MD AWB Live Update 2-10-04

[Norton]

My letter this morning to the honorable Senator Giannetti who is apparently emerging as the swing vote on the committee:

Senator Giannetti,

Many thanks to you and your receptionist for a pleasant contact during my phone call of February 3. It was greatly appreciated to deal with an obviously well run office staffed with courteous individuals.

I am once again contacting you to strongly urge you to vote AGAINST Senate Bill 288. This deeply flawed legislation has very little to do with crime control and everything to with people control and political grandstanding.

The Maryland State Police acknowledge that so-called assault weapons are not an issue from their standpoint. Their own numbers point out that their contacts with these alleged assault weapons are far and few between. If the State Police acknowledge that this bill will do nothing to control crime, then what is it's real purpose?

The purpose of this legislation is to create such a broad definition of what constitutes an assault weapon, that it will eventually lead to the banning of all semi-automatic centerfire firearms. The carefully constructed use of terms such as "may accept" and "can be" leave loopholes that are large enough that nearly all firearms could be gradually added to the list, therefore creating a de facto ban on firearm ownership in this state.

Senator Garagiola and his cronies say the majority of Marylanders are in favor of this ban. I ask you, where were they on February 10? Surely if gun owners are such a minority amongst the citizenry of the state, their voice would have been drowned out if Senator Garagiola was accurate in his statistics.

The fact is Senator, the citizens of Maryland have stated their position on Senate Bill 288 and the answer is loud and clear. We do NOT want Bill 288 to be signed into law and expect you and your colleagues to stop this bill now and get on to other matters which can have a positive result for the citizens of Maryland.

Please add me to your election mailing list. If you vote against this ban, I will do everything in my power to see that my fellow firearms owners know that you are a supporter of their constitutional rights.

Respectfully,

 

[Cliff]

It was a pleasure meeting JeepDriver,MikeK,Girlwithagun,and other folks from TheHighroad. I was very pleased with the pro-gun turnout we had yesterday. We filled the committee room to overflowing back out to the hallway. I finally got a chance to testify during the second session late that afternoon. The committee chairman cut the time down to 2 minutes,then after about 20 people had spoken,he cut it down to 1 minute because close to 100 people still were on the list to speak,even though a lot of those folks had left already.
It was my first time attending something like that,but it will not be my last.Next time I plan on bringing my lunch,water,soda's etc.
Listening to the delay tactics used by members of the committee to keep us from testifying really pissed me off.
Watching Rep Nancy Jacobs cut the legs out from under the anti's was a pleasure.
I left about 6 P.M. tired, and hungry. I plan on calling members of the committee today. Lets keep the pressure on.
Once again a pleasure meeting all Thehighroad members yesterday. Hope to see you again soon.

 

[Spot77]

"The Sunpapers states that 5 Senators are on record as for the ban and 5 opposed. I know some, but could someone please list which side each Senator is on? It would help me with emails."

the way I see it:

OPPOSES SB288
Jacobs
Brochin
Haines
Mooney
Jimeno

I think Senator Gianetti will oppose it, but he seems to appear "undecided" at this time, so BANG AWAY AT HIM!!!!

 

[Norton]

Great discussion taking place over on the Baltimore Sun web page regarding Bill 288


http://www.baltimoresun.com/cgi-bin/ultbb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=17;t=013855

 

[Norton]

Man...we need some of these guys on our forum.....


another thread from Baltimore Sun

http://www.baltimoresun.com/cgi-bin/ultbb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=17;t=013814

 

[Austin Charles]

Can you believe this,

I called WJZ TV channel 13 in Baltimore and asked why I have not seen anything on SB288 on their ststion?

The lady said to me that with all of the other things going on like

the chicked flue that the assault weapons ban was not important.

I hardly watch that station anyhow but I will die before I watch another news program from them again.


This is how tough we have it here.


by the way K-Romulus your speech was really good.Thanks for fighting the fight

 

[Mark Tyson]

the chicked flue that the assault weapons ban was not important.

Actually, I think the chicken flu is more dangerous than all the "assault weapons" in the country.

 

[Spot77]

I sent another round of email this morning, and as we all already knew.....here is Senator Haines' reply:


Thank you for your e-mail, your phone call and for testifying in opposition of SB 288. You can count on me to oppose this bill.




Do I detect a bit frustration in his email? Am I bothering him too much?


I also received a nice snail mail from Senator Jimeno, saying basically the same thing....and that he opposes ALL gun control legislation.

 

[BRONZ]

MPT showed the taping of the debate at 1200 am last night. Thats why I'm draging now. But my feeling from it was that it will die at this level. But one of the anti's said if it doesn't make it this time we will be back next year.

