monsternav
Member
Henry Heymering wrote:
> Gosh, I've been outta town for a week and still it's been a busy and productive week - you guys have been active!
>
> Janine Peterson put out a press release for us and got it on packing.org and also here:
> http://somd.com/news/headlines/articles/1637.shtml
>
> Tony Spezio the host of an internet radio program called "The Libertarian Forum" on www.libertyfeed.com which streams live Saturdays at 2PM has invited us to be interviewed live next Saturday. Janine will probably be the voice for that one. Tune in.
>
> The CCW reform bill has been drafted by Don Dwyer and will be 'put in the hopper' this week or next.
>
> Steve Dirlik wants to go 'shopping' for cosponsors on Monday February 7th. That's sorta what I had in mind for Thursday Feb. 10th, however, that's too late. All the House Bills have to be in by Feb. 9th ... so any of you who can take the day off on Monday February 7th to meet in Annapolis and visit with Delegates, either email Steve Dirlik directly, or contact me and I'll put you in touch with him: [email protected]
>
> Anyone who is willing to apply for a Maryland CCW permit NOW please contact me. It will require that you drop by your Maryland State Police barracks and pick up an application; then get fingerprints and photographs done; and fill out the application. However, do not send it in right away - contact me first. Sending the application in will cost $117 - non-refundable.
>
> There's a gun show in Bel Air on Feb. 5 & 6 .... if anyone is able to man a table all day both days (or maybe several people) I'll contact them and see if we can get a table. Lemme know.
>
> We've gotten some detractors too. Ordinarily that's a good thing - Einstein, Edison, Columbus, etc. etc. all had detractors. Early on the existing movers and shakers in the Maryland gun rights scene were simply saying "you can't do it. It's all been done before. It won't work." Now that we are clearly making headway and getting noticed some of them have shifted to saying that we are "... working side by side with the Brady Organization..." and "... groups pushing a carry bill are writing checks against our political bank account. And for what foreseeable end? An assault weapon ban."
>
> I want you all to understand that while we are by no means "working side by side with the Brady Organization" nevertheless there is a possibility that we can end up with more gun restrictions rather than more gun rights - we might even end up with an Assault Weapons Ban again.
>
> How could this happen? A CCW bill could have an AWB attached to it on the House floor. If it got passed then in the House and Senate the Governor would no doubt veto it... but his MedMal veto was just recently overridden... and that might happen here too. So there is danger in what we are doing.
>
> However, it is just as possible and just as likely that they can simply introduce an AWB, get it passed and override the Governor's veto. In other words, they don't need our CCW bill as a vehicle. Our CCW bill is dangerous, but is, in my opinion, far safer than sitting back and doing nothing. Our only hope for stopping an AWB - whether on it's own or attached to our bill - is a massive showing at the hearings.
>
> Last year the AWB was stopped in part by some 200 or 300 gun rights people showing up for the hearing. Those in charge stopped pushing for the AWB and said simply "the juice isn't worth the squeeze." This year we need at least as many people to show up for the hearings - preferably we'll have 2 or 3 times as many as last year. That is our best (and maybe only) defense against an AWB. Plan now to be there for the hearings in Annapolis in March.
>
> Some say that if there is *any* chance of an AWB being attached that we must kill our CCW bill - that we can't afford to take the chance. Again, while there is a chance of losing rights, it doesn't depend on our CCW bill - it can be done without it. However, our *only* chance of significantly advancing our gun right is our CCW bill. It may look like a game of 'chicken' but we can't let them make us back off from just a threat. We are going to have to see this through and fight them all the way. The only chance we have is by making a big showing in March. If that should fail then we will have to make them pay at the next election.
>
> We've been doing great. About 30 folks signed up on the email list while I was away. So far 4233 people have logged onto the marylandshallissue.org web site. We got half a dozen letters and volunteers, and $140 in donations this week. We have 448 people in our database. With the letter signers added to that we should have about 900 by the end of this week. In the 7 weeks since we opened the web site we have nearly doubled in size every week: 15, 30, 60, 120, 240, 480, 960. We need more. We haven't saturated the market yet. I figure there should be at least 120,000 people who will get CCW permits if we go shall-issue. Ten percent are likely to be 'activists' - so we won't have saturated the market until we have 12,000.
>
> Tell a friend, or two. Let's see how much support we can muster before the hearings.
>
> Each one of you don't have to do much, but you have to do something!
>
> 1) Put on your bumper stickers. Spread the word. Get an activist friend to sign up for these email alerts.
> IF EVERYONE JUST GETS ONE NEW ACTIVIST PER WEEK to sign up with their emails (and Legislative District) for just the next 3 weeks we'll have a large enough force they can't ignore.
