3996

VETOES

2—309 of the Courts Article sets forth the
county—by—county authorizations and requirements for
sheriffs and their deputies. Generally, the only
limitation on the number of deputies that a sheriff may
appoint is in the county budget. Under Section 49 of
Article 87, the sheriff may also appoint members of fire
companies, volunteer or paid, to be appointed deputy
sheriffs at fires and on the way to and from fires.
Although a sheriff may not appoint "Honorary" or
"special" deputies and clothe them with the power of a
deputy sheriff (37 OAG 321), House Bill 535 will allow
sheriffs to appoint part—time deputies who will be able
to wear and carry a handgun even while off—duty, so long
as they have completed certain firearms handling
requirements at the police training commission.

The protection which is afforded by the firearms
training requirements of the bill is hardly adequate in
light of the possible abuses by the appointing authority
and in light of the strict protections and safeguards of
the present law.

The present law restricts any law—enforcement
personnel to the active—duty wearing of a handgun. The
original purpose is obvious, and it is still valid today:
the law will not sanction the carrying of a handgun,
except when it is absolutely necessary.

The signing of House Bill 535 would be a step
backward. It would produce more guns on the streets, and
I cannot sign legislation which could liberalize the
carrying of handguns.

For these reasons, I have decided to veto House Bill
535.

Sincerely,

/s/ Marvin Mandel

Governor

House Bill No. 578 — Unemployment Insurance for
for State Employees

AN ACT concerning

Unemployment Insurance Law
FOR the purpose of increasing the coverage of the State