It's election time in MD - what are we doing?

[Norton]

I posted this on a couple of MD specific boards, but am putting it here as well since we get so much traffic.



I'm very discouraged and pessimistic about our upcoming elections.

Every year, Garagiola or Quinter or one of their clones submits some asinine bill that would essentially crush the 2nd amendment in this state and we all get our panties in a bunch and engage in a flurry of posts here and other boards complaining and asking "what can we do?".

We dutifully go to Annapolis and suffer through 2 or more days of abuse in those hearings listening to the antis lies and then we watch as the legislators walk out when it's our turn to testify.

We breathe a sigh of relief when the bad bills fail to get out of committee and vow that we will "do something" to stop the antis in the future.

We've been living on borrowed time with the largess of a Republican Governor who stands as the ultimate safety check by wielding a veto to any bill that comes to his desk which explains why confirmed gun grabbers like Vallario and Frosh have not pushed any bills from their committees. They don't do this because they are having a change of heart, they do this because they are simply biding their time to strike when the political situation is more friendly to them.

Primary elections are only a little over two weeks away and there is absolutely no "buzz" or discussion happening anywhere within the gun community. We are too involved with "look at what I bought", "what should I buy?", etc rather than focusing on the reality that all it will take is a swipe of Governor O'Malley's pen to wipe out the gun community in this state.....forever.

You may say, "I'm moving to Virginia (or any other currently gun friendly state)", but that is a temporary solution to a permanent problem. The fact is that without a fight in states like MD, NJ, CA, IL all other states will eventually follow the same path. I want out of this state too, but I am going to fight here so that when I move back to the United States I won't have to.

Have you contributed to a pro-gun candidate, particularly in counties like AA or Howard where there are hotly contested seats?

Have you gone to a public forum and mingled with candidates to express your desire to see more gun friendly measures enacted?

Have you gone door knocking or sign waving to support a pro-gun candidate?

If we are not involved between now and the primaries and general elections, we deserve what we get.

Please go to Dr. Phil Lee's excellent reference at www.mcrkba.org/DelContest06.html and look up the folks running in your district. Secondly, scroll through the entire list and take a look at all of the names in red. That denotes those that took the time to answer the survey or have a track record that proves them to be anti gun.

Is that the kind of General Assembly you want with Martin O'Malley in office?

 

[JBP]

I'm in the 11th district where there is never a pro-RKBA candidate. At least Hollinger will be out of state government and hopefully she won't win the House seat that Ben Cardin vacated to run for senator but she has a strong following. It would be nice to get rid of Bobby Zirkin, whose running to replace Hollinger, but he is the only one with any name recognition (and gives away an awful lot of T-shirts).

 

[Norton]

Not every district is going to provide the wealth (if any) of choices that Districts 30 and 31 provide. We're very fortunate in AA county to have too many good candidates to choose from to the point of where we're having difficulty deciding who we're going to get behind. Good problem to have.....

 

[Spot77]

Thinking that your district is a wash is even more reason to get involved. So what if your officials and candidates are anti-gun? They might never change, but you can be sure that if you're in their faces and causing turmoil for them, they'll back off a bit just to keep you away. If you can at least harrass them into being complacent instead of aggressively hyping their anti-gun bs, then that's a great step forward too.....even if they are still in office.


So I got a little creative. I've taken on the position as a campaign manager for a local Democrat who is running for county council. I've groomed him to be pro gun; if he makes it to higher office some day, I can proudly say that I've cultivated a vote in our favor FROM SCRATCH.

I've put in almost a dozen hours working to get Delegate Don Dwyer re-elected.


I sent money to 4, maybe 5 pro gun incumbents and candidates.

I attended the long and dreadful candidates' night at our local community association. Showing up with pro gun hats and shirts lets our opponents know that we're out there.

I've sent countless emails to candidates to find out their positions and yelled from the rooftops as to which ones would sell us up the river in a heartbeat.

But Norton is right. The lack of chatter and enthusiasm is disappointing.

 

[bbrins]

Sue Kullen (D) from Calvert County, according to that survey is on our side, but her Republican opponent, David Hale has not responded yet. I will see if I can track him down at Bayfest in North Beach tomorrow and get some sort of an idea where he stands, if not I will pester him with emails.

I did not realize that Ms. Kullen was pro-gun(not much of a voting record), and if I can't get any answers out of David Hale then I guess I will be voting for a Democrat.

