Balmer Sun: Md. lawmakers seek to extend ban on arms

[Harry Tuttle]

http://www.sunspot.net/news/education/bal-gunban0203,0,4401229.story?coll=bal-local-headlines

Md. lawmakers seek to extend ban on arms
Federal rule on assault weapons set to expire in September

By Kimberly A.C. Wilson
Sun Staff
Originally published February 3, 2004, 2:25 PM EST

Nearly two dozen Maryland lawmakers are backing a new bill to continue a ban on assault weapons that would go into effect when the federal rule expires on Sept. 13, 2004.

Sen. Robert J. Garagiola, a Montgomery County Democrat, announced today his sponsorship of Senate Bill 288, which would effectively extend the state's 1994 ban on assault pistols to include 45 specific assault rifles and copycat weapons that share their characteristics.

"I don't think that anybody wants to see these guns back on the street after the ban expires," Garagiola said. "There is no convincing reason why anyone needs an AK-47 to go hunting. These weapons are designed to kill people."

At an afternoon news conference, hecklers taunted Garagiaola and other sponsors of an identical House bill expected from Del. Neil F. Quinter, a Howard County Democrat.

But Quinter said fresh memories of the 2002 Washington-area sniper shootings that left six Marylanders dead and another seriously wounded are good enough reason to extend the ban.

Convicted snipers John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo used a Bushmaster AR-15, a civilian version of the M-16, during their spree. The weapon, a modified semi-automatic assault rifle, isn't specifically covered by the current federal law but is named among 45 semi-automatic rifles that could be banned if either the Quinter or Garagiola bills are passed.

Copyright © 2004
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Heckler Report:

Hello all, today in Annapolis ASA squared off against
CeaseFire at the Mike Miller Senate Building. The
conference was a photo opp for SB-288 (Maryland
Assault Weapons Ban) being introduced by Senator Rob
Garagiola
of Montgomery County's 15th legislative district. Ida
Ruben, Brian Frosh and Neil Quinter were also in
attendance as well as CeaseFire's own Leah Barrett,
Ginny Wolf and Lillian Nolan. The box social kicked
off around 12:00 noon and ran till 1:00 P.M.

I asked
Garagiola "what about self defense?" when he opened
the floor for questions. He said then he would only
take questions from the media after i identified
myself and ASA. All of there speakers talked about not
coming after existing guns or hunters and sportsmen.

He then continued pointing at a picture of a Striker
shotgun and stated that "this street sweeper assault
weapon holds a hundred rounds of ammo." I retort and
state that it holds 12 rounds, "how can you lie like
that?" I ask? he then says "take it out side." I
remind him of my first amendment rights.

After the
fireworks i spoke with the Washington Times, Baltimore
Sun and Washington Post. There were a few others that
i don't remember. I also made sure that everyone in
the media got a copy of the famous John Muhammad
wearing an Million Mom March t-shirt flier. I think
some of the televised media might have caught me
as they panned my way on questions but i can not be
sure. If folk read or see anything let me know? John
J. of AGC was in the hall but i did not see or hear him
speak.


John

 

[Crownvicman]

"He said then he would only take questions from the media after i identified
myself and ASA." So, I guess that average citizen's questions are not important?