Sen. Jacobs she is great. She would let them talk and then hammer then with a question.

Sen. Mooney was the sam way. He would ask questions knowing their answer would trip them up.

Oh! and the Maryland State Police. Those guys were great with there no bs reason for not supporting this bill. What they say goes a long, long way. It is so refreshing to see an agency like MSP not playing politics as is the norm. I think it will be MSP that will be the decide the outcome.

Can somebody tell me what an assault pistol is.
what like a Glock 18. They got to be joking. They wan't to take away my culture and they don't even know what their talking about.

 

[JeepDriver]

and they don't even know what their talking about.

That's what really got to me yesterday. They are so un informed about the types of weapons they are talking about. And their uses.

Shooting is my hobby, why is it I have to fight for the right to continue enjoying my hobby?

 

[Norton]

My letter to the not-so-honorable Senator from Baltimore City.....he of the the irrational tirade on Tuesday:

Dear Senator Hughes,

I am writing to you in reference to Senate Bill 288, the Maryland Assault Weapons ban of 2004.

As I have stated to you in my previous letter, I strongly urge to reconsider your support for this flawed piece of legislation which does nothing to prevent crime.

While I understand your frustration with the horrific levels levels of violent crime in Baltimore City, surely you understand that the overwhelming majority of crimes committed with firearms, are perpetrated with guns that are already possessed illegally. To the persons committing these crimes, making a firearm "more illegal" will not make them think any harder about whether they should use that firearm in the act of a crime.

Furthermore, by deliberately blurring the line between military issue, fully automatic rifles and the semi-automatic rifles legally and responsibly possessed by lawful citizens you demonstrate that your well-meaning but misguided passion has overwhelmed your facility for logical argument. To accuse Mr. Sanford Abrams of being a "killer of black babies" as you say, runs into the realm of outright race-baiting and deliberate dishonesty.

Senator, the city of Baltimore already has an almost exclusive bans on firearms in one of the most heavily regulated states in the country. If this has not succeeded in reducing the level of violent crime, what is there to make you think that further disarming the law abiding citizens of the State of Maryland will improve this situation?

You may dismiss my letters as those of a lone individual arguing a self-serving purpose, but on Tuesday, February 10 the citizenry of Maryland stood up and loudly declared that Senate Bill 288 runs against all that they hold dear. By a more than 10 to 1 margin, you heard speaker after speaker from every cross section of demographics describe to you why this bill will violate their constitutional rights and will do absolutely nothing to reduce crime in Baltimore or anywhere else. In fact, the Maryland State Police, Fraternal Order of Police and Calvert County Sheriff's Office came forward in outright opposition to SB 288.

Rather than sponsoring laws which only punish law abiding and responsible citizens, you and your colleagues should be working towards actions which will actively curtail and punish those that violate our laws. Crime control is a good thing....people control is a bad thing. The violation of a citizen's constitutional rights is unforgivable and your endorsement of this bill will bring about my staunch support for anyone who runs for office in opposition of you. I may not live in Baltimore City, but my check will cross the Patapsco River to come to the aid of anyone who seeks to remove you from office.

Sincerely,

 

[Norton]

From the Towson, MD newspaper...TowsonTimes.com if you want to respond.....

House, Senate consider ban on assault weapons


02/11/04
Story By Bryan P. Sears
Respond to this story
Email this story to a friend

House and Senate lawmakers introduced bills last week to ban assault weapons in Maryland.

The ban, proposed by Del. Neil Quinter, a Howard County Democrat, and Sen. Rob Garagiola, a Montgomery County Democrat, would affect "rapid fire, military-style assault weapons."

Garagiola said Senate Bill 288 is necessary because a federal ban on similar weapons is set to expire in September.

The bill is cosponsored by three Democratic senators from Baltimore County: Paula Hollinger, who represents the 11th District which includes Owings Mills; Delores Kelley, who represents the 10th District including Randallstown, Woodlawn and a portion of Catonsville; and Ed Kasemeyer, who represents the 12th District, made up by portions of Arbutus, Catonsville and Howard County.

Quinter filed a similar bill in the House.

Del. Richard K. Impallaria, who represents Cockeysville, Kingsville, parts of Essex and Middle River and a section of Harford County in the 7th District, is among those who oppose the bill.

He said he believes in the importance of keeping the guns out of the hands of criminals, but not in preventing private citizens from having the weapons for protection.

"I wish well-minded people would concentrate on deporting (sniper Lee) Malvo rather than deporting guns," Impallaria said. "Guns didn't commit the crime, the people need to be prosecuted. Those who have illegally obtained handguns should get a harsh punishment."