>
> 2) Bob Scherr, radio host, and guy who is suing the state over their not giving him a CCW permit (read about it here: http://www.bobscherr.com/gun.html ) says:
>
> henry, thank you for your email. i am hosting a 4 week series of shows ( 4
> wed nites in a row) live from harry browns restuarant in annapolis 8-10 pm
> with legislators debating issues. we just had the 1st wed nite. come out the
> next 3 wed nites. or listen on wcbm radio 680 am. come on out and we'll
> talk about the gun issue, bob
>
> So go to Harry Brown's Restaurant on Wednesday nights 8-10 through Feb. 9th - or listen on the radio 680 AM.
>
> 3) We're planning to have a group go down to Annapolis on Monday the 7th of Feb and Thursday the 10th of Feb. Let me know if you can take either day off and we'll meet and talk to legislators. A group of 5 would be great. A group of 10 would catch a lot of attention. A group of 50 would clog up the hallways!
>
> 4) Save a day of vacation (or sick leave, or whatever) for the Hearings - probably in mid to late March. We may not have much advance notice as to when they are, but we need to be there in BIG NUMBERS - 300 to 500 or 1000... everyone who can possibly make it needs to be there. Plan now.
>
> 5) If you haven't already - TELL ME WHAT DISTRICT YOU ARE IN - this will help us to put pressure directly where needed. If you don't know what District you are in:
> go here - http://mdelect.net/electedofficials/
> Directly below the map of Maryland, type in your street address and city
> Click on "Find Street"
> When the screen refreshes, near the top on the left hand side you'll see: Your Legislative District is ______
> Send me an email saying what District you're in.
>
> 6) Once the bill is introduced and numbered our 2nd battle is to get the Judiciary committee to pass the bill. There are 22 members of the House Judiciary Committee (Anthony Brown is in Iraq)
>
> http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/com/05jud.html (just click on their names for a bio and contact info)
>
> Especially if you are a voter in the District of any of the following who might be persuaded, then email, call, write, and visit them to let them know how you feel! We have to convince just 5 of the following 12 in order to get it passed by the committee. I think that all of these might be persuaded.
>
> Dist. Name Party
>
> 15 Kathleen Dumais (D)
> 16 Susan Lee (D)
> 17 Luiz Simmons (D)
> 19 Carol Petzold (D)
> 21 Pauline Menes (D)
> 26 Darryl Kelley (D)
> 27A Joseph Vallario, Jr. (D) Chair
> 28 Louis Hennessy (R)
> 32 Theodore Sophocleus (D)
> 41 Jill Carter (D)
> 41 Samuel Rosenberg (D) Vice-Chair
> 43 Curtis Anderson (D)
>
> - Henry
> http://www.marylandshallissue.org
> Gosh, I've been outta town for a week and still it's been a busy and productive week - you guys have been active!
>
> Janine Peterson put out a press release for us and got it on packing.org and also here:
> http://somd.com/news/headlines/articles/1637.shtml
>
> Tony Spezio the host of an internet radio program called "The Libertarian Forum" on www.libertyfeed.com which streams live Saturdays at 2PM has invited us to be interviewed live next Saturday. Janine will probably be the voice for that one. Tune in.
>
> The CCW reform bill has been drafted by Don Dwyer and will be 'put in the hopper' this week or next.
>
> Steve Dirlik wants to go 'shopping' for cosponsors on Monday February 7th. That's sorta what I had in mind for Thursday Feb. 10th, however, that's too late. All the House Bills have to be in by Feb. 9th ... so any of you who can take the day off on Monday February 7th to meet in Annapolis and visit with Delegates, either email Steve Dirlik directly, or contact me and I'll put you in touch with him: [email protected]
>
> Anyone who is willing to apply for a Maryland CCW permit NOW please contact me. It will require that you drop by your Maryland State Police barracks and pick up an application; then get fingerprints and photographs done; and fill out the application. However, do not send it in right away - contact me first. Sending the application in will cost $117 - non-refundable.
>
> There's a gun show in Bel Air on Feb. 5 & 6 .... if anyone is able to man a table all day both days (or maybe several people) I'll contact them and see if we can get a table. Lemme know.
>
> We've gotten some detractors too. Ordinarily that's a good thing - Einstein, Edison, Columbus, etc. etc. all had detractors. Early on the existing movers and shakers in the Maryland gun rights scene were simply saying "you can't do it. It's all been done before. It won't work." Now that we are clearly making headway and getting noticed some of them have shifted to saying that we are "... working side by side with the Brady Organization..." and "... groups pushing a carry bill are writing checks against our political bank account. And for what foreseeable end? An assault weapon ban."
>
> I want you all to understand that while we are by no means "working side by side with the Brady Organization" nevertheless there is a possibility that we can end up with more gun restrictions rather than more gun rights - we might even end up with an Assault Weapons Ban again.
>
> How could this happen? A CCW bill could have an AWB attached to it on the House floor. If it got passed then in the House and Senate the Governor would no doubt veto it... but his MedMal veto was just recently overridden... and that might happen here too. So there is danger in what we are doing.
