Baltimore, MD – Feb. 15, 2023 – Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates is urging lawmakers in Annapolis to pass tougher gun laws, specifically House Bill 0481, which would increase the maximum penalty from three to five years for repeat offenders carrying an illegal gun, reports WBAL. Bates said that while this bill won’t entirely solve the problem, it’s one more tactic to address it. He believes that when individuals know there is a harsher penalty for carrying illegal handguns, some will think twice. If passed, the bill will go into effect in October.