As far as the state senate goes, Ron Miller (R) looks a damn sight better than Mike Miller.

I'm a bit too shy to go door to door or wave a sign, but if finances allow, I can send a few bucks to a few candidates and inform friends & family.

This is in District 27B.

Norton, thanks for lighting the fire. I have been getting a bit lazy with politics lately.

 

[Norton]

Good job tracking Hale down and finding out his position is on the issue. You may want to go back over to Phil's site and write down the questions so that you can get a quasi-response to the survey. Hale's failure to respond may not be a sign of weakness WRT 2nd amendment issues, but rather that he responded to the AGC survey or hasn't gotten to Phil's yet.

Keep us posted on what you find out.

 

[chaim]

Some money has gone/will go out to pro-2A candidates. On elections day (both primary and general) I'll be out at the polls passing out literature (I haven't decided for whom yet). I have managed (I think) to talk my mother into voting against Quinter in the Democratic primary. She didn't mind him, and he is the incumbent (so presumably his senority will give him more influence), she is pro-gun control, etc. Well, I just pointed out how extreme his versions of gun-control are, that he has upset several Dem leaders with his constant pushing of it, and that if he had his way and some of his bills passed I'd be a felon for owning what I own ("you don't think I'm a dangerous person do you mom, you realize that his bills would have made me a felon just for owning some of the property that I own"). I'm still working on my father, but he is probably more radically anti-2A than Quinter, and my brother will be some work since I have no credibility with him on guns since he thinks I'm a "one issue voter" (far from it, but that is his impression of me and somehow that means anything I say on the issue is tainted). I can't vote against Quinter myself in the primaries (and hopefully at all) since I'm now registered as a Republican.

I'm in the 11th district where there is never a pro-RKBA candidate

I feel your pain, I'm in the 13th. We have Quinter, all the Dems are anti-gun, and at least one of the Republicans is on record saying the 2nd Amendment guarantees the right of the National Guard to be armed.

This is all the more reason to get involved. Let them know there are some of us out there. Instead of working to get the someone elected, work to get the current Rep out of office (even though that means supporting another anti-gun candidate). Don't forget that there is a lot more power in the hands of an experienced legislator than a rookie- senority means a lot in legislative bodies. Keep a junior and not a senior anti-gun person in there, they'll get less done. Even more, if you (with others) can be a help in getting anti-gun people defeated because they are anti-gun maybe someone will take notice and you'll start to get pro-gun options.

 

[Norton]

Instead of working to get the someone elected, work to get the current Rep out of office

Exactly why I've never given up my registration as a Dem. I can cast a vote for the challenger in the primary in the hopes of upsetting the apple cart a bit. Our Republicans in this district are all solid and I can live with any of them making it to the general election so I figure I can do more good by working at hammering the Dems.

 

[Helmetcase]

If you're smart, you'll register as a Dem here in MD. Even if you're a Republican.

That way, you can vote against anti-gunners in the primaries (often the only votes that really matter here in MD) and still vote Repub in the general if you have a candidate worth supporting.

Example: Senator Giannetti, one of the main reasons we've ducked an AWB the last few years, is in a tough primary. He's the incumbent, but Rosapepe has lots of money so it's a tough fight to protect his seat. If you're a pro-gunner, you could have been a registered D in his district and voted to support him. Oh well...that's an after thought. In any event...

I've been working for Giannetti's campaign. Making signs on the weekend, attending mixer functions and fundraisers acting as a show of support, going door knocking in his district (which is a haul for me, I'm in Baltimore, he's PG and western AA county).

I've also prepared a list of anti-AWB talking points or rebuttals for the Delegates on his slate to use if some Rosapepe idiot tries to corner them on that point.

 

[Spot77]

Also, if you send money to a candidate, be sure to send a short note explaining that the money you're sending him/her is due to their strong support of the second amendment, or gun owners' rights....or however you want to phrase it.

But know that you'll get more bang for your buck if they know exactly why you're sending them money.

 

[Helmetcase]

Heh, I think Giannetti knows why I'm around.

Actually, we were joking the other day as we door knocked, but I did tell him I was thinking of running for City Council in Baltimore next year.

He said "you'll have to change your affiliation."

I said, "Whattya mean Senator?"

"You'll never win in Baltimore with an "R" next to your name."

"Uh...I'm not a Republican. What part of Pro Gun Progressive didn't you catch?!?"

