Md - Maryland Gun Bill Day

[jrhines]

They also serve who only stand and wait...

Scott and I had to pull out around 5 pm, but kept our MSI and "MD Gunowners Vote" buttons visable 'till then. One bystander asked what bill was under discussion that we were fighting against. I said, to his suprise, that several of the items were things we supported. I explained the CCW and IBIS issues and he seemed delighted that these were being pushed forward and wished us well.
To bad that more folks could not get into the hearing room. Both Scott and I signed the testimony sheets for CCW, transport and IBIS repeal and against the AWB. It was time well spent.

 

[Austin Charles]

Hey, stop pounding on the ever so arrogant Gail Gunn.

I love this women, I would hate for her Board of Directors to get wind of how old and wore out she looked, and how rude and arrogant she is to everyone she comes into contact with. This lady is Great for our cause, she does more good for us than harm

All in all we did good yesterday, It was a LONG day. I would have loved to see more people their to support us but I understand that not everyone can take the time off work to attend.

And thanks to all who do put forth all the effort that they do. We are making great strides towards the gun rights for Maryland.

Thanks again Erik Bischoff

 

[Spot77]

I had the honor of educating a lady affiliated with Johns Hopkins on the true wrongs of Md's gun laws. She thought Ballistic Fingerprinting and the AWB were good things until I explained why they nothing more than "feel good" legislation.

After hearing testimony about what a boondoggle Ballistic Fingerprinting is, she was PISSED. She was asking me how dumb laws like that get passed. I told her it was because it SOUNDED like a good idea, but when it proved unsuccessful in solving even ONE crime, it was time to be repealed. She agreed, and thought her tax dollars could be better spent.

She was also under the impression that the AWB covered machine guns.

Of all the soapboxing I did yesterday, I think talking to her was the most productive.

 

[Girlwithagun]

We did good yesterday. The more times they see us and hear what we have to say, the better. Eventually, they will have to listen. Since I couldn't be in the hearing room the whole time because of my kids, I did learn something that I think is also an important reason for being there. I got the chance to talk to alot of people who were curious as to why we were there and I got an overwhelming response of support. There were even a few who seemed against it at the beginning but said that what we were doing makes sense. These are people who were unaware of our fight and now are at least aware that we are out there.

Unfortunately, I am not a public speaker- I freeze up and my voice gets all shaky so I am glad that before my oral testimony, the delegates also had written testimony and most had heard from me before anyway. I hope it wasn't too painfully obvious that when I got up there, my mind went blank and I forgot what I was going to say. Something to work on I guess.

Thank you to all who showed up and also to those who called, wrote letters, stopped by, prayed, meditated, whatever helps our cause.

 

[molonlabe]

I wonder if she was affiliated with this link.

I work in the belly of the beast. It is unfortunate that an esteemed research organization like Johns Hopkins affiliates itself with junk science and political agendas such as this.

We really do some wonderful research.


http://www.jhsph.edu/gunpolicy/index.html

Thanks to all who showed up to fight for my freedom. I too had surgery last week and could not fathom sitting or standing all those hours.

 

[Spot77]

Sorry I should have mentioned - she was there to testify on a totally unrelated bill - something to do with mental health and time allowed to be committed to an institution.

John, that link made my eyes bleed.

 

[DelayedReaction]

Wow. That was the first time I've ever done something like that, and it certainly won't be the last. Between experiencing Gail Gunn firsthand, to seeing delegate Quinter act like... delegate Quinter, to that snotty delegate who told us to "stick to statistics" for the sake of impression his girlfriend... wow.

On the positive side, I was extremely impressed by our group. All of our people where very vocal and well-spoken (even you GWAG, don't be so hard on yourself), and I think we might have a chance. For those of you with phones, call the swing voters below. Also, Delegate Menes is extremely anti-gun, but enough phone calls may show her that we mean business.

The vote is only in a few days, so we need to put as much pressure on them as possible!

Contact Info:

PAULINE H. MENES
Democrat, District 21, Anne Arundel & Prince George's County
Lowe House Office Building, Room 210
84 College Ave.
Annapolis, MD 21401 - 1991
(410) 841-3114, (301) 858-3114
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3114 (toll free)
e-mail: [email protected]
fax: (410) 841-3116, (301) 858-3116
3517 Marlbrough Way
College Park, MD 20740 - 3925
(301) 935-6270

JILL P. CARTER
Democrat, District 41, Baltimore City
Lowe House Office Building, Room 317
84 College Ave.
Annapolis, MD 21401 - 1991
(410) 841-3283, (301) 858-3283
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3283 (toll free)
e-mail: [email protected]
fax: (410) 841-3244, (301) 858-3244

