Forwarded message:
Make no mistake, this year's elections will set the stage for many years to come. If you care about your rights, now -- this year, is the time to do something about them.
"Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you." - PERICLES (495-429 BC)
There are a lot of seats up for grabs. Many legislators are retiring (both good and bad) and many are taking this opportunity to run for seats other than what they now occupy. Find out what District you are in here: http://mdelect.net/electedofficials/ and then find out who is running for office in your District here: http://www.elections.state.md.us/ then click on "Listing of State filed candidates" or go here: http://www.elections.state.md.us/pdf/071806.pdf
Don't think you can't make a difference. Don't think that you can rely on somebody else to fight for your rights.
"Maryland's political universe trembled four years ago when a political novice did the unthinkable and dethroned House Speaker Casper R. Taylor Jr., a pillar of the legislature for almost three decades." -- Alan Brody, "Targeting Miller, candidate and symbol" The Gazette July 28, 2006
What Alan Brody alludes to but left unsaid is that Cas Taylor was unseated by a small handful of gun-rights activists (John Josselyn, Phil Lee, Ed Patrick, and Mark Wilson) because Cas Taylor sold out our gun rights and helped ram through the omnibus gun bill of 2000 that mandated integral gun locks, ballistic fingerprinting, etc. Just a small handful of activists made the "political universe tremble." They did a lot. You can do a little, and make a difference. Don't rely on the other guy to fight for your rights. Get involved and do something! Every little bit helps.
State-wide there are a few key elections:
Governor Ehrlich -
www.bobehrlich.com
Some pro-self-defense activists think that the Governor has let us down on his previous campaign promises and has done nothing for us. Personally, I feel that he could have done more, but nevertheless he has done good for us and in comparison to Kathleen Kennedy Townsend he's a knight in shining armor. Regardless of what you think of his past performance, the current race is more similar to the last one than many people realize. Mayor O'Malley is not pro-self-defense and his relationship to anti-gun Attorney General Joe Curran and the Kennedys is scary. The winner of the governor's election will get to name 2 judges on the Maryland Court of Appeals. That will make a huge difference in our gun rights and our property rights! The current Court of Appeals just ruled that loaning a gun to a friend who is legally allowed to have one is NOT a transfer and does not require ATF paperwork and a 7-day waiting period. This is commonsense but certainly not the way the law had been interpreted until now. The way the law was written it seemed that to leave your pistol in your house under your wife's control was a transfer that required a 7-day waiting period and ATF forms. If you want to see improvements in your rights it's essential that Ehrlich be reelected.
Senator John Giannetti (D-21) -
www.johngiannetti.com
Senator Giannetti is a Democrat. Typically, pro-self-defense legislators are Republican and anti-self-defense legislators are Democrat, but that is not always the case. Senator Giannetti blocked the Assault Weapons Ban in Maryland and for that we are forever indebted to him. He has been targeted for replacement by the Brady Organization. The Brady Organization is totally against law-abiding citizens having the means to defend themselves. If the Brady's think Giannetti is their arch-enemy you can bet he's on our side. We need him in the future to block anti-self-defense bills, and we need for him to win if for no other reason than to block the Bradys.
Delegate Don Dwyer (R-31) -
www.delegatedwyer.com
410-841-3298
Delegate Dwyer is the champion of our cause. He sponsored the CCW bills and promoted other pro-self-defense bills when there was intense pressure from others to not sponsor any such bills. He sponsored these bills not because we asked him to, but because he has a core commitment to the U.S. Constitution. He sponsored them because he deeply believes self-defense is a human right. He's one of us at heart.
Unlike Giannetti, who is being targeted by our enemies, Dwyer is also being targeted by one of our "friends." While Ehrlich and Giannetti are key to prevent losing ground on rights, Dwyer is key to going forward on rights. Our enemies will judge our strength and resolve by whether or not Ehrlich and Giannetti win (and Quinter loses). Our true friends will judge our strength and resolve by how well we stand up for and protect those who stand up for us and protect our rights. Our true friends will know they can count on our support only if we show strong support for Delegate Don Dwyer.
What kind of a "friend" would attack Delegate Dwyer? This influential "friend" who while he has been promoting gun rights for many years has in recent times turned on and attacked our best gun-rights and self-defense supporters (Governor Ehrlich, Delegate Carmen Amedori, and now Delegate Don Dwyer). For more information on this please join Phil Lee's discussion group Maryland_Alert on the www.yahoogroups.com site and read message number 2401.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Maryland_Alert/message/2401
Delegate Don Dwyer has activities planned for August 19th, September 9th and September 12th that can use your help. Please call him.
These legislators find that everyone is their friend and everyone wants something from them when they are in session. However, this is the time when they find out who their true friends are. Check out their web sites. Support them. Call and offer your help. Get to personally know those running in your District.
“If we see cruelty or wrong that we have the power to stop, and do nothing, we make ourselves sharers in the guilt.” -- Anna Sewell "Black Beauty"
- 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.