"You're not? Oh...heh."

All this time he thought I was a Republican oddball helping him merely because he's pro-2A. Funny. Since most of the gun rights types are Repubs, I guess it was a reasonable assumption.

In any event, he said he'd support my candidacy for City Council next year. He's eyeing a run for Governor in 2010 or beyond, and I'm sure having a friend on the city council for the biggest city in the state wouldn't hurt.

There are many ways to support the RKBA. As Ed Patrick pointed out, one way is to support RKBA candidates. Perhaps another is to BE an RKBA candidate.

 

[chaim]

Exactly why I've never given up my registration as a Dem. I can cast a vote for the challenger in the primary in the hopes of upsetting the apple cart a bit

I'm actually thinking about changing back myself and that is one of the two (main) reasons (it would be nice to vote against anti-gun Dems and when it is an option vote for pro-gun Dems). The other reason, I'm probably moving to Baltimore City (the Upper Park Heights/Greenspring/Pikesville area where most of MD's Orthodox Jews live) and I want some say in the primaries since those are the only elections that count in Balt City (no one with anything other than a "D" next to their name will be elected for just about anything) and I want to run for local and maybe statewide office someday, maybe starting as soon as the next few years. Also there is a minor reason to consider it- it would help if I do run for something someday as I used to be very involved in Democratic politics and am known by some of the people who matter in the state Dem Party, I have only been a Republican for about 2 years and I haven't had a chance to get very active yet (a drawback of working in a hospital- odd hours) so no one really knows me there.

 

[zoom6zoom]

That's what I like about the Virginia system. You don't have to register as a member of any particular party, and can vote in either primary. As has been said, it's often the best tactic, and I make it a practice.

 

[headshot]

The Maryland state constitution says:

Art. 28. That a well regulated militia is the proper and natural de-
fence of a free Government.

Art. 29. That Standing Armies are dangerous to liberty, and ought not
to be raised, or kept up, without the consent of the Legis-
lature.

Many Antis cite the 1939 Miller about militia being the National Guard, although it ruled the National Guard as part of the Standing Army.
They(antis) also disregard the Militia Act of 1792.

 

[longeyes]

So you want to disarm in Maryland?

Maybe you need to talk up stuff like the following to see what your future holds:

Illegal Alien Gang MS-13 Uses Gang Rape Initiation
Posted on Sunday, February 13 @ 15:19:50 UTC
Topic: Illegal Immigrant Gangs Terrorists Illegal Immigrant Gangs TerroristsGang violence erupts in Wheaton 2/13/2005
By Ryan Gallagher
Staff Writer The Sentinel
Topics: Gangs, crime, aliens, security, terrorism, illegal immgration, drugs Despite a steady decrease in gang violence during the past year, Vatos Locos and Mara Salvatrucha members were arrested Friday night in Wheaton Plaza after the two gangs severely damaged each other's cars with machetes, baseball bats and pipes.

