PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor

Ch. 571

defining certain terms; and generally relating to the use wearing of certain
bulletproof body armor in the commission of a crime of violence.

BY adding to

Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments

Section 27A to be under the new subheading "Bulletproof Body Armor"

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1992 Replacement Volume and 1995 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments

BULLETPROOF BODY ARMOR
27A.

(A)     (1) IN THIS SECTION THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS
INDICATED.

(2)     "AMMUNITION" MEANS ANY CARTRIDGE, SHELL, OR OTHER DEVICE
CONTAINING EXPLOSIVE OR INCENDIARY MATERIAL DESIGNED AND INTENDED
FOR USE IN A FIREARM.

(3)     "BULLETPROOF BODY ARMOR" MEANS ANY MATERIAL OR OBJECT
THAT IS DESIGNED TO COVER OR BE WORN ON ANY PART OF THE BODY TO
PREVENT, DEFLECT, OR SLOW DOWN THE PENETRATION OF AMMUNITION.

(4)     "CRIME OF VIOLENCE" HAS THE MEANING STATED IN § 643B(A) OF
THIS ARTICLE.

(5)     "FIREARM" INCLUDES:

(I) A HANDGUN, ANTIQUE FIREARM, RIFLE, SHOTGUN,
SHORT-BARRELED SHOTGUN, OR SHORT-BARRELED RIFLE, AS DEFINED IN § 36F OF
THIS ARTICLE;

(II) A MACHINE GUN, AS DEFINED IN § 372 OF THIS ARTICLE;

(III) A PISTOL, REVOLVER, OR ANTIQUE PISTOL OR REVOLVER, AS
DEFINED IN § 441 OF THIS ARTICLE;

(IV) AN ASSAULT PISTOL, AS DEFINED IN § 36H-1 OF THIS ARTICLE;
AND

(V) AN ASSAULT WEAPON, AS DEFINED IN § 481E OF THIS ARTICLE.

(B)     ANY PERSON WHO USES WEARS BULLETPROOF BODY ARMOR IN THE
COMMISSION OF A CRIME OF VIOLENCE IS GUILTY OF A SEPARATE MISDEMEANOR
AND ON CONVICTION, IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER SENTENCE IMPOSED BY VIRTUE
OF COMMISSION OF THE CRIME OF VIOLENCE, IS SUBJECT TO A FINE Oft

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