>
> However, it is just as possible and just as likely that they can simply introduce an AWB, get it passed and override the Governor's veto. In other words, they don't need our CCW bill as a vehicle. Our CCW bill is dangerous, but is, in my opinion, far safer than sitting back and doing nothing. Our only hope for stopping an AWB - whether on it's own or attached to our bill - is a massive showing at the hearings.
>
> Last year the AWB was stopped in part by some 200 or 300 gun rights people showing up for the hearing. Those in charge stopped pushing for the AWB and said simply "the juice isn't worth the squeeze." This year we need at least as many people to show up for the hearings - preferably we'll have 2 or 3 times as many as last year. That is our best (and maybe only) defense against an AWB. Plan now to be there for the hearings in Annapolis in March.
>
> Some say that if there is *any* chance of an AWB being attached that we must kill our CCW bill - that we can't afford to take the chance. Again, while there is a chance of losing rights, it doesn't depend on our CCW bill - it can be done without it. However, our *only* chance of significantly advancing our gun right is our CCW bill. It may look like a game of 'chicken' but we can't let them make us back off from just a threat. We are going to have to see this through and fight them all the way. The only chance we have is by making a big showing in March. If that should fail then we will have to make them pay at the next election.
>
> We've been doing great. About 30 folks signed up on the email list while I was away. So far 4233 people have logged onto the marylandshallissue.org web site. We got half a dozen letters and volunteers, and $140 in donations this week. We have 448 people in our database. With the letter signers added to that we should have about 900 by the end of this week. In the 7 weeks since we opened the web site we have nearly doubled in size every week: 15, 30, 60, 120, 240, 480, 960. We need more. We haven't saturated the market yet. I figure there should be at least 120,000 people who will get CCW permits if we go shall-issue. Ten percent are likely to be 'activists' - so we won't have saturated the market until we have 12,000.
>
> Tell a friend, or two. Let's see how much support we can muster before the hearings.
>
> Each one of you don't have to do much, but you have to do something!
>
> 1) Put on your bumper stickers. Spread the word. Get an activist friend to sign up for these email alerts.
> IF EVERYONE JUST GETS ONE NEW ACTIVIST PER WEEK to sign up with their emails (and Legislative District) for just the next 3 weeks we'll have a large enough force they can't ignore.
>
> 2) Bob Scherr, radio host, and guy who is suing the state over their not giving him a CCW permit (read about it here: http://www.bobscherr.com/gun.html ) says:
>
> henry, thank you for your email. i am hosting a 4 week series of shows ( 4
> wed nites in a row) live from harry browns restuarant in annapolis 8-10 pm
> with legislators debating issues. we just had the 1st wed nite. come out the
> next 3 wed nites. or listen on wcbm radio 680 am. come on out and we'll
> talk about the gun issue, bob
>
> So go to Harry Brown's Restaurant on Wednesday nights 8-10 through Feb. 9th - or listen on the radio 680 AM.
>
> 3) We're planning to have a group go down to Annapolis on Monday the 7th of Feb and Thursday the 10th of Feb. Let me know if you can take either day off and we'll meet and talk to legislators. A group of 5 would be great. A group of 10 would catch a lot of attention. A group of 50 would clog up the hallways!
>
> 4) Save a day of vacation (or sick leave, or whatever) for the Hearings - probably in mid to late March. We may not have much advance notice as to when they are, but we need to be there in BIG NUMBERS - 300 to 500 or 1000... everyone who can possibly make it needs to be there. Plan now.
>
> 5) If you haven't already - TELL ME WHAT DISTRICT YOU ARE IN - this will help us to put pressure directly where needed. If you don't know what District you are in:
> go here - http://mdelect.net/electedofficials/
> Directly below the map of Maryland, type in your street address and city
> Click on "Find Street"
> When the screen refreshes, near the top on the left hand side you'll see: Your Legislative District is ______
> Send me an email saying what District you're in.
>
> 6) Once the bill is introduced and numbered our 2nd battle is to get the Judiciary committee to pass the bill. There are 22 members of the House Judiciary Committee (Anthony Brown is in Iraq)
>
> http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/com/05jud.html (just click on their names for a bio and contact info)
>
> Especially if you are a voter in the District of any of the following who might be persuaded, then email, call, write, and visit them to let them know how you feel! We have to convince just 5 of the following 12 in order to get it passed by the committee. I think that all of these might be persuaded.
>
> Dist. Name Party
>
> 15 Kathleen Dumais (D)
> 16 Susan Lee (D)
> 17 Luiz Simmons (D)
> 19 Carol Petzold (D)
> 21 Pauline Menes (D)
> 26 Darryl Kelley (D)
> 27A Joseph Vallario, Jr. (D) Chair
> 28 Louis Hennessy (R)
> 32 Theodore Sophocleus (D)
> 41 Jill Carter (D)
> 41 Samuel Rosenberg (D) Vice-Chair
> 43 Curtis Anderson (D)
>
> - Henry
> http://www.marylandshallissue.org