Read the latest headlines about illegal immigration. Wheaton Plaza is a known gathering place for gang members and the two groups created tension after members flashed gang symbols and gestures to opposing members. The situation escalated when they began destroying each other's cars. Police arrived on the scene before any fights broke out and apprehended 12 members arresting seven on weapons and vandalism charges. This is but the latest incident in Montgomery County. On January 15 a 19-year-old man was shot in the shoulder by a Hispanic man who reportedly represented a local El Salvadoran gang. The victim was treated for non-life threatening injuries. Doug Steele, the chief of security for four clusters of the public school system told members of the Shady Grove Middle School PTA Tuesday night that gang related violence has not been a major problem in the school system. "There was a problem in the Gaithersburg High School cluster, but they got on top of that last year." Steele says, however, there has been an increase in the number of school children found with knives on them. "They're saying that they are carrying knives to protect themselves. That's a cause for concern," he said. Montgomery County Gang task force Officer Robert Musser said this incident is likely to spark an increase in gang activity during the coming months. Musser began his police career 17 years ago as an Ocean City summer officer. After this brief introduction in the line of duty, Musser joined the Montgomery Police force until he became part of Montgomery's gang task force upon its formation last April. The task force is composed of six county police officers, a park officer, a sheriff and a corporal. Musser joined the Montgomery County gang task force in April in an attempt to decrease gang activity around Montgomery. Police say there are approximately 560 active gang members in Montgomery, 200 of which are members of the county's most notorious gang called Mara Salvatrucha. That gang is commonly referred to as MS or M-13. According to police there are 5000 MS members in Virginia and 800 in Washington D.C. "MS is the biggest gang in the area. If there was no MS there wouldn't be a gang problem in Montgomery," said Musser. MS's origins can be traced back to El Salvador during that country's Civil War in the 1980s. Approximately one million refugees fled from the country relocating to southern California and Washington, D.C. After settling in Los Angeles, many El Salvadorans found themselves targets for various Hispanic gang attacks. To prevent further abuse, many of these immigrants used their connections to El Salvador's La Mara street gang and paramilitary groups fighting the civil war to assemble their own gang called Mara Salvatrucha . MS quickly established a prominent reputation in L.A. as being a violent Central American gang. This spurred further development of chapters all over the country. MS now reportedly has members in every state except Hawaii. Though Montgomery County is host to numerous gangs, Musser said that Friday night's incident was one of the first reported between rival gangs in nearly a year. MS is a rival to another California bred gang called 18th Street. Musser said MS, 18th Street, Vatos Locos and Street Thug Criminals are the most prominent gangs in the county that have fought one another. MS actively recruits teens around Montgomery. "It's cultural, as long as you're a teenager and El Salvadoran, they'll approach you," said Musser. The average age in MS is 16, but members range from 13-38 years-of-age. Steele told Shady Grove Middle School parents Tuesday night that one of the largest gang problems in the county is the problem of "wannabe" gang members. "Don't kid yourself, we have gangs in the county," Steele told parents. "We do have hard core members, but we also have a lot of kids who call themselves members who don't necessarily," lead the hard-core gang life, he said. According to police, initiation into MS is a 13 second beat down from five to six members at once. Musser said the initiation for women is submission to a gang rape. In previous years, girls were allowed membership into the gang by forming smaller cliques protected by the overarching MS name. Today, members of the gang unit say women are predominantly used as sexual objects and are not treated equal to male members in the gang. As a member of MS, one is required to attend a meeting and pay a $20 fee every other week. Police say meetings are held on Friday the 13th because the number holds historical significance to the gang. Since MS assembled in California, members were tied into the Mexican Mafia. The Mexican Mafia identifies the area they operate in as "13" in southern California. The number also holds significance because M is the 13th letter in the alphabet. Police say there are various ways to recognize gang members. The majority of gangs use hand gestures for recognition. The MS hand gesture positions one hand with the middle and ring finger tucked underneath their thumb while the index and pinkie finger point up in the air like the "devil horn" gesture. This form's the M. The member then cups both hands together forming two letter C's and places them together to form a two handed S. Police say gang members can be identified through clothing colors. MS members represent their gang with blue bandannas. Tattoos are another way to identify gangs. MS members tattoo the letters "MS" or "13" on their chest in gothic lettering. Gangs not only tattoo their emblem on their skin but they also display it through graffiti around the county's buildings and walls. Many tag artists sign their names and some even write out a roll call of all the names of everyone in their clique. All gang members have aliases used in these roll calls. Musser said the gang task force spends much of its time working the county trying to gather intelligence on gang activity. "To catch a crime in progress is like finding a needle in a haystack," said Musser. "We gather intelligence, so we're out here stopping as many people as we can, taking their pictures, learning their faces and names. If they're MS we want to know where they live, where they work, who they date. We want to know everything about everybody." The task force has compiled numerous photo books of composite pictures that the task force uses like old fashion mug shots. Despite recent activity, Musser said gangs in Montgomery are not as much of a lifestyle as they are in cities like L.A. Gangs provide a sense of belonging and protection but offer little financial gain for its members. Montgomery County gangs also differ in that they not overly territorial. Another distinguishing fact among Montgomery gangs is they are not life long commitments. In many cases, Musser said gang members can opt out of a gang once they decide to raise a family. According to the Musser, drugs that carry high penalties are not allowed in MS. He said gangs are becoming increasingly savvy to police work and recognize the risk of dealing with unknown clientele. Given the fact that many MS members are immigrants, they understand that selling such drugs can lead to deportation. Therefore, MS has a no tolerance policy on using or selling cocaine and crack-cocaine. Since MS is not active in selling drugs, much of their illegal activity involves person crimes such as robbery, rape, assault and sometimes murder. Musser said these crimes are committed in groups. The winter months of January, February and March are the highest reported time for gang activity. Musser attributes this increase to more bar fights as a result of members staying inside drinking more heavily. Many members frequent pool halls and small dive bars around Silver Spring, Wheaton, Gaithersburg and Rockville. Musser said gang members live together around these areas where there are dense housing districts.

