Senator "Benedict" Ferguson Does It Again!
Gun Owners of America E-Mail/FAX Alert
8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151
Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408
http://www.gunowners.org
March 28, 2000
Dear Maryland Gun Owner,
Once again Senator Tim Ferguson (R-4) perpetrated "the murder" of a
filibuster.
He was aided and abetted by numerous other so-called "pro-gun"
Senators who didn't have the courage to stand up to the Senate
bosses and Governor Glendening.
Senator Larry Haines (R-5) is one who especially headed for the tall
grass and refused to say anything to keep the filibuster alive.
A filibuster is essentially talking against a bill to forestall a
vote, forever if possible.
A filibuster is maintained as long as one member "has the floor" and
"yields" only to other members who share his or her opposition to
the bill being filibustered. Cloture is a vote to shut off debate
and thus allows a vote on the bill.
If the vote on "cloture" lacks sufficient numbers -- in Maryland it
takes 32 Senators -- then there can be no vote to pass the bill.
On the floor of the Senate in Annapolis last night Senator Tim
Ferguson got the floor, and then gave it to Senate President Mike
Miller, thus avoiding a vote on cloture. Miller then called the
vote to pass the bill. It passed 26 to 21.
GOA supported a filibuster led by Senator Mooney after Senator
Ferguson "chickened out" on Friday and cut a deal to pass SB 211, a
vicious anti-gun bill.
Thanks should go to Senator Mooney (R-3), Senator Jacobs R-34) and
Senator Harris (R-9) who were filibustering.
In a move that was either stupid or duplicitous, Senator Colburn
(R-37) was given the floor, spoke briefly, and then gave the floor
to Senator Ferguson. As stated above, