Maryland: $10,000 per Handgun

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The measure's landslide passage in Maryland's state legislature belied its controversial nature. Last week, by a vote of 95 to 41 in the house and 35 to 10 in the senate, legislators gave their approval to the nation's first law that effectively bans the manufacture and sale of inexpensive short-barreled handguns, often called Saturday-night specials.

By 1990 a nine-member board made up of private citizens and representatives from law-enforcement agencies and gun-lobbying groups will prohibit weapons it deems illegitimate. Cheap guns will then command a high price: manufacturers and sellers of banned weapons will face fines up to $10,000 per pistol.