KATHLEEN M. DUMAIS
Democrat, District 15, Montgomery County
Lowe House Office Building, Room 226
84 College Ave.
Annapolis, MD 21401 - 1991
(410) 841-3052, (301) 858-3052
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3052 (toll free)
e-mail: [email protected]
fax: (410) 841-3219, (301) 858-3219

DARRYL A. KELLEY
Democrat, District 26, Prince George's County
Lowe House Office Building, Room 205
84 College Ave.
Annapolis, MD 21401 - 1991
(410) 841-3212, (301) 858-3212
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3212 (toll free)
e-mail: [email protected]
fax: (410) 841-3078, (301) 858-3078

CAROL STOKER PETZOLD
Democrat, District 19, Montgomery County
Lowe House Office Building, Room 222
84 College Ave.
Annapolis, MD 21401 - 1991
(410) 841-3001, (301) 858-3001
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3001 (toll free)
e-mail: [email protected]
fax: (410) 841-3009, (301) 858-3009
14113 Chadwick Lane
Rockville, MD 20853 - 2103
LUIZ R. S. SIMMONS
Democrat, District 17, Montgomery County
Lowe House Office Building, Room 225
84 College Ave.
Annapolis, MD 21401 - 1991
(410) 841-3037, (301) 858-3037
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3037 (toll free)
e-mail: [email protected]
fax: (410) 841-3003, (301) 858-3003

THEODORE J. SOPHOCLEUS
Democrat, District 32, Anne Arundel County
Lowe House Office Building, Room 214B
84 College Ave.
Annapolis, MD 21401-1991
(410) 841-3233, (301) 858-3233
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3233 (toll free)
e-mail: [email protected]
fax: (410) 841-3235, (301) 858-3235

JOSEPH F. VALLARIO, JR.
Democrat, District 27A, Calvert & Prince George's Counties
Lowe House Office Building, Room 121
84 College Ave.
Annapolis, MD 21401 - 1991
(410) 841-3488, (301) 858-3488
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3488 (toll free)
fax: (410) 841-3850, (301) 858-3850
5210 Auth Road
Suitland, MD 20746
(301) 423-8100

 

[Greg M]

GWAG, I think that we are much more aware of the the shakiness in our own voice since we're painfully aware of the difference. I just remember that your oral testimony was pretty short -- I guess because you forgot what you were going to say The good news was that because many of us kept the comments short, Chmn. Vallario didn't not feel the need to limit Massad Ayoob's time when he testified.

I know I was nervous and I wouldn't mind hearing any comments on how I sounded. I do know that I was a lot less nervous than last year and my nervousness talking to legislators and their staff has totally gone away.

I came to realize that whether it's oral or written testimony, they don't want their time wasted. The people Vallario cut off were the ones who were reading their written testimony, those who drifted off-topic or who simply rambled on and on. One time when I ran someone's written testimony up to the front, the lady asked "Do you really think they're going to read all of this?" (it was a pretty big stack of paper). I think the lesson is that letters and written testimony need to be written as concisely as possible.

Speaking of off-topic, did anyone notice how Henry threw in CCW stuff during his testimony against the AWB? Vallario tried to stop him at first, but he did a great job getting the points made anyway .

Greg

 

[Harry Tuttle]

Does anyone have a hypothesis as to why Ceasefire MD and VPC made such a poor showing yesterday?

Because the wheels have completely come off their grassroots Jihad and they are parked on the beltway with a dead battery and no one will stop to assist them.

The soccer mommies spent their bandwidth in 2000 and failed to elect KKT.

The grass roots anti gun folk found more productive things to do with thier time and only the professional Harpies are left.

Meanwhile the sleeping giant of gunowners has finally woke up and is making hay with Occam's Clue bat.

You should of seen Leah and company in their MMM Jihad days. They were working with Blair Ewing and the Monkey County Council, they were on a roll and were infringing honest folkes rights left and right. End the gunshows, stop the NRA dinner, declare a daycare center next to a Walton League property a school. They were in the press weekly.

The pendulum is now moving our way.

Anyone remember the previous MAHA president Carole Price?

To truely "Ice this Cake", we must unElect Rob & Neil.
We need a full court press in their home districts.

Let Gov Bob's campaign handle Ehrlich II,
We are going after Political turkeys.

 

[Spot77]

I was pretty deaf by the time Henry spoke against the AWB.

We need to stay vigilant.

 

[Harry Tuttle]

I gather they didn't have Sonja Wells with them this time.