 

[nico]

Helmetcase, I was planning on voting for Giannetti, but the following picture and caption on the front page of his site make me suspicious:

John and Mayor O'Malley are Ready to Rumble!

Since you mentioned you've had some 1 on 1 time with Giannetti, what exactly is his position on gun control. He's voted our way a couple times recently, but does he have the guts to oppose an AWB sponsored by his buddy, Gov. O'malley? Is he actually pro-gun, or is he just the least anti option?

 

[American By Blood]

...I'm probably moving to Baltimore City (the Upper Park Heights/Greenspring/Pikesville area where most of MD's Orthodox Jews live)...

Forgive me for being a little OT here, but are you aware of any community response to Mayor O'Malley's "blue light" cameras being installed on just about every block of the Park Heights Jewish corridor? Those rigs tend to be installed in rougher areas and were one to go up in my neighborhood I'd be mad as all get out. I'm especially curious to know if they were actually put there at the behest of the (largely older) community out of some sort of reason-trumping fear.

Actually, those cameras are very on-topic. One of the best reasons to vote against hizzona da mayuh is that he's stated he wants to line the entire DC to Baltimore corridor with the blasted things if he gets elected.

 

[Helmetcase]

Helmetcase, I was planning on voting for Giannetti, but the following picture and caption on the front page of his site make me suspicious:

Eh, don't let that get you too bent out of shape. He's in the party and has to show the party lords a certain amount of fealty because he's trying to keep his seat against a well monied challenger. What's he supposed to do, run screaming from Hizzoner when he offers a photo op? You can't snub the top dog in your state party; it's just a political reality. That said, you don't have to vote with him either.

John didn't support the AWB because even the tepid-on-gun-rights MDSP didn't support it, nor did the FOP. He didn't support the AWB because it would do nothing to stop crime or prevent criminals from behaving criminally, and would deprive law abiding citizens of the firearms they use lawfully on a regular basis for no good reason. He'd probably vote in favor of a properly worded CCW bill. He's not a firebreathing gun guy like me, but he's solidly in our camp. And after the **** he's taken from Sarah Brady herself, and after he's seen the way his opponent Rosapepe has tried to make gun control the central issue of the campaign and use it as a blunt tool to try to bludgeon him with, there ain't NO WAY he'll ever side with the gun controllers. The gun grabbers have shat all over John, and he knows it.

Is he the ideal RKBA candidate? No. But what good would it do to not vote for him? He took a stand against a bad bill that would have cost us our rights, and took a lot of heat from his own party to do it. He deserves to be reelected.

If you're a registered Dem in his district and you don't vote for him in the primary, you're simply helping the very, very anti-gun Rosapepe get elected, and he takes his marching orders from Sarah Brady herself (no exaggeration). His campaign lit has one of the top two or three talking points as "Standing up to the NRA".

The choice is clear. Vote for Giannetti or else.

 

[nico]

thanks for clearing that up. He pretty much had my vote anyway, I just wanted some more clarity on where he stands.

I'm not a registered Dem, but have thought about registering as one for most of the reasons mentioned in this thread.

 

[bbrins]

No luck finding David Hale at Bayfest today. He was there, but he was mingling with the crowd and I couldn't locate him. I will try email next.

 

[Helmetcase]

Unfortunately, it's too late to change your registration for this year's race. The only race that matters is the primary, the GOP hasn't nominated anyone, so whoever wins the Dem primary in the 21st District wins the state senate seat.

So you can't vote for him, but you can help make sure Rosapepe doesn't get elected. When it comes time to cast votes, politicians do remember who helped them keep their seats. Having another gun friendly person show up at campaign headquarters to help besides me would be great! Why not stop by campaign HQ and ask how you can help here in the final three weeks as the primary approaches? There's tons of work to be done...

 

[Norton]

Some excellent analysis from Dr. Phil Lee. I'm posting this in a couple of forums frequented by Marylanders in hopes of corraling some more people.

I'm putting my money where my mouth is this afternoon and going sign waving for a pro-gun Delegate.

Ask yourself: What have I done today to ensure my RKBA beyond the next two election cycles?

