Harry Tuttle
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Assault weapons ban likely to die in Senate
http://www.gazette.net/200410/montgomerycty/state/204777-1.html
by Steven T. Dennis
Staff Writer
Mar. 3, 2004
NRA, governor had opposed bill
ANNAPOLIS -- A proposed state assault weapons ban appeared all but doomed after a key senator announced that he would oppose it in committee, a major victory for the National Rifle Association and Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.
Sen. John A. Giannetti Jr. (D-Dist. 21) of Laurel announced his decision in a three-page statement. He said he did not think the legislation would have a significant effect on public safety.
The legislation would take the place of the federal ban set to expire later this year and would also cover a number of copycat guns with assault features, such as the Bushmaster rifle used in the 2002 sniper rampage.
Giannetti dismissed threats that he would face a primary challenge over the issue in 2006, noting that opponents of the ban had issued similar threats. Giannetti also said the bill would increase partisanship, put conservative Democrats on the Senate floor in a difficult position and ultimately be vetoed by Ehrlich (R).
"I do not want to be a part of this exercise, which would widen the dangerous and growing partisan gap seen in the House and Senate," Giannetti said.
Ehrlich had lobbied Giannetti personally to kill the bill and keep it from his desk. The governor has voted repeatedly against gun bans at the state and federal level.
Judicial Proceedings Chairman Brian E. Frosh (D-Dist. 16) of Bethesda decided to wait before holding a vote, which gives proponents more time to keep the heat on Giannetti and other members of the committee. One other senator, James Brochin (D-Dist. 42) of Towson, also has been the target of intense lobbying on the bill, but he has said he will oppose it.
Frosh criticized Giannetti's decision.
"Assault weapons have no place in civil society," he said.
Giannetti's harshest criticism came from Leah Barrett, executive director of CeaseFire Maryland, who spent Tuesday telling voters at polling places in Giannetti's district about his decision and criticizing his statement as "three pages of drivel."
"We're going to have AK-47s and all these other assault weapons on Maryland streets on Sept. 14," she said. "Even President Bush supports maintaining the 1994 assault weapons ban."
Barrett said that Giannetti had made a "huge political miscalculation" and that a primary challenge is "inevitable" unless he changes his mind.
Two delegates from Giannetti's district, Brian R. Moe (D) of Laurel and Barbara A. Frush (D) of Beltsville, expressed shock at Giannetti's decision but refused to comment on whether they were considering a run against him in two years.
"Our constituents are not being appropriately represented," Frush said. "If he continues to not be representative, it's my thought the community will scream out for someone to run against him."
The looming committee vote, expected to be a 6-5 defeat, had the legislation's sponsor, Sen. Robert J. Garagiola (D-Dist. 15) of Germantown, talking about the possibility of petitioning the bill to the floor to bypass the committee. The use of so-called Rule 43 is extremely rare; the last time it was invoked was in 2000 to pass another gun bill, the "trigger lock" bill.
But Frosh said he does not support bypassing the committee even though he backs the legislation.
"I don't think it's a rule that ought to be used except in an extraordinary case," he said. "This isn't it."
Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Dist. 27) of Chesapeake Beach, who has been a vocal supporter of the ban, also expressed reluctance to invoke the rule, noting that its regular use could lead down a slippery slope and have the Senate tied up for weeks on a variety of contentious issues.
"The juice isn't worth the squeeze," he said.
However, Miller expressed hope that a compromise still might be worked out by the end of the legislative session.
http://www.gazette.net/200410/montgomerycty/state/204777-1.html
by Steven T. Dennis
Staff Writer
Mar. 3, 2004
NRA, governor had opposed bill
ANNAPOLIS -- A proposed state assault weapons ban appeared all but doomed after a key senator announced that he would oppose it in committee, a major victory for the National Rifle Association and Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.
Sen. John A. Giannetti Jr. (D-Dist. 21) of Laurel announced his decision in a three-page statement. He said he did not think the legislation would have a significant effect on public safety.
The legislation would take the place of the federal ban set to expire later this year and would also cover a number of copycat guns with assault features, such as the Bushmaster rifle used in the 2002 sniper rampage.
Giannetti dismissed threats that he would face a primary challenge over the issue in 2006, noting that opponents of the ban had issued similar threats. Giannetti also said the bill would increase partisanship, put conservative Democrats on the Senate floor in a difficult position and ultimately be vetoed by Ehrlich (R).
"I do not want to be a part of this exercise, which would widen the dangerous and growing partisan gap seen in the House and Senate," Giannetti said.
Ehrlich had lobbied Giannetti personally to kill the bill and keep it from his desk. The governor has voted repeatedly against gun bans at the state and federal level.
Judicial Proceedings Chairman Brian E. Frosh (D-Dist. 16) of Bethesda decided to wait before holding a vote, which gives proponents more time to keep the heat on Giannetti and other members of the committee. One other senator, James Brochin (D-Dist. 42) of Towson, also has been the target of intense lobbying on the bill, but he has said he will oppose it.
Frosh criticized Giannetti's decision.
"Assault weapons have no place in civil society," he said.
Giannetti's harshest criticism came from Leah Barrett, executive director of CeaseFire Maryland, who spent Tuesday telling voters at polling places in Giannetti's district about his decision and criticizing his statement as "three pages of drivel."
"We're going to have AK-47s and all these other assault weapons on Maryland streets on Sept. 14," she said. "Even President Bush supports maintaining the 1994 assault weapons ban."
Barrett said that Giannetti had made a "huge political miscalculation" and that a primary challenge is "inevitable" unless he changes his mind.
Two delegates from Giannetti's district, Brian R. Moe (D) of Laurel and Barbara A. Frush (D) of Beltsville, expressed shock at Giannetti's decision but refused to comment on whether they were considering a run against him in two years.
"Our constituents are not being appropriately represented," Frush said. "If he continues to not be representative, it's my thought the community will scream out for someone to run against him."
The looming committee vote, expected to be a 6-5 defeat, had the legislation's sponsor, Sen. Robert J. Garagiola (D-Dist. 15) of Germantown, talking about the possibility of petitioning the bill to the floor to bypass the committee. The use of so-called Rule 43 is extremely rare; the last time it was invoked was in 2000 to pass another gun bill, the "trigger lock" bill.
But Frosh said he does not support bypassing the committee even though he backs the legislation.
"I don't think it's a rule that ought to be used except in an extraordinary case," he said. "This isn't it."
Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Dist. 27) of Chesapeake Beach, who has been a vocal supporter of the ban, also expressed reluctance to invoke the rule, noting that its regular use could lead down a slippery slope and have the Senate tied up for weeks on a variety of contentious issues.
"The juice isn't worth the squeeze," he said.
However, Miller expressed hope that a compromise still might be worked out by the end of the legislative session.