The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee was scheduled to hold a hearing on SB288 Tuesday. A committee vote could come at any time after the hearing.

 

[Norton]

My letter to the author of the above article:

Mr Sears,

Your article on the hearing for SB288, the Maryland Assault Weapons Ban of 2004 was an incomplete one that does truly convey to your readership the scope of the opposition to this deeply flawed piece of legislation.

By a more than 10 to 1 margin speaker after speaker, including those from the Maryland State Police, Fraternal Order of Police and the Calvert County Sheriff's Office came forward to explain why this bill will do nothing to prevent crime and will only punish law-abiding and responsible gun owners.

Where in your story do you demonstrate journalistic integrity by acknowledging that the vote tally amongst members of the Judicial Proceedings Committee is 5 in favor of the bill, 5 in opposition and one who is officially undecided but has stated that he favors nothing more restrictive than the federal ban (which the MD ban most certainly is)?

On the surface, the concept of banishing so-called assault weapons seems a good idea. However, the wording of SB288 is such that it can and will eventually be construed to cover all centerfire guns that are capable of accepting a detachable magazine. Furthermore, the bill uses scary sounding push button catch phrases such as "street sweeper", "thumbhole stock", "flash hider" to further inflame irrational fears amongst those who are not firearm owners.

Sir, I hope that your glaring omission of important balancing factors was more a result of space constraints than it was of an editorial policy that furthers a political agenda favorable to gun control advocates. You owe it to yourself and your readership to present a fair and balanced representation of this important piece of civil rights legislation.

Respectfully,

 

[Spot77]

Replies from some local Delegates:

Dear Mr. XXXXXXX

Thank you for your e-mail requesting opposition to SB 288. I will oppose
this legislation should it come to the floor of the House for a full vote. I
will always fight gun control.

Sincerely,
Delegate Joan Cadden
District 31


AND:

Dear Mr. XXXXXXXX,

Thank you for your email and your comments on SB 288. I want you to know
that I oppose this legislation and will vote agains it.

Delegate John Leopold


AND. let's not forget Delegate Dwyer (I LOVE his response!!!:

Scott,

Thanks for the note. I assure you I will fight for your rights that are
guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution. I for one, know and respect your
rights!

We need you to continue to voice your support of your rights as a law biding
citizen of these United States. We can not allow this nonsense to continue.

KEEP YOUR POWDER DRY!

Constitutionally yours,
Delegate Don Dwyer, Jr.

---------------------------------------------------------
So make sure that in addition to making the calls, sending the emails, and visiting your local state senators you also contact your Delegates and let them know that we're watching their votes VERY closely.

 

[Spot77]

ooooh look at these scary pictures.....the one holding the picture is Leah Barrett, the whacko that gets paid $32,000 a year for telling gun lies.

 

[MikeK]

I got most of the MPT show on tape (thanks to my technical assistant - I'll have to get her a nice Valentine's present). Watched most of it tonight.

If I had some more time and creativity there's a lot of potential for a great comedy/tragedy pulling a few segments off.

For example:

The ex-ATF guy - If you don't pass this bill then police traffic stops will require everyone to get out of the car and lie face down on the ground and when the police come to your house it will be in armored vehicles.

The CFA women - just about the entire testimony, but the highlights were that a semi-auto is MUCH more powerful than a machine gun; the pistol grip, forearm and thumbhole stock let you spray from the hip soooo accurately because the 600 rounds a minute don't heat up the barrel. I can't go on because I'll either laughor cry too hard.

The esteemed sen. hughes from Baltimore - most of it, but his response to Abrams was classic.


On the other hand Sen. Jacobs questions and the responses she got were excellent. Mooney also did well, but took 2nd place.

A segment on 'facts' from the antis and later true facts from our side would make some interesting viewing.

 

[chaim]

They got to be joking. They wan't to take away my culture and they don't even know what their talking about.

Yes, my "favorite" (the former ATF guy Mike mentioned, the "we'll have to come in armored cars" guy, was number two) was the "I've never fired or handled a gun, I don't even know the names of the different guns, but you should listen to me because I'm a mother and a minister" woman.

If you listened to what she had to say she was an idiot. However, watching the video of the session I thought of something that didn't occur to me in person- if you agreed with her or ignored what she said, she did speak very well. As a Unitarian Universalist (UU) minister (I hate to admit it but I've met her and my parents know her, though only on the acquaintance level) she is well practiced at public speaking and at least comes across as quite articulate. Watching the tape and seeing how articulate she came across despite not knowing what she was speaking of, it made me think- we need to recruit some pro-2nd Amendment ministers, priests and/or rabbis for next time. Just think, someone who speaks in front of crowds for their livelihood and thus are well praciticed but who actually knows what they are talking about and are on our side- it should really be useful.

