Harry Tuttle
Member
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2003
- Messages
- 3,093
Assault weapons still stalled despite pressure
http://www.gazette.net/200413/weekend/a_section/209208-1.html
by Thomas Dennison
Staff Writer
Mar. 26, 2004
For complete coverage of the 2004 legislative session, go towww.gazette.net/annapolis2004/.
Busch and Vallario at odds on vote
ANNAPOLIS -- In apparent defiance of House Speaker Michael E. Busch, House Judiciary Chairman Joseph F. Vallario Jr. is refusing to hold a vote on a controversial bill that would extend the federal ban on assault weapons.
Vallario (D-Dist. 27A) of Upper Marlboro, who is generally opposed to new gun laws, is keeping tight control of the bill, saying that he has no plans to act on the House version of the assault weapons ban until something happens in the Senate. Holding the bill runs counter to the wishes of Busch (D-Dist. 30) of Annapolis, who said he supports extending the federal assault weapons ban, set to expire in September.
The federal assault weapons ban "shouldn't be broadened, but I absolutely believe we should codify the current [federal] law. I see no reason why we should allow these semi-automatic weapons back on our streets," Busch said.
Busch has met with Vallario on several occasions to talk about issues before the Judiciary Committee, and bringing the assault weapons bill to a vote was one of the many topics that were discussed. Busch said the House would deal with controversial issues like gun control and other matters after this week's budgetary work is complete.
The forces on both sides of the issue are gearing up for battle.
"The chairman said he was getting pressure to move this bill," said Del. Carmen Amedori (R-Dist. 5A) of Westminster, who is leading the charge against the ban in the House. Amedori said she responded to this by joining forces with fellow pro-gunner, Del. Donald H. Dwyer Jr. (R-Dist. 31) of Glen Burnie, to "call the troops out and start making calls."
Amedori said she hoped the ban's opponents, which includes the National Rifle Association and others, were "flooding the speaker's and the chairman's phone lines" to show their opposition.
Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) also strongly opposes the assault weapons bill and has worked vigorously to ensure the measure does not reach his desk.
Del. Neil F. Quinter (D-Dist. 13) of Columbia, the lead sponsor of the bill in the House, said he and his Senate counterparts have decided against broadening the ban on assault weapons. Instead they are pushing a bill that would match the provisions of the federal law.
"Time is running out. and we need to take a vote on this very important public safety issue," Quinter said. "I very much appreciate the speaker's support on this issue. It's very important that we get this bill to the House floor so we can take a vote before AK-47s and 'street sweepers' are legalized in Maryland."
Vallario, meanwhile, said he is in no rush to do anything on the assault weapons ban, saying he wanted to wait and see what actions the Senate takes on the bill.
Most of the fireworks over assault weapons has occurred in the Judicial Proceedings Committee because Sen. John A. Giannetti Jr. (D-Dist. 21) of Laurel -- the swing vote on the committee -- has declared his opposition to a ban. Senate supporters of the ban have sponsored several bills in the hope that they can amend the assault weapons language onto another bill through rarely used parliamentary maneuvers.
But Judicial Proceedings Chairman Brian E. Frosh (D-Dist. 16) of Bethesda and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Dist. 27) of Chesapeake Beach frown on resuscitating the ban through legislative trickery.
Because of the lack of momentum in the Senate and Vallario's apparent opposition, Amedori speculated that the chairman will put "all gun bills and death penalty bills in the drawer," which means they will not be brought to a vote.
Vallario said he has met with the speaker to talk about various issues, but he did not say he was being pressured to move the bill.
"We talk about a lot of things," Vallario said.
http://www.gazette.net/200413/weekend/a_section/209208-1.html
by Thomas Dennison
Staff Writer
Mar. 26, 2004
For complete coverage of the 2004 legislative session, go towww.gazette.net/annapolis2004/.
Busch and Vallario at odds on vote
ANNAPOLIS -- In apparent defiance of House Speaker Michael E. Busch, House Judiciary Chairman Joseph F. Vallario Jr. is refusing to hold a vote on a controversial bill that would extend the federal ban on assault weapons.
Vallario (D-Dist. 27A) of Upper Marlboro, who is generally opposed to new gun laws, is keeping tight control of the bill, saying that he has no plans to act on the House version of the assault weapons ban until something happens in the Senate. Holding the bill runs counter to the wishes of Busch (D-Dist. 30) of Annapolis, who said he supports extending the federal assault weapons ban, set to expire in September.
The federal assault weapons ban "shouldn't be broadened, but I absolutely believe we should codify the current [federal] law. I see no reason why we should allow these semi-automatic weapons back on our streets," Busch said.
Busch has met with Vallario on several occasions to talk about issues before the Judiciary Committee, and bringing the assault weapons bill to a vote was one of the many topics that were discussed. Busch said the House would deal with controversial issues like gun control and other matters after this week's budgetary work is complete.
The forces on both sides of the issue are gearing up for battle.
"The chairman said he was getting pressure to move this bill," said Del. Carmen Amedori (R-Dist. 5A) of Westminster, who is leading the charge against the ban in the House. Amedori said she responded to this by joining forces with fellow pro-gunner, Del. Donald H. Dwyer Jr. (R-Dist. 31) of Glen Burnie, to "call the troops out and start making calls."
Amedori said she hoped the ban's opponents, which includes the National Rifle Association and others, were "flooding the speaker's and the chairman's phone lines" to show their opposition.
Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) also strongly opposes the assault weapons bill and has worked vigorously to ensure the measure does not reach his desk.
Del. Neil F. Quinter (D-Dist. 13) of Columbia, the lead sponsor of the bill in the House, said he and his Senate counterparts have decided against broadening the ban on assault weapons. Instead they are pushing a bill that would match the provisions of the federal law.
"Time is running out. and we need to take a vote on this very important public safety issue," Quinter said. "I very much appreciate the speaker's support on this issue. It's very important that we get this bill to the House floor so we can take a vote before AK-47s and 'street sweepers' are legalized in Maryland."
Vallario, meanwhile, said he is in no rush to do anything on the assault weapons ban, saying he wanted to wait and see what actions the Senate takes on the bill.
Most of the fireworks over assault weapons has occurred in the Judicial Proceedings Committee because Sen. John A. Giannetti Jr. (D-Dist. 21) of Laurel -- the swing vote on the committee -- has declared his opposition to a ban. Senate supporters of the ban have sponsored several bills in the hope that they can amend the assault weapons language onto another bill through rarely used parliamentary maneuvers.
But Judicial Proceedings Chairman Brian E. Frosh (D-Dist. 16) of Bethesda and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Dist. 27) of Chesapeake Beach frown on resuscitating the ban through legislative trickery.
Because of the lack of momentum in the Senate and Vallario's apparent opposition, Amedori speculated that the chairman will put "all gun bills and death penalty bills in the drawer," which means they will not be brought to a vote.
Vallario said he has met with the speaker to talk about various issues, but he did not say he was being pressured to move the bill.
"We talk about a lot of things," Vallario said.