The AR-15 is the number 1 firearm used for rifle target competitions
In a 2007 report released by the National Institute of Corrections (NIC), the crime rate in Maryland was approximately 8-percent higher than the national rate.
According to the study, Maryland’s property crime rate – which accounts for roughly 87.2-percent of the overall crimes committed – was 5-percent higher than the national average, and violent crime clocked in 27-percent higher.
In 2009, CQ Press released their annual Crime State Rankings, and Maryland was listed as the ninth most dangerous state in the union, finishing second in murders, second in robbery, sixth in auto theft and ninth in assault.
And Maryland has – according to the National Rifle Association – some of the toughest gun control laws in the country.
So to capitalize on that documented 'success' thanks to previous get-tough-on-guns legislation – and to remain indifferent to properly enforcing laws currently on the books - the Maryland General Assembly is once again seeking passage of an ‘assault weapons’ ban that does little more than regulate the people who actually abide by those laws.
SB 516, introduced this week by Senator Mike Lenett (D – Montgomery County) and numerous other members of the anti-gun sect in the Maryland Senate, would designate “specified firearms as assault weapons; prohibiting with specified exceptions a person from transporting an assault weapon into the State or possessing, selling, offering to sell, transferring, or receiving an assault weapon; requiring the Handgun Roster Board to compile and maintain a roster of prohibited assault weapons; etc.”
In a response to Lenett’s bill, Maryland Shall Issue – an all-volunteer, non-partisan group dedicated to the preservation and advancement of gun owners’ rights in Maryland – said the ban expands the definition of the assault pistol ban to encompass all firearms designated as assault weapons; includes semi-automatic pistols with detachable magazines that also have threaded barrels; includes semi-automatic shotguns with folding or telescoping stocks that also have a pistol grip or thumbhole stock; and calls for current law-abiding citizens to REGISTER your firearms before December 10, 2010 so that “you have the luxury of being able to keep the firearms you already own.”
Lenett and the General Assembly’s anti-gun faithful introduced the very same bill (SB 43) – mirroring the same, tired feel-good-accomplish-nothing wording – in 2007. That bill received an unfavorable report and never made it out of committee.
In an election year, any Marylander who values their second amendment rights should make sure SB 516 suffers the same fate.
You can contact the committee members who have a hand in deciding this bill’s outcome at the numbers listed below. Or, you can click here for their email addresses.
And when you do, ask them what provision in this bill will prevent an individual with criminal intent from purchasing, possessing and using an assault weapon.
Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee Phone Numbers.
Senator Brian Frosh – 1-800-492-7122 ext 3124
Senator Lisa Gladden – 1-800-492-7122 ext 3697
Senator James Brochin – 1-800-492-7122 ext 3648
Senator C. Anthony Muse – 1-800-492-7122 ext 3092
Senator Jennie Forehand – 1-800-492-7122 ext 3134
Senator Jamin Raskin – 1-800-492-7122 ext 3634
Senator Larry Haines – 1-800-492-7122 ext 3683
Senator Brian Simonaire 1-800-492-7122 ext 3658
Senator Nancy Jacobs 1-800-492-7122 ext 3158
Senator Norman Stone 1-800-492-7122 ext 3587
Senator Alex Mooney 1-800-492-7122 ext 3575
The 2010 session of the Maryland General Assembly is underway! Be proactive, not reactive: contact your legislators now.
Comments
If this has not passed in the past 2-6 years, it most certainly will not pass this year.
Maryland does not need to define "assault weapon". That has already been done by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY). She says it is one that has "that shoulder thing that goes up".
Would not banning existing firearms that one may own be considered an ex-post facto law and therefore unconstitutional?
Many "assault weapons" shoot the same caliber round as many hunting rifles. Shall we ban hunting rifles too?
www.examiner.com/x-3108-Baltimore-Republican-Examiner~y2009m4d27-NYT-Watch-Jimmy-Carter-editorializes-on-assault-weapons
Every state in the Union is in danger of having one of these bullshit "assault weapon" bans enacted until we strike down the existing "assault weapons" (ie California) on constitutional grounds.
Er strike down existing Bans not weapons....ack sorry for the typo!
they will try to take them all little by little. if they outlaw guns the only ones left holding guns will be the outlaws.
The people of Maryland better stand up against these sick people and fight for their God given and Constitutional rights. If not it will become "by the government and for the government" instead of "by the people and for the people". Its not just Maryland either. All America needs to stand and fight for whats right!!! Maryland, your best solution for these problems is to vote these nuts out of office and tell them to go to china if thats how they want to live.
This is a ridiculous attack on the 2nd amendment. If someone uses a car in a homicide should we stop everyone from owning cars? When guns are outlawed ONLY outlaws will have guns. Look at NYC for instance- In a city of 8 million only 15000 (including me) registered handgun owners, all law abiding decent patriotic folks of varying ethnicity and economic background and 2 MILLION + illegal handguns. Who feels safer now??? It IS OUR CIVIC duty to be armed citizens. NYPD has a 8 minute response time to 'man with a gun' call. DC even higher and same with Atlanta. It's time to fight this tooth and nail people!!!
Sean O'Donnell, Baltimore Republican Examiner says:
"Many "assault weapons" shoot the same caliber round as many hunting rifles. Shall we ban hunting rifles too?"
Hey Sean, FYI my AR is my hunting rifle, the same goes for many other hunters I know. Just because YOU don't hunt with one doesn't mean it's not a "hunting rifle".
I dont care how many "assault weapons" they define as assualt rifles (I do care but very much) I think along with Heston, ONLY FROM MY COLD HANDS. These idiots live in a controlled setting and probably have armed guards to protect them and dont care about anyone else.Feinstein had a permit at one time. think about that. Can you say hypocrite??
They continue to introduce this peice of crap legislation because they believe that no matter if it was defeated before, maybe one day they'll catch the Pro-Gunners sleeping and will get it to pass. Its high time these CAREER politicians picked a new career, we need to make sure this year we send a clear message that they get back in touch with the people of this state or plan on learning a new trade come election day for their term. The 2nd amendment doesn't say "give the people guns, but only guns you aren't afraid of", it says "Give the people guns so they can protect themselves from idiots like YOU!"
Lets not let the fact that this bill died for the last 6 years lull us into a naive assumption that it will not pass this time. It hasn't passed before because we were vigilant and let our voices be heard. We need to continue to do just that. Contact your senators and give them hell! Start with Frosh, he is the largest problem child.
There is already an official definition of an assault weapon, which includes selective fire (being able to fire in fully automatic mode) but if we must make up a new one how about: any firearm actually used in an unprovoked assault. Then they can leave all the semi-auto firearms of law-abideing folks alone.
Does anyone know how many crimes were committed with these "assault rifles"? I don't live in Maryland but I don't hear a lot of stories of gunmen with "assault rifles". Sounds like a "solution" when there's no problem.
This bill was withdrawn. From MarylandShallIssue.com " Maryland Assault Weapons Ban of 2010 has been withdrawn by its sponsor, Senator Mike Lennett." People contacting the legislators caused enough of an uproar that they had to listen.
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