 

[PAshooter]

Thanks!

I'm late in chiming in on this thread, but have been doing my part. My work situation prevented me from joining the party in Annapolis on Tuesday, but I have been calling and sending e-mails in an attempt to hold up my end.

As an aside, of all the e-mails I sent the only response I got was from Nancy Jacobs - to express appreciation for my registering my opinion and to assure me that she was firmly in our camp. She also directed me to the segment on MPT this past weekend where she had a discussion of the issue with one of the Senators who supports of the bill. I thought she did an ok job of presenting our case.

Anyway - just wanted to express my appreciation to all of those who got involved, kept the rest of us informed, and attended the hearings on our behalf. Thanks... and let's all keep at it until this draconian infringement on our rights dies a well-deserved death.

 

[Spot77]

Good or bad??? Uh-oh.....

Compromise offered on gun ban measure

By Kimberly A.C. Wilson

Sun Staff

Originally published February 12, 2004

Sen. John A. Giannetti Jr., the swing vote on a proposal to ban 45 assault weapons beginning when the federal ban expires this year, is offering middle ground between legalizing the firearms and banning them outright.

His idea: enact an identical state version of the federal ban on 19 semiautomatic weapons.

A Democrat representing Prince George's and Anne Arundel counties, Giannetti called his proposal "a reasonable compromise."

Giannetti said that he offered the amendment to the proposed ban after learning at a packed hearing this week that both the Fraternal Order of Police and the Maryland State Police opposed the bill .

"That surprised me," he said, and prompted him to poll sheriffs in his jurisdiction for their thoughts on banning the weapons.

The bill, and a House version, are supported by more than 70 lawmakers. The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee could vote on the matter as early as today.

mailto:[email protected]

410-841-3141

301-858-3141

 

[Spot77]

Another issue I've been pushing with the lawmakers is to reform Md's transportation of firearms laws....It's ridiculous how many hoops we have to jump through to go to the range, and how we're not even allowed to stop for gas on the way back.....Now might be a good time to try to get that ammended to what Gianetti is proposing......

 

[jrhines]

As a member of some liberal anti-gun email list (think of it as skulking around behind enemy lines), I got this....
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Maryland Supporter,

We need your help TODAY. The Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings committee is voting TODAY, Thursday Feb. 12, on the assault weapons bill, SB 288 and Senator John Giannetti (D-21) is the key swing vote.
Please call him without delay:

1 800 492 7122, ext 3141
email: [email protected]

Tell Senator Gianetti to support SB 288, because you want to keep assault weapons out of your community!
------------------------------------------------------------------------

So I called 'em and told 'em. I really appriciate being kept informed, especially on there nickle!

 

[jrhines]

..and I e-mailed them, same message - Vote NO!

Getting on the email list was interesting. They wanted you to send some anti-gun message to the Gov & his Lt. They supplied the opening and the closing verbage, but left the middle message up to you. They also supplied a suggested subject line, "Ban Md assult weapons", which I changed to Ban Assult Weapons Bans. Hoping the subtlety would not be lost. In the middle I switched to all caps and laid out my unmistakable pro-RKBA views, labeling the pre- and postambles as liberal eyewash.

We shall see...

 

[Spot77]

Just sent the mail and called again, reminding the Senator that "gun Owners Vote" (if you were there Tuesday you know significance!), and that citizens' rights count.

Got a nice phone call from Senator Jimeno's office today as well, thanking me for my testimony. It's nice to be noticed and remembered


Last chance everybody.....

STAY ON FIRE!

 

[Spot77]

Reply from Senator Gianetti's office a few minutes ago:

"Thank you for emailing my office concerning Senate Bill 288. I've appreciated hearing the opinions from residents all over Maryland. I'll be sure to consider all sides of the issue before voting in committee.



If there is anything else I can do for you in the future, please don't hesitate to contact me again.

Sincerely,


John A. Giannetti Jr.
Senator, District 21
Prince George's & Anne Arundel Counties"


HOGWASH!

 

[00-Guy]

As Spot77 indicated, I too got the same bit of email from Giannetti. Also yesterday I received a nice snail note from Alex Mooney thanking me for my interest and inviting me in the future to provide him opinions on other topics of interest to the citizens of Maryland.

An important note: It never hurts to let your House of Delegates representative know your opinion on Seante bills either. I emailed mine today! (I hope that she never gets to see this bill in any form though!!!)