Testified yesterday AGAINST the MD so-called "AWB"

[Romulus]

Spent the whole day in Annapolis, along with close to 300 other pissed-off people who came to testify. The committee hearings lasted from 1:00 until about 7:30PM. I got there at 9:30 to snag a seat. About 100 people were in the hearing room, and the rest were in the hall.

Salient points that came out during the hearings:

The state FOP polled its rank-and-file members, and OPPOSES the law (that includes the Baltimore and Montgomery County Lodges).
The Ass'n of Chiefs of Police "legislative committee" supports the law. :eyes:
The MD State Police OPPOSES the law as having "insufficient need."

The bill does not address automatic firearms or "weapons or war."

The bill will not affect crime since rifle crime is already minuscule.

The sniperguys could have killed their victims with a muzzleloader.

The VPC's "one in five LEO's shot dead" statistic was exposed as a bunch of hooey by both the MD State Police and various Ph.D types. I looked over the VPC report while I was waiting around, and out of 41 incidents they list, I counted 5 involving a handgun, 2 with a Mini-14, and several others with an SKS. The VPC had a big disclaimer at the end of the report about how it couldn't tell if the SKS' used were "banned," but that they would lump them in, anyway.

The one MD LEO who was killed by a rifle in the last 20 years died in 2003 - from complications stemming from being shot and paralyzed in 1977 by an M1 carbine.

The bill, as written, DOES ban *any* semi-auto rifle that could *possibly* be equipped with (1) a magazine and (2) banned features like a "pistol grip," etc. Such rifles are labeled "copycat weapons."

The bill defines "pistol grip" in a way to label *any* rifle stock as a"pistol grip."

The bill DOES ban all semi-auto handguns as "copycat weapons"; If it could *possibly* accept (1) a magazine and (2) a threaded barrel, etc., it's banned.

The bill opponents were a real cross section of MD, with women, kids, minorities (like me), etc., all testifying AGAINST this crappy bill. One 50-ish gentleman from inner-city Baltimore got up and pleaded with the committee to let him have a chance to defend his family against thugs. He even cited three stories where his family members had been shot at, and how his own mother had fired a handgun at someone breaking into her home.

The bill proponents were about 20 (all Caucasian) paid lobbyists and upper class housewives from Chevy Chase, Bethesda, and Potomac,as well as a few religious officials who spoke about their respect for the sanctity of life (which includes abortion bans).

The chair of the committee tried to use the "if it saves one life" argument during the State Police's testimony. However, the same chairman conveniently forgot that he had just heard that 6 LEO's had been murdered by cars during the last ten years.

When it was my turn to step up to the podium, I started off loud and clear, so the videotape was sure to record this:
"My name is (Romulus), I am a liberal Democrat, and a veteran, I live in (Senate) District 14 in Montgomery County, and I took time off from work to come over here to Annapolis today to ask you to oppose SB288."

Anyone who calls me a RW lunatic can go pound sand.

As I walked back to my seat after my three minutes were up, several people shook my hand and said it was great to see a fellow Democrat here.

News stories on the hearing:
MD Lawmakers Hear Gun Ban testimony

http://www.thewbalchannel.com/politics/2837724/detail.html">Gun Owners, Gun Control Advocates Renew Long Rivalry

Nothing from the Wash Post :eyes:

Link to the bill info and text:
Senate Bill 288

[Superfly]

1. Good job!

"Anyone who calls me a RW lunatic can go pound sand."

[demsrule4life]

2. I second the good job

Thank god we don't have these problems down here in AL. :)

[Withergyld]

3. Good Job

:toast:

[alwynsw]

4. Huzzah for the good guys!

Do I hear knuckles striking silica? I should. I think it's coming from a bit north of Annapolis.

[beevul]

5. Nice going Romulus!!

"The bill, as written, DOES ban *any* semi-auto rifle that could *possibly* be equipped with (1) a magazine and (2) banned features like a "pistol grip," etc. Such rifles are labeled "copycat weapons.""

"The bill defines "pistol grip" in a way to label *any* rifle stock as a"pistol grip.""

If this bill passes, it is going to piss ALOT of folks off.

WTG standing up against this bill!!:toast:

[Township75]

6. Kick ass job ROM!

keep it up...especially exposing all the anti gunner hooey out there!

[DoNotRefill]

7. They're pushing the envelope....

they're calling something a misdemeanor that carries a 5 to 20 year sentence.

They're also going to run into a big fat conflict with FOPA with the transportation bit. I wonder which law will win? ;)

[MrSandman]

8. Another Gun Control deception

"Section Two: Law Enforcement Officers Killed in the line of Duty by Assault Weapons, 1998 Through 2001
<>
Maryland Unknown M1 Carbine .30
<>
http://www.vpc.org/studies/officetwo.htm

The data, summarized in the organization's "Officer Down" report, includes the model number and bullet caliber used in police shootings from Alaska to New York. Among the fatalities is the Oct. 20, 2000, death of Baltimore County Police Officer John Stem, the last Maryland officer to die of wounds inflicted by an assault weapon. Stem suffered the wounds during a barricade shooting in 1977 that left him paralyzed and killed a fellow officer.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.guns11feb11,0,650684.story?coll=bal-local-headlines

These two are the same thing? How can an event occuring 17 years prior to the AWB be used to show it doesn't work? If there is one distortion what about the rest of the report? Has the VPC been studying with, dare I say, John Lott?

