MD - vote on SB288 tommorrow

[MikeK]

From a reliable source (the Don referred to is rep. Don Dweyer):

Folks,



I never cry wolf. Here’s what I know:



1) I’ve heard SB 288 is scheduled for a vote TOMORRO, 2/27, at 8:30. There’s no time to do anything about it. Conventional wisdom says Gianetti will cave on us tomorrow. Why else schedule a vote?



2) The house hearing on the AWB, is set for Tuesday, March 16. Don has asked for a crowd like last time if we can do it. I say let’s try. We’ve got some time. Plan on a repeat of 2/10/04. Mark your calendars, or whatever.



3) Don has mentioned an interest in a “truth conference†around 10:00 that day. If we can make some sound bites out of the lies we’ve been hearing, so much the better. We’ll want to be prepared for some press.



4) Plan on getting to Annapolis as early as you can, and we’ll go “trick or treating.†That is, visiting fence sitting delegates, and reminding them why we are here.



That’s not much off the top of my pointy little head, but there you go. Round two !! This is the time to underscore that the Senate hearing wasn’t a fluke.

 

[K-Romulus]

how tf

are people going to be able to make it to both the Mar 16 AWB hearing AND the Mar 17 CCW hearing?

 

[MikeK]

are people going to be able to make it to both the Mar 16 AWB hearing AND the Mar 17 CCW hearing?

Take 2 days off or skip the CCW hearing. Much as I would like to see it pass, it doesn't stand a snowball's chance in H... I don't even need any inside info to call that one.

 

[Spot77]

It's a good thing I have a LOT of vacation time.

I'm in for the 16th, and I'm 99% sure I'm in for the 17th.

I've put so much into fighting this ludicrous AWB thing (as have thousands of Marylanders), that there's no way I'm going to roll over and die now.

 

[Kharn]

Tagged for future reference.

Kharn

 

[Cliff]

That's a big 10-4 Spott77. I'll be there both days. I understand a lot of us can't take both days off, I'll just try to raise my little bit of hell for the cause for those who can't make it.

 

[Girlwithagun]

The boys and I will be there on the 16th. Maybe I'll see if any other Moms want to come.

 

[JeepDriver]

I'm gonna try to make it.

Got some other stuff that I need to take time off for though (wife and I just bought a house, need time off for closeing and moving).

I'll be making phone calls and doing the e-mail and letter writing thing as long as is needed though!

I've subscribed to this thread so I can keep up on it.

 

[chaim]

I'll try to be there both days if I can, and I'll really try hardest for the 16th then. I can't promise though. I am currently looking for work and if (hopefully) I find something by then, I can't promise I'll be able to get off work just days after starting a new job, especially since there are a bunch of holidays coming up that I'll need to take off for. If I can I'll be there at least for the 16th and if I'm still unemployed I'll be there for both.

 

[chaim]

Opps, DT, sorry.

 

[cpileri]

figures

that I would first read this post o 27Feb at 0834 hours! Well then, the vote is a few minutes old; so how did it go?
C-

 

[aquapong]

I went the the Maryland state website to try to find out the results. This was the result...you have to PAY to find out what your legislature is doing! I'm not from Maryland, but that is just flat out unacceptable. You guys have got to set those people straight down there.

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[Kharn]

Any news?

Kharn

 

[Harry Tuttle]

i'm hearing from a good source "no vote was taken"

 

[cpileri]

hmmm

Couldn't get enough anti- votes to actually show up, huh?
Breaks my heart.
C-

 

[dc2wheel]

This just in

From wtop.com:
_________________________________
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - A Democratic senator considered the swing vote on
a proposed Maryland ban on the sale of semiautomatic rifles and shotguns
said Friday he will vote against the gun-control bill.

Sen. John Gianetti, a Prince George's County resident whose district also
includes part of Anne Arundel County, had been under intense pressure
from both sides of the emotional gun-control issue.

Gianetti said he decided to oppose the bill for several reasons, including
his feeling that "you're not going to see safer streets" if the bill became
law.

Gianetti said he also was influenced by the fact that Gov. Bob Ehrlich, with
whom he had talked about the bill, said he would veto the bill if it reached
his desk.

The senator said even if he voted for the bill and it reached the Senate for
debate, it would be subject to a filibuster that could only be shut off with
votes from Democrats from conservative districts.

"You put conservative Democrats on the spot," Gianetti said.

The bill by Sen. Rob Garagiola, D-Montgomery, would replace the federal
ban on assault weapons that will expire this year unless extended by
Congress. An extension is considered unlikely with Republicans controlling
the Senate and House of Representatives.

Garagiola said he is not giving up hope for the bill even though Gianetti
would make six votes against it in the 13-member committee.

"I'm hopeful. I'm ready to go. I really am," Garagiola said.

Sen. Brian Frosh, D-Montgomery, chairman of the committee and a
supporter of Garagiola's bill, said he will postpone a vote until next week.

"There's always hope," Frosh said.
_______________________________________

 

[Harry Tuttle]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-weapons0227,0,1033565.story?coll=bal-home-headlines

Giannetti to vote against assault weapons ban
Democrat considered swing vote on issue; Supporters of measure vow
effort to bring legislation to floor of full Senate
By Kimberly A.C. Wilson and Jon Morgan
Sun Staff
Originally published February 27, 2004, 11:26 AM EST

State Sen. John A. Giannetti Jr., the swing vote on an otherwise
deadlocked Senate committee, announced this morning he will vote
against a heavily lobbied bill that would have banned assault weapons
in the state.

