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Md - Maryland Gun Bill Day

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I sent letters via email and USPS to all of the committee members. I was able to make it to the senate hearings a few weeks ago, but I'm sorry that I wasn't able to make it this time around. Thank you very much to those who did attend.
 
Because the NRA doesn't think it will ever pass. They don't want to get behind a bill that will not pass and have the biased media claim that an NRA backed bill failed. They're afraid of losing, and they're afraid to put pressure on the Ehrlich administration.


The NRA is in bed with the GOP far more than they are with MD gunowners.

In the BIG picture of things, it could almost make sense. But I refuse to accept their attitude on this. That's a defeatist attitude.

Make no mistake - the NRA is NOT Maryland's friend. They're just not quite our enemy.

Call the Maryland NRA Rep....Jenn Palmer is it? Sorry it's late and I can't remember. Ask her why the NRA won't support ccw in Maryland. Her and Jim Purtilo are good friends and I was told that they actually lobbied against HB1211 by somebody who actually saw them in Annapolis doing just that. Maybe they can answer the million dollar question better than I. If they have some grand scheme that's better than what we're doing, I wish they would share it with us. Most Marylanders are plain tired of sitting back and waiting for the NRA to save the day for us. I didn't see anybody from the NRA in Annapolis last year OR this year to testify against the bad bills and for the good ones. Sandy Abrams was there, but he repeatedly stated that he was there representing the MD Licensed Firearms Dealers' Association, and NOT there as an NRA board member.
 
Please let's not burn any bridges!!

I to would love to see the NRA back HB 1211, but I would hate to count them out.

We have come far in a short period of time with the help of some dedicated Marylanders. Spot your one of them :) thanks

But I rember even you saying that Maryland was not ready for concealed Carry yet. That was only last year.

"As much as even >I< hate to admit it, Maryland isn't ready for mass concealed carry by citizens."

".....but I think even the State Police would be against us on this one, if only due to the increased workload they would have to assume."

As you can see the State Police did not oppose HB 1211 this year.

This has went far better than anyone first thought it would, I would hope that the NRA will pitch in when they feel that it is the right time.

I was very glad to see that Sandy Abrams was up to testify for HB 1211, but even he said that he had doubt that this would pass. But it has a way better chance than first thought. Next year will be even better if it doesn't get through this year.

So my point is... don't knock anyone out before we get there ;)


This was not a flame, but I hate to see groups separate and work against each other.

Again I know you do a hell of a lot more than I have time for, for the Marylanders gun rights and it is well appreciated :) thanks again Erik
 
What's funny is that on March 4th, the NRA-ILA put this out:
Among the pro-gun bills being considered are HB 179, which would repeal the current law requiring that all handguns undergo "ballistic imaging" before they could be sold, and HB 1211, the "Citizens` Protection Act of 2005," which makes improvements to the state`s current discriminatory carry permit system, allowing trained, law-abiding citizens to obtain a permit to carry a firearm for personal protection.
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And on March 11th they ignore it. That makes me wonder if they figured they could mention it when it "had no chance" and then withdrew their meager support when they got wind of the attention the bill is getting :scrutiny: .

I think Spot77 is right when he says:
Make no mistake - the NRA is NOT Maryland's friend.
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It appears that they support/oppose bills based on the ramifications for the rest of the country and Maryland be damned :mad: !

Greg
 
Greg and Erik - both good points.

Yup- I sure did say last year that MD wasn't ready, and I still believe the political climate is less than hospitable, but that's all the more reason we (NRA included) should be pushing HARD NOW. Should Ehrlich fail to get re-elected, things will get worse for us. If he does get re-elected, we'll only have four years to get things done. And that's ONLY if the Senate JPR stays in our favor, and the rest of the house and senate doesn't fill up with more anti's.

Make no mistake - we'll work with ANYBODY on all gun bills. But if they want to sit back and do nothing, everybody should know what they're doing or not doing. Especially all of us that are NRA members (Hell I'm even a LIFE MEMBER).

Not burning any bridges - in some places, there are no bridges.

I'm not sure why the State Police didn't testify against us this year - it's been suggested that MSI's pressure on Gov. Ehrlich (heck we dumped 1500+ signed letters on his desk demanding that he do something) might have influenced the decision not to oppose it. But just because they didn't speak out against it doesn't mean they are FOR it.

It looks like we only need ONE MORE VOTE to get a favorable report from the House Judiciary Commitee.....WOW! That was impossible even a year ago. Imagine what would happen if groups like The NRA and Tripwire would have supported Marylanders instead of saying that anybody supporting ccw reform this year was woking directly with the Brady Campaign to get an AWB passed? That was an uncalled for slander, and I don't think it made anybody happy except for Gail Gunn's crowd.
 
I was never sure what was being said between the two groups.

But I alway's stood up for MSI. They got CCW in Maryland a lot of attention and that is exactly what was needed. Because of MSI HB 1211 is on their plate now ;)

The fights were being lost prior to this year and it WAS time for some new blood to take a stab at it.

I am very proud of MSI and I am sure that they gained EVERYONE'S RESPECT of how they handled HB 1211 and the AWB. I know they got mine. Thanks again MSI.

I know that those doubted you beforewill have to sit back and rethink Their innitial thoughts. MSI got the word out and people are paying attention.

