Forwarded message:
FORK IN THE ROAD
We are at a fork in the road right now. We are just 5 short weeks till the election. This election will determine if we get more gun rights or if we get more gun control. Any contribution or effort you put in now will have more than 10 times the effect as it will after the election. As Yogi Berra said "If you see a fork in the road, take it!" Now is the time to act. You can make a difference.
DANGER
In 1994 legislation was introduced to BAN ALL HANDGUNS from Maryland. While the majority of those who sponsored that bill are no longer in the legislature, ten (10) of those who sponsored that bill [Sen. Kelley (10), Sen. Frosh (16), Del. Franchot (20), Del. Hixson (20), Del. Benson (24), Del. Exum (24), Del. Howard (24), Sen. Currie (25), Del. McIntosh (43), Del. Kirk (44), and Del. Harrison (45)] are still in office! The anti-gun forces are concentrating their national efforts on Maryland and a few other states this year. http://www.bradycampaign.org/media/?pagename=release&release=778 http://www.ceasefiremd.org/ They want to ban all semi-autos (rifle, shotgun and pistol) for starters. If we sit back and do nothing they will prevail. If the election goes their way you can consider it a done deal. If the election goes our way the anti-gun forces are stopped dead in their tracks.
KEYS
Several seats are absolutely essential to preventing further erosion of our gun rights:
Bob Ehrlich as Governor will veto most bad gun legislation -- while O'Malley would sign gun bans.
Scott Rolle as Attorney General will interpret the law in a way that is pro-gun and pro-self-defense -- while Gansler will support unconstitutional gun restrictions.
John Giannetti (R-21) -- (who lost the Primary as a Democrat but now is back in the race as a Republican) as Senator on the Judiciary Committee has blocked and will block any Assault Weapons Ban or ban on semi-autos -- while Rosapepe would gladly ban semi-autos, and is the new darling of the Brady Organization.
Don Dwyer (R-31) -- (Gun Owners of America's 'Legislator of the Year') as Delegate will continue to lead the effort to regain and protect our gun rights and self-defense rights.
Protection from veto overrides -- preferably a pro-gun majority in the Senate.
OPPORTUNITY
Both the Senate and the House have been majority anti-gun and anti-self-defense for many years. This has caused a depressed and fatalistic attitude in many gun owners. How many times have you heard "there's nothing we can do" "we don't have a chance" "they'll just turn our good bills into anti-gun legislation" and "it'll never happen in my lifetime" ??
Well, take another look because this year that could change -- but only if you help.
TEN ANTI-GUN LEGISLATORS ARE LEAVING
Six (6) anti-gun, anti-self-defense Senators have dropped out this year. They will be gone. Currently we have 22 pro-gun Senators out of 47. That's a minority. However, if we pick up ONLY 2 more pro-gun Senator seats then WE HAVE A MAJORITY! Admittedly, it's a big 'IF', but just two more Senate seats would mean an entirely different world.
The two pro-gun Senators that are leaving this year look like they will safely be replaced by pro-gun candidates -- Edwards (01) to take Hafer's seat, and Simonaire (31) to take Jimeno's seat.
Four (4) anti-gun Delegates are leaving the House. Neil Quinter from District 13 is one of them. Quinter was the lead sponsor for the AWB the last few years. His primary loss is a huge gain for us. Anyone is probably better for us than Quinter, and fortunately there are 3 very strongly pro-gun candidates running for the 3 Delegate seats in 13 (against some that are not pro-gun).
Five (5) pro-gun Delegates are leaving the House. Three of them -- Leopold (31), McMillan (31) and Parrott (35A) -- look like they will safely be replaced by pro-gun Delegates. Two of them -- Arnick (06) and Bozman (38B) may be in danger.
In the House we now have 54 pro-gun Delegates out of 141. It would take 17 more pro-gun Delegates to make a majority. Realistically a gain of 17 Delegate seats is not going to happen this year. We need to protect all the existing pro-gun Delegates and gain as many seats as we can.
ACT NOW!!
With just 5 short weeks left till the general election, there is no time to lose. MSI will have endorsements for the general election soon, but until then our primary endorsements are a useful guide. The vast majority of our endorsements survived the primary and are still in the race. If you don't know your District, find it here: http://mdelect.net/electedofficials/
Check out the MSI primary endorsements for your District on the MSI web site at: http://www.marylandshallissue.org/curact.html
Then for a clue as to how your District candidates chances are check out the results of the Primary elections at: http://www.elections.state.md.us/index.html
Can you spare $10 to protect and regain your gun rights? Please find out which candidate most needs your help in your District and send them $5. Send the other $5 to one of the Key seats identified above. If you can spare more, send more. If the races in your District are not in question then send it all to the Key candidates.
This election is close. We have the potential to either win big or to have a devastating loss. It's up to you. Any money you send now, any help you offer now will have more than 10 times the effect -- maybe 100 times the effect -- of the same money or effort after the election. Fight smart. Don't wait until it's too late. Protect your rights now while you still can.
- Henry Heymering, President
Maryland Shall Issue, Inc.
This message has been authorized and paid for by Maryland Shall Issue, Inc., P.O. Box 314, Libertytown, MD 21762, Henry Heymering, President. This message has not been authorized or approved by any candidate. www.marylandshallissue.org