Giannetti had been the only undecided member of the committee, where
five members had signaled their opposition to the bill and five others
were in support. If the other members do not change their votes, the
bill could die in committee as soon as today.

Supporters of the measure, however, pledged to try and bring the bill
to the floor of the full Senate -- a procedure that has been used
occasionally but faces institutional resistance.

Giannetti, a Democrat who represents conservative pockets of Anne
Arundel County and liberal bastions in Prince George's County, said he
had been the subject of intense lobbying and had spent time personally
interviewing experts on the issue.

"Both sides have threatened that no matter how it pans out, they're
gonna run somebody against me, which kind of cancels out the threats,"
he said earlier this week.

In private meetings over the past two weeks, Giannetti has interrogated
law enforcement officials from his district and lobbyists for and
against gun control to understand where he should stand on the proposal
that would ban 45 assault firearms. He was also seeking advice on his
amendment that would instead establish a state version of the federal
ban on 19 semiautomatic arms.

Voices for gun control, including CeaseFire Maryland, say the federal
ban is riddled with loopholes, so tighter controls on more firearms are
needed. Voices for gun-owner rights, such as the Associated Gun Clubs
of Baltimore, say the federal ban was ineffective at preventing high-
profile incidents such as the Washington-area sniper shootings in 2002,
so why bother with any ban?

Copyright © 2004, The Baltimore Sun | Get home delivery

 

[Spot77]

Don't jump for joy yet.......

We ALL need to send a few more letters, emails, and make phone calls to thank the Senators who oppose the bill. There's still a chance that somebody will cave in.

I'm VERY please that everybody here at THR has put forth the effort in helping to defeat this. WAY TO GO!!!!

 

[moa]

I imagine Mike Miller, Dem. President of the State Senate, will push real hard to get SB 288 out of Committee and onto the floor of the Senate for a vote. Miller knows that there probably is not enough votes to filibuster the Bill to stop the general vote.

A lot of what to do with SB 288 is to use it against Gov. Erhlich in the next election if the Erhlich sticks to his word and vetos the Bill.

Early in this session, Miller got the filibuster rule changed to cripple the Republicans from organizing a filibuster. With only 14 Republican Senators, under the old rule it was possible to get a few Democratic Senators to join in a filibuster. That was under the old rule that two-thirds of Senate could block a filibuster. Miller got that changed from two-thirds to just three fifths, which means just about anything the Dems want, will pass in the Senate and go to Governor for veto or not.

This puts the Governor on the spot and enhances the power of Miller. In my estimation Miller is an egotistical, power hungry slim ball. He even got a new State office building named after himself several years ago.

 

[Cliff]

Just had a very pleasant conversation with a staffer in Sen. Gianetti's office.I thanked the Senator for coming out against HB 288. I also said that contrary to popular belief,there are many black folk in Prince George's county that are against this bill,and against any type of legislation that is anti-gun,and takes away our rights to arm ourselves.
I'm sure the Senator is very busy these days,but if he would like to hear a perspective on gun rights from some black pro-gunners,democratic and republician alike,that he might not have heard before, myself and others would be willing to do so.

The anti's like Leah Barrett,and Senator Hughe's want to bring race into the issue,fine, we can do that also. Hugh's really pissed me off on the 10th when he went after Abrams with that statement about attending the funerals of black children who died because of the guns that Abrams was selling.
I have attended the same type of funerals in PG county and the district. But I don't blame the gun, and I sure as hell don't blame a gunstore owner,and manufacturer for that gun being used to kill a child.

I've stated as much to Hugh's office,but I,of course have received no reply.Kinda like on the 10th when I got up to testify,and he got up and walked out of the hearing room. Or so I was told.
Believe you me, the next time I get up to testify in March,I WILL make a direct reference to Senator Hugh's emotional,and illlogicial stance. I'll be nice,but direct.

 

[MikeK]

Right on Cliff! See you on the 16th.

 

[JeepDriver]

I really wish I could make it on the 16th!

give 'em hell Cliff!

 

[Spot77]

I never received a response from Senator Hughes' office either, and my letter to him was very neutral; I simply asked where he stood on the issue and why.

A flaming ignorant response would be better than no response at all. It shows that he feels no accountability to his constituents.

I am having A LOT of fun with this; even as frustrating as it is. Let's keep it up, and keep fighting for change in Maryland. Change IS coming, and the politicians need to accept it and do as the people wish.

 

[Crownvicman]

I may be able to get off on the 16th. How can I help?

 

[Spot77]

We may not have to be there on the 16th now....it's hard to say. You can bet we won't really know until the last minute.

Just showing up in large numbers really does send a message that gunowners aren't going to have their rights trampled on anymore. Even though the media is against us, they couldn't deny the large number of people who showed up to oppse SB288.

Be prepared to show up early, and stay late. Have a statement prepared about why you oppose SB288. And dress nice. 95% of us there last time were in a suit or at least a dress shirt and tie. ABSOLUTELY no camo unless you want the media to pounce on you and twist whatever you say so that you appear to be another Eric Rudolph........

Keep an eye on this thread and others that Harry Tuttle starts or posts in. He's pretty wired in on this.