said officials are pleased the opinion did not find the program conflicted with state laws. The city may appeal. The public defender's office brought the challenge.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