As for are Marylanders ready? I KNOW the people of Maryland are ready and now because of MSI and all the call's and E-Mails they received now the politicians have it sitting on their plate ready for a vote.

I just want to see everyone work together and on the same team. I heard those same lies about MSI and told people that it was BS. Now everyone can see it was BS. So the truth is shown with their vote on HB 1211 being awaited.

Thanks Spott for all your hard work.Like I said before, this is not a flame at you at all and everyone of us appreciates everything you and so many others have put into this effort. I just hate name calling, it does nothing but pull groups apart.

Thanks again Erik
 
Part two:

Erik, you quoted me on a few things, but there were a lot of quotes after where I tried to clarify my position. Such as:

"These bills show a change in the way Marylanders feel about gun laws and even personal rights in general. The more support we continue to show for these things, the better are chances are of seeing some change. It may take a looooooong time, but it's certainly worth a few minutes a week to send emails, faxes and letters and to make a few phone calls."


And yes, you caught me in some negativity. But that was LAST year. Ironbarr had some posts in that thread that made an impact on me - that I in fact had become ingrained with negativity due to Maryland's anti-gun environment. He (or she) was right. I was wrong. I testified in favor of the bill even though I was unsure of it because it was the right thing to do.

So if an individual like me (or any of us growing up here) can recognize how dangerous a "sit back and wait" attitude is, then experienced players like the NRA should know the same.

Point: Look how many "gun bills" were heard on the 9th. Quinter's AWB didn't get heard for over 8 hours. Had we not "filled the hopper" with so many pro gun bills to be heard, and had so many people testify, the AWB bill would have been heard earlier allowing all of Ceasefire's minions to testify. Most of them left by 5pm and Quinter was PISSED.

So by being SUPER PROACTIVE with gun bills, we can more easily fight the bad ones. Most people testifying for the good ones also testified against the bad ones, and that takes a boatload of time. More time on good bills = less time on bad ones.

So it should make sense that everybody (NRA included) take the time with every bill, whether it can pass this year or not.

Maybe the NRA recognizes how good MD activists are now and they figure they'll fight the good fight where it's more needed :) :evil:
 
" Maybe the NRA recognizes how good MD activists are now and they figure they'll fight the good fight where it's more needed" ...... Let's hope so :)

I agree the NRA should have been with us on HB 1211. I have never understood how they determine which bill's they will back and which they won't. After all they were already there :rolleyes:

But one thing is for certain, We are being taken seriously this time :)

Now if we can all stay together and hand them a good fight year after year. Things will change.

Take care Erik
 
I have never understood how they determine which bill's they will back and which they won't.
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Austin Charles, the more I think about it, the more it makes sense:

State level IBIS and AWB laws can be copied in other states and at the federal level. The NRA is willing to fight in Maryland to prevent that. HB 1211 has very little national impact (37 changes to 38 and travel to Maryland gets safer) and that's why they just don't care.

Greg
 
We need ONE of these Delegates to promise to vote in favor:

Vallario
Carter
Dumais
Kelley, D.
Menes
Simmons
Zirkin
 
A big THANK YOU to those that went. I live in Annapolis and am ashamed to say that I couldnt make it.
If not for people like you, this great state would go the way of New York, New Jersey, Mass., California, etc.

Thank you all so much for the time you spent to fight these liberal gun grabbers on the behalf of us Marylanders.
 
Welcome to THR Kingfish.

There's a BUNCH of Maryland folks here at The high Road - at least 60 that I know of. Be sure to check in often as there's always something going on.


It's probably time that we all get together again to celebrate what we've been fighting so hard for - SHOOTING! We all try to get together a few times a year to shoot, hang out, try each other's guns. Heck we've even had a picnic or two that was pretty fun.
 
Playing paintball tomorrow - I'll probably be too zapped of all my energy to do much else the rest of the day.

I'll get a thread started in Rallying Point so a bunch of us can make plans.
 
I'm going to be at the House Office Bldg. tomorrow afternoon. In the likely chance that I won't be able to meet with the various legislators, I'm going to have a letter in-hand requesting their support for HB 1211. If anyone would like to join me, please PM me or just show up (I was thinking of getting there around 5:00 p.m. since I think the late Monday session starts at 8:00 p.m.). I'll be wearing my blue Maryland Shall Issue cap and have my name on my visitor's badge.
Greg
 
Greg,

Thanks for once again making the trek downtown to talk to the legislators. I find that's not my gig as I do much better with either the large groups or writing letters.

Good luck!
 
Greg I might be able to make it there by 7pm, which is actually a pretty good time to catch them before they go into session.

I'm not sure I'll have any more impact on anybody, but it certainly can't hurt.


By the way - Almost every Legislator (Maybe all of them now) representing Anne Arundel County is Pro Gun!

Great job to all of us in the area!!!!!
 
woohoo.....I knew that there was a reason that I lived in Anne Arundel County!
 
As has been said, we're only one vote shy of getting a favorable report on HB1211. And word has it that Bobby Zirkin is considering voting for it. If any of you are from district 11, or know someone who is, get on the phone and put some more pressure on him to support HB1211.

Heck, even if you're not one of his constituents, give him a call.
 
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