After the Sniper shootings they dragged her in and staged Photo ops right in the committee hearing room with Neil, Vallario seemed irked that the freshman was politizing his committee.

After the MMM 1999 rally the MAHAites were able to get lots of press in MD for any of their excursions to Annapolis.

Me thinks they burned their capital.

Vallario may not be on our side on the Issue,
but he likes an orderly predictable hearing schedule.

Quinters efforts made the chairman commitee go way late and their was a distinct absence of public support for more gun control.

The fact that Chairman Brian Frosh left before the hearing for Garagiola's AWB is also very telling.

 

[NoMoRINOs]

A "good and substantial" MEGAPHONE

Folks,

It was a long day indeed. I'm caught up on this thread (finally) and just about everything written has been accurate. Let me "bloviate" a little:

1) The AWB has been dead, dead, dead for quite some time. The Senate JPR killed it, and that's that. Valario would never allow a vote on a bill if it is going nowhere. Consider that he scheduled that bill DEAD LAST, and that there were a half dozen or so police chiefs who had to WAIT UNTIL THE BITTER END to testify. OUR BILL WAS HEARD AHEAD OF THEIRS. That speaks volumes.

2) I spoke with Dwyer in the hall. He noted that Vallario's WONDERFUL treatment of us is very telling. He seemed optimistic. Don't want to get anyone's hopes up yet, but YEEHAH !!! Here is the UPDATED target list:

Anderson (43)
Carter (41)
D. Kelley (26)
P. Menes (21) // this is NOT a typo. Call her!
Petzold (19)
Zirkin (11) // again, no kidding!

The other votes are pretty much decided, so spend your resources properly. Please mention the obvious:

"Yesterday, 150 people testified for, ZERO against. 37 states have shall issue, 13 states don't. Maryland isn't one of them, and our crime rates show it. DO YOU HAVE A GOOD AND SUBSTANTIAL REASON TO DENY MARYLANDERS THE RIGHT TO SELF PROTECTION? "

3) My "handlers" have advised me to go easy on the "rift." I'll try. The access lobbyists you all have mentioned have actively worked AGAINST our efforts. Some more openly than others. Far be it from me to look into someone's heart, or question their motives, but I have to keep my eyes open & try to make sense of it all. There IS a rift, and it won't go away. I'm afraid we'll all have to deal with it. The great news is that were it not for the "rift" we would all be sitting at home waiting for the NRA types to save the day rather than doing the job ourselves. The point is, the "establishment" gun lobby has failed to motivate MD gun owers in large numbers. That's just a sad fact. MSI has motivated MD gun owners. That SHOULD BE good news to all, but it isn't. Hmmm?

4) Last and certainly not least THANK YOU ALL !!! Yesterday was a dream come true for me. I've been battling gun control for 6 long years. Not as long as some, but plenty long for me. About a year ago, I concluded that the dozen or so gunnies active in MD simply could not do it on their own. That is no slap to any of those hard working gun activists, many of whom USED to be my friends. We needed numbers, and we got them. Frankly, I think *some* of the old guard could work on their hospitality skills a bit. I want you all to know that MSI IS NOT YOUR VOICE. It is your MEGAPHONE. We don't make the gunnies talk, we make them talk LOUDER, and hopefully more effectively.

5) Geez, I can't shut up! Please offer to be a MSI District Coordinator for YOUR district. It is not that much work, and the pay sucks. And call those on the new "target list" if you get a chance, especially the legislators that are closest to your district. Thanks again.

Steve D.

 

[Spot77]

Harry you're dead right about Vallario - he doesn't like crap from either side.

I'd love to have been a fly on the wall when he was jumping down Quinter's throat.

I wonder if we should limit our testimony when he's "indicating" like he was yesterday. He's easy to read when he's frustrated or when he knows he won't let a bill out of commitee.

 

[Girlwithagun]

I just called the swing voter delegates to thank them for hearing us, to ask them again to vote for HB1211 and to call me if I can be of further assistance. None of them were in but I left messages with all their aides. If we all do this, they should return to their desks with many messages and this shows them once again that we are serious.

 

[Austin Charles]

Here are the numbers to make it easy. Please call them and ask for their support of HB1211


Anderson - Baltimore City, District 43 410-841-3291

Carter - Baltimore City, District 41 410-841-3283

D. Kelly - P.G. County, District 26 410-841-3212

Menes - Anne Arundel Co, District 21 410-841-3114

Petzold - Montgomery Co., District 19 410-841-3001

Zerkin - baltimore City, District 11 410-841-3342

http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/hseal.html
Here is the rest of their numbers

 

[DelayedReaction]

Okay, bit of an update on Carter.