BTW, Thanks for standing up for gunowners nationwide. I did not realize this was so extensive. Keep us posted.

[slackmaster]

9. Proponents must be pretty desperate to use a VPC "report"

Pathetic, actually.

[-..__...]

10. More power to 'ya.

One thing that's important here is that gun owners shouldn't confine themselves to local or state issues that only pertain to them.
I'm very much supportive of pro-gun efforts in other states. Likewise, I'm concerned and angered by anti-gun legislation even if it's taking place elsewhere in this country.

Best of luck to MD gunowners in defeating this foolish legislation.

[Romulus]

11. "A Roll Call on Weapons" (WashPost)

I don't understand why the Post chose to ignore what happened on the hearing day. No mention in this screed about the Fraternal Order of Police membership being solidy OPPOSED to "further infringements on law-abiding citzens' right to bear arms."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53110-2004Feb18.html

THOUGH THERE is no sensible, compelling reason for a civilized society to be loading up with assault-style weapons -- arms that sportsmen do not need -- Maryland Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) and state lawmakers who answer to the call of the National Rifle Association favor the free flow of these arms. And though several surveys over the years have shown that most Marylanders support a ban on such weapons, opponents are working to defeat a measure that would keep a state ban in place if Congress fails to extend a federal ban to expire Sept. 13. A critical vote -- which could be decided by one swing senator in Annapolis -- is set for today or tomorrow in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee.

According to head counts yesterday, five senators supported the measure, five opposed it and Sen. John A. Giannetti Jr. (D-Prince George's) had not indicated how he will vote. Given the importance of the measure, the committee should let the bill go to the floor of the Senate, where every member's position can be recorded for their constituents to see. As Sen. Robert J. Garagiola (D-Montgomery), lead sponsor of the bill, warned this month, "If we don't act" and the federal ban expires, "on September 14 you are going to be able to buy an AK-47 again, or an Uzi or a street sweeper" -- weapons designed chiefly to kill people.

One of the chief arguments of opponents is that assault weapons haven't killed as many law enforcement officers as proponents of the ban have been saying. Specifically they challenge a study by the Violence Policy Center, a nonprofit that analyzed FBI data on fatal police shootings from Jan. 1, 1998, through Dec. 21, 2001. During that period 211 officers in the United States were killed in the line of duty, 41 of them with weapons that the center determined to be assault-style weapons: AK-47s, M-1 carbines and others. That's one in five officers.

What if the statistic were one in 20? Why does anyone -- killer or not -- need to own one of these weapons? Why leave any police officers outgunned on the streets? Why does Howard County Police Chief G. Wayne Livesay, president of the Maryland Chiefs of Police Association, support the ban? Why do so many Marylanders view the ban not as an infringement but as a matter of public safety? Would those who favor repeal of assault weapons also support the return of machine guns to the civilian market?

*snip/end*

I have a really bad feeling that this bill is going to pass. Which means 99% of semi-auto firearms will be banned from future sale in MD (including handguns), and those of us who currently own them will be forced to register for the round-up list.

My wife asked me why I wasn't more concerned about lobbying for environmental issues or something. I told her I don't have time for anything else, because what free time I have is spent responding to crap like this legislation.

[MrSandman]

12. So they admit lying is ok if the cause is theirs?

[Hrumph]

15. Don't do it!

"I have a really bad feeling that this bill is going to pass. Which means 99% of semi-auto firearms will be banned from future sale in MD (including handguns), and those of us who currently own them will be forced to register for the round-up list."

My thoughts on the issue, for what they're worth... NEVER REGISTER ANYTHING, regardless of the political climate.

[Romulus]

13. update - vote supposedly tomorrow

The MD Senate vote on this is rumored for tomorow at 8:30. The rumor mill has it that the swing voter on the committee has decided to vote in favor of the submitted bill. He was reported as thinking about submitting a replacement that merely tracked the Fed AWB, instead of the current bill that bans 99% of semi-auto handguns, rifles, and shotguns due to the "can accept (evil components)" language that defined "copycat assault weapons."

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.gun25feb25,0,5793577.story

*snip*

(Sen.) Giannetti is the only undecided member of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, which is considering a bill to extend some form of a ban when the federal one expires in September. Of the other 10 members of the committee, five favor the ban and five oppose it -- making him the swing vote on an issue that elicits strong emotions on both sides.

"It's intense, but it's having the opposite effect than intended," said the Democrat who represents conservative pockets of Anne Arundel County and liberal bastions in Prince George's County. "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."

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 is also seeking advice on his amendment that would instead establish a state version of the federal ban on 19 semiautomatic arms.

*snip/more*

Edited to add:

I have to give Giannetti(D) credit for doing the right thing and actually making up his mind about this issue. It would have been much easier for him to simply do what he was told by the resident MD gun-grabbers.

[Romulus]

14. 2/27 update

It seems that the vote was postponed after Giannetti told the bill sponsor to pound sand (in a nice way)

http://www.wtop.com/index.php?sid=174091&nid=25

Swing Vote on Assault Weapons Ban Will Vote Against Gun Control
Updated: Friday, Feb. 27, 2004 - 11:49 AM

"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. "

*snip*

"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."

*snip/more*

I guess the "off the record" meeting he had with the FOP members helped.

[Columbia]

16. Congrats Romulus!

Just heard the bill was shot down!

:toast: