Maryland just keeps coming up with one more socialist program after another to fund the Welfare State that is Maryland.
Speed cameras, ammo tax, etc.
Meanwhile, there is currently a live bill pending to punish the VICTIM of a firearm theft if the victim fails to notify big brother when a criminal steals the victim's gun!
-----Original Message-----
From: mdrkba
Subject: MDRKBA report for week of 4 February
MDRKBA (Maryland Right to Keep and Bear Arms) for week of 4 February
STATUS OF LEGISLATION IN ANNAPOLIS
With the first of several procedural deadlines approaching on the House
side, bills are coming in fast, and some getting scheduled for hearings.
HB 275 will be heard by House Judiciary tuesday. A bill to demagogue guns,
it proposes to stiffen the already strong mandatory "multiplier" sentences
for using a handgun in a crime, and strip the court's ability to judge the
justice of such punishments. We oppose this bill. It teaches the public to
focus on guns, not criminals - in other words, the Brady Bunch message -
and on a practical level, it would deny justice to the cases of people who
are charged by predatory prosecutors after defending themselves with a gun.
Even the most trivial conviction, without jail time, can draw a mandatory
five year multiplier, as we've written about in the past. Some good people
needed gubernatorial pardons to get release from an unconscionable 5 year
sentence. This bill's sponsors want to make it even harder for a victim of
the justice system to defend himself, and all for no public safety value.
HB 517 is a 'California style' ammunition encoding mandate. Starting in a
couple years, ammunition for handguns would be banned if not marked with a
unique serial number, which would be registered to individuals at time of
purchase. Lots of bureaucracy with no public safety benefit, and costly to
boot - which is why the bill would levy a FIVE CENT PER ROUND TAX too.
SB 299 increases punishment for anyone under 21 to possess a handgun except
in specific circumstances. And another bill "for the children" is HB 655,
which will ban junior hunting up to the age of 13. (It sets a minimum age
requirement for getting a hunting license.)
SB 585 is the expected proposal to
make it a crime to fail to report the
loss or theft of a handgun - something we know from testimony in previous
years would let police investigate the gunowner instead of go looking for
the thief! (Where else but Maryland do you get tough with the victim and
not the criminal?) Back to back with this measure from the Baltimore City
delegation is SB 586, yet another proposal (beyond those mentioned in the
report of last week) proposing expansions to the many ways that someone
may be ordered disarmed and have his guns confiscated - in some cases with
no day in court first!
Not all news is bad. SB 449 is now in the hopper, a marvelous little bill
that would ensure an honest citizen has NO DUTY TO RETREAT in self defense.
Thanks and a tip of the hat to the sponsors, Senators Pipkin and Brinkley.
(Yes, THAT PIPKIN - the one running for congress in Maryland's District 1.
So remember one of the good guys when you vote in the primary next week!)
We're also tracking some privacy legislation, which would affect records
the state maintains on you and "ID requirements". We will report on these
in a future issue. These bills should be of concern to any gun owner who
doesn't want to feel the full weight of government brought down on him in
a future anti-gun society. "Gun ban" and "air tight record keeping" add
up to "disarmed serf."
All gun bills and their status is available on-line at:
http://mlis.state.md.us/2008rs/subjects/guns$.htm
And of course you can always get the latest at
http://www.myguns.net
====================================================================
*** MPFO WINTER RIFLE RAFFLE IS A WRAP ***
This MDRKBA report comes at the awkward moment between close of the
previous fundraiser and announcement of the next. But yes, there is
another event, and it should roll out in the coming week - we just
want to confirm the rifle's availability before we advertise it!
So here is your chance to get first dibs on tickets for the NEW rifle
raffle. As always, all proceeds go to MPFO, so you know your donation
will get the best mileage in defense of our Second Amendment rights in
Maryland. You saw at the top what bills we're already fighting this
legislative session - and more is on the way. A strong pro-gun buildup
in the war chest sends leadership the message that our community won't
give them an easy fight of it, and it assures pro-gun friends that we
will be capable of effectively defending them in coming elections after
they go to the mat for us during sessions.
Details as always are at ...
http://www.myguns.net
Remember, each ticket goes for a $5 donation to MPFO. Send your most generous
donation (check written to MPFO) to:
MPFO c/o Mike Fleisher, Treasurer
11704 Enid Dr
Potomac MD 20854-3451
(Include a SASE for return of ticket stubs, or Mike will mark your ticket
numbers on your check as receipt.)
Marylanders for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership is the *only* political
action committee in Maryland dedicated to our Second Amendment -- and of course
the reason gunowners outside of Maryland care is that gun control we can stop
here won't come to you in your state. Historically Maryland is the front line
in defense against oppressive gun control, where whacky ideas are test driven
before they go on the road nationally. Stop bad legislation while it's cheap!
Authority: Mike Fleisher, Treasurer
========================================================================
MDRKBA (MD Right to Keep and Bear Arms) newsletter is an opt-in internet
service of Tripwire newsletter. As always, please email your request for
subscriptions, unsubscriptions, change address or other directly to
mdrkba @ myguns.net
Stay up to the minute by following on the web at
http://www.myguns.net