I talked to her aide, and she is literally on the fence. Her aide is actually fully in support of HB1211 (and even mentioned getting a CCW himself), but she is still undecided. I think with a bit of concerted effort we can get her on our side.

I called everyone on my list and got mostly messages (turns out there in session right now), but every one of them has me on record of being in favor of this bill.

 

[Greg M]

Well said NoMoRINOs. I'll say again that I am proud to be associated with Maryland Shall Issue. I think we showed the "establishment" gun lobby that we could turn out as much testimony for CCW as was there against the AWB. I know that there were people testifying for/against both bills and I didn't count the actual number for/against each bill, but it was clear that we were not some fringe group with minimal support. I was glad to see Sandy Abrams testifying for our bill.

Yesterday morning I spent about two hours visiting the offices (speaking only to the legislative aides) of Busch, Astle, Vallario, Clagett and Sophocleus. I had a letter (basically my written testimony on HB1211 personalized) for each. The visits ranged from 30 seconds to about 30 minutes. I came away thinking that it had been very productive so I was thinking that I could do this for Anderson, Carter, Kelley, Menes, Petzold, Zirkin and Vallario (again - also thanking him for his fair treatment of our side) on Monday evening since they have a late session on Mondays.

Here are my questions for anyone who has gone there on a Monday evening:
Is late session at 8:00 p.m? What time do you think they get in on Mondays?
Is there evening parking nearby? I think the gal at the stadium is gone so can I park free there?
The only reason not to wait until Monday is if the bill would be voted on today or tomorrow which seems unlikely. Is that correct?
Thanks,
Greg

 

[moa]

I think we had a great showing. I was at hearing room from 1230 PM to 900 PM, sitting near the door. It seemed the lobby was packed with a lot of people, many of them gunnies. I thought most of our testimory was outstanding and to the point. I was much impressed.

However, with all the bills and about 500 witnesses (most on our side), I would have hoped chairman Vallerio would hve the most contentious bills heard first. Maybe that was intentional. I recall very little police testimony supporting the AWB. I was quite late then.

 

[Spot77]

There is NO SUPPORT from the police for an AWB. The only police who EVER testify are from Montgomery County, Baltimore City, and occassionally the same guy from Howard County. These guys like to say that they represent their departments, but when asked how many officers in these departments were polled about support or opposition it's always the same answer - none. They are there representing their chiefs' political interests only.

Vallario did the RIGHT thing by holding the AWB until last. He knew we weren't leaving, and that these police officers there to testify probably really didn't care one way or the other. That's why most left.

I made a point to thank the State Troopers who testified against the AWB.

 

[Norton]

moa,

While is cutomary to put the most contentious bills last so that the other work can get done, I really think that Vallerio drug it out as long as possible and put Quinter's bill dead last just to punish him for bringing a loser of a bill to the committee. Vallerio rang Quinter's clock pretty good during their little exchange at the front of the room.

 

[Norton]

There is NO SUPPORT from the police for an AWB.

In fact, when we went out after the hearing, the officer working the scanning machine made the comment of "Let everyone have a gun....they sure as h&^% aren't getting mine"

 

[Harry Tuttle]

did CF/VPC have their boy Joe Vince in the house to push Ballistic Fingerprinting?



http://www.csgv.org/news/news_releases.cfm?pressReleaseID=36

 

[NoMoRINOs]

Greg M,

As for Mondays, I've only done one, but I seem to remember the delegates get in late in the afternoon, say around 3:00. Parking appears to be free in the stadium if you stay late enough. As for WHEN (or if) the vote will happen, nobody knows, HOWEVER, there is a "committee courtesy date" coming up next week. I *think* that means the committees are supposed to announce which bills are favorable. Thus if there is a vote, it will be in the next week or so. It could be as soon as tomorro. Bottom line: Do whatever you can as soon as you can.

PS: Thanks, Austin Charles for posting the phone #'s. I used them to make my calls!

SD

 

[Spot77]

Harry - No Joe Vance this time.

They did trot out some ex- NRA Lawyer to say that BF WILL work if given a chance, The State Police are all bad, yada, yada....


I just got an email confirming that Delegate Sophocleus WILL vote FOR HB1211 - the ccw bill!

 

[DelayedReaction]

Yeah, his aid confirmed with me that he is going to vote for it. Turns out he's never actually voted for gun control - at least that's what his aide said.

Menes called me back but got my voicemail (that's what I get for working underground where reception is a joke). I'll call her office again tommorrow and hopefully be able to chat with her; her aide is very nice. I'm not optimistic about convincing her for our side, but I AM her constituent so we'll see what happens.