Maryland Senate Primary and General Election Races

Philip F. Lee, 7/28/06



Some pro-RKBA groups (the NRA for example) endorse pro-RKBA experienced office holders over challengers lacking a track record in office no matter the quality of the challenger. They do so, without exactly saying they do, for the basic reason that the incumbent has some seniority, has worked with our side before, has given our cause support and stuck their neck out in many cases to do so. The challenger, on the other hand, is really unknown. Politicians can say anything (and frequently do). So, it is possible that even though the challenger talks a great game, his play may not be on the team he claims to support.



There is something to the sentiments of supporting a good incumbent and I advise careful consideration of the point. But, I don't think for you and am raising this point to explain some of the justifications that should be obvious, but sometimes are not.



Unfortunately, some of the organizations making endorsements abuse their position to endorse anti-RKBA office holders. An example of that kind of abusive endorsement is the letter to the editor written 4 years ago by NRA Director Randy Kosuch praising Cas Taylor ("Taylor deeds match words on guns, hunting," July, 14, 2002) to his home town newspaper the Cumberland Times-News. (It really was an endorsement although the NRA claimed not.) Organizations may make such endorsements for their purposes that are not always our purposes. To determine whether the organizational purpose is not our purpose is why we should insist that organizations present their evidence for their endorsement.



If they aren't willing to give evidence, I'm skeptical. That's me -- but I don't think for you.



An endorsement by an organization or person is a statement of opinion on behalf of the individual or organization and is designed to transfer the credibility the person or organization has to the endorsee. The endorser hopes you will stop thinking, take the recommendation and vote accordingly. You may not be given reasons why the endorsee is worthy. Yet, without those reasons, abuse of trust can and does happen.



This note describes my understanding of the Maryland senate races district by district, but no endorsement is intended. You should think for yourselves, I'm going to stick to the facts as I know them and can defend them. Please compare endorsements you see to these facts and let me know (or the other people) about my (their) errors.



D-1 experienced pro-RKBA friend Edwards versus unknown and track-record-less challenger Sines in the primary. The winner will face in the general election unknown and track-record-less Democrat Conlon who doesn't mind infringing your RKBA.



D-2 experienced pro-RKBA friend Sen. Munson is un-opposed both in the primary and general election.



D-3 experienced pro-RKBA friend Sen. Mooney who stuck with us over the AW ban battle in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee is opposed in the Republican primary by two pro-RKBA track-record-less challengers Brooks and Warner. The winner will be challenged by the pro-RKBA track-record-less Democratic challenger Greenway



D-4 experienced pro-RKBA friend Sen. Brinkley is opposed in the Republican primary by little known and track-record-less challenger Chamberlain. There is no general election opposition.



D-5 experienced pro-RKBA friend Sen. Haines who stuck with us over the AW ban battle in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee is opposed in the Republican primary by pro-RKBA and track-record-less challenger Jefferson. There is no general election opposition.



D-6 experienced pro-RKBA friend Sen. Stone who stuck with us over the AW ban battle in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee is opposed in the Democratic primary by unknown and track-record-less challenger Kushnerick. There is no general election opposition.



D-7 experienced pro-RKBA friend Sen. Harris is opposed in the primary by teacher union lobby favorite Foerster who is unknown and track-record-less on RKBA. There is no general election opposition.



D-8 experienced pro-RKBA friend Sen. Klausmeier is unopposed in her primary, but will face the winner of the Republican primary race between pro-RKBA Borne and unknown Clemons both of whom are track-record-less.



D-9 experienced pro-RKBA friend Sen. Kittleman will face opposition in the general election only by weakly pro-RKBA but track-record-less challenger Corkran. There is no primary election opposition for either candidate.



D-10 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. Delores Kelley faces primary challenges from pro-RKBA but track-record-less Pat Kelly and unknown and track-record-less Arthur.



D-11 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Del. Zirkin faces a primary challenge from the unknown and track-record-less Rifkin who has raised enough money to provide a serious challenge. The winner will face unknown and track-record-less Republican Yablon in the general election.



D-12 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. Kasemeyer faces a general election challenge from the unknown and track-record-less Republican Martel.



D-13 experienced but still unknown Sen. Schrader faces a general election challenge from the unknown and track-record-less Democrat Robey who is the Howard Co. Executive. Although lacking in evidence, Robey thinks highly of Howard County Police Chief Livesay who is a fixture in the anti-RKBA crowd.



D-14 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. Kramer faces a general election challenge from 81 year old retired but unknown and track-record-less Republican Hackenberg.



D-15 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. Garagiola faces a general election challenge from anti-RKBA and track-record-less Republican Askinazi. In the 2002 election, candidate Askinazi eagerly agreed with all survey points from MAHA (now CeaseFireMD). Evidently, the Republican Party forgot its Goldwater slogan to present an echo, not a choice for this race.



D-16 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. Frosh faces a general election challenge from a Republican Central Committee appointed candidate. Such candidates are unevaluated since they represent a shotgun wedding approach to gaining candidate in some districts and they are really running in case the opponent drops dead the day before the election which is about the only way they can be elected. The Republican Party's victories against dead opposition candidates is not assured as former Senator Ashcroft can attest so it is fair to call such candidates lighting-bolt candidates inasmuch as they have an equivalent chance of winning as being struck by lighting.



D-17 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. Forehand faces no opposition at all. I guess there are no Republicans registered in D-17, at least none that feared the Republican Shotgun more than they feared missing a few of the televised Redskin games.



D-18 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. Madaleno faces a general election challenge from the Republican Central Committee appointed (lighting-bolt) candidate Stegmaier. Since Stegmaier believes Maryland gun laws are ok as they are ... .



D-19 experienced anti-RKBA enemies Dels. Mandel & Petzold are fighting it out in the primary with Brady endorsed anti-RKBA and track-record-less Lenett and the winner will be opposed in the general election by the winner of the Republican primary contest between pro-RKBA but track-record-less Republicans Ryman and Siguenza.



D-20 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. Rubin has primary opposition from anti-RKBA but track-record-less Raskin. Raskin's recent statements to the Gazette make Rubin appear to be an anti-gun moderate (especially since she ducked the Gazette question).



D-21 Sen. Giannetti, who withstood the pressure to vote a ban on semi-automatic rifles out of the Senate Judicial Proceeding Committee, is the most important Maryland target of the Brady organization (after Gov. Ehrlich). He has primary opposition from anti-RKBA but track-record-less Rosapepe. Rosapepe is a known supporter and contributor to CeaseFireMD and support of a ban on semi-automatic rifles. A third candidate in this primary is unknown but track-record-less Pulivarti. The winner of this primary must face the lighting-bolt unknown but track-record-less Republican candidate Stafford.



D-22 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. Pinsky has no opposition.



D-23 anti-RKBA enemies but track-record-less candidates Henry & Holmes are fighting it out along with unknown but track-record-less candidate Peters in the primary. The winner has no opposition in the general election.



D-24 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. Exum has no opposition.



D-25 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. Currie has no opposition.



D-26 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Del. Patterson has primary opposition from unknown and track-record-less Muse. The winner has no opposition in the general election.



D-27 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Senate President Miller has general election opposition from pro-RKBA but track-record-less Ron Miller (no relation). There is no primary election opposition for either candidate.



D-28 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. Middleton has general election opposition from unknown and track-record-less Bala. There is no primary election opposition for either candidate.



D-29 experienced pro-RKBA friend Sen. Dyson has general election opposition from unknown and track-record-less McKay. There is no primary election opposition for either candidate.

D-30 experienced pro-RKBA(?) friend Sen. Astle has general election opposition from the winner of the primary between maybe pro-RKBA but hiding on the issue Del. McMillan and unknown and track-record-less Belcher. The only question about Sen. Astle is the close alliance he has formed with Sen. Miller for campaign financing and a comment he was heard to make that RKBA forces couldn't depend on him. To say RKBA stance of the candidates in this race is murky is to make murky appear too clear.



D-31 has a battle royal between pro-RKBA but track-record-less Gardner, Mike Jacobs, & Simonaire with unknown and track-record-less Holland & Robison in the Republican primary. The winner has opposition in the general election from the winner in the Democrat primary between pro-RKBA but track-record-less Shandrowsky & McBride. What an embarrassment of riches! It appears that there is a bit of nepotism going on here with the NRA’s representative Jennifer Palmer promoting her daddy Holland. Another reason the evidence is important.



D-32 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. DeGrange has general election opposition from unknown and track-record-less Vandenheuvel. There is no primary election opposition for either candidate.



D-33 experienced pro-RKBA friend Sen. Greenip has general election opposition from semi-pro-RKBA and track-record-less Hymes. There is no primary election opposition for either candidate.



D-35 experienced pro-RKBA friend Sen. Hooper has general election opposition from unknown and track-record-less candidate Kollar. There is no primary election opposition for either candidate.



D-36 experienced pro-RKBA friend Sen. Pipkin has general election opposition from unknown and track-record-less candidate Sampson. There is no primary election opposition for either candidate.



D-37 experienced pro-RKBA friend Sen. Colburn has general election opposition from the winner of the Democrat primary between unknown and track-record-less candidate Spence and unknown and track-record-less candidate Warden. Colburn has no primary election opposition.



D-38 experienced pro-RKBA friend Sen. Stoltzfus has no opposition.



D-39 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. Hogan has no opposition.



D-40 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Del. Marriott has primary competition with unknown and track-record-less candidates Andrews, Bell, Conaway, Mercer & Pugh. The winner of this primary will face opposition from unknown and track-record-less Republican candidate George who has no primary opposition. It is difficult to imagine any of these opponents of Marriott being pro-RKBA.



D-41 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. Gladden is opposed in the primary by unknown and track-record-less candidate Kerpelman. The winner has no opposition in the general election.



D-42 Sen. Brochin who stood with us to defend against a ban on semi-automatic rifles in 2004 in the Senate Judicial Proceedings committee is facing general election opposition by the winner of the Republican primary between the two unknown and track-record-less candidates Riley & Torgerson. Mr. Riley refused to respond to the survey and is rated anti-RKBA for that refusal. His asserted reason for the non-response was that he was told that the "The NRA endorsed my opponent even before the July 3rd candidates' filing deadline and before the date that responses to its own questionnaire were even due."



D-43 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. Conway is opposed in the primary by mildly less anti-RKBA and track-record-less candidate Vane. The winner of that primary will face anti-gun and track-record-less Green candidate Alwine who appears to be a true fanatic grabber. She said in her non-response to the survey "I support handgun control and am committed to removing semi-automatic weapons from our streets. Law-abiding citizens have no reason to own or carry such weapons."



D-44 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. Jones is opposed in the primary by unknown and track-record-less candidate Brooks. The winner of that primary faces Republican unknown and track-record-less candidate Muhammad who has no primary opposition.



D-45 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. McFadden is opposed in the primary by unknown and track-record-less candidate Truitt. The winner of that primary will face unknown and track-record-less Republican candidate Wolff who has no primary opposition.



D-46 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. Della faces the anti-RKBA and track-record-less Republican candidate Losoya in the general election. There is no primary election opposition for either candidate.



D-47 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. Britt faces the anti-RKBA and track-record-less opponent Seymore in the primary election. There is no general election opposition for the winner of the primary.

 

[Helmetcase]

Good stuff from Phil.

I agree that protecting Giannetti has to be our main target, as it's not just pragmatic, but symbolic as well. Punishing him for his AWB vote has been the main goal of the MD Bradyites and Ceasefire idiots; defeating them there will be a symbolic victory.

I'm continuing to door knock for the Senator, make signs, do whatever I can to help. It's three scant weeks to the primary, if you can do anything at all to help his campaign, sign up with his office today. We'll need volunteers to drive people to the polls on the 12th, work a phone bank, etc.

 

[Norton]

To my fellow Maryland residents, if you have any doubts that the anti-gun organizations like the Bradys and Ceasefire MD are counting on Martin O'Malley to be Governor next legislative term, here's some more evidence:

http://www.commondreams.org/news2006/0828-05.htm
Sarah Brady Joins Endorsed Candidates to Jumpstart Maryland Efforts to Pass Assault Weapons Bill


WASHINGTON - August 28 - Sarah Brady of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and leaders of CeaseFire Maryland will join with several candidates she is endorsing for the Maryland Senate and General Assembly to begin a push for passage of a bill to get military-style semiautomatic assault rifles off Maryland streets.

The press conference will be in the Crown & Crab Room of the Maryland Inn, 16 Church Circle in downtown Annapolis at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29. Attendees include Brady, Maryland Senate candidates Jim Rosapepe and Mike Lenett. Rosapepe is running against State Senator John Giannetti, who single-handedly blocked passage of an assault rifle ban in the state.

 

[Helmetcase]

Why do they say that about Giannetti? Five other senators on the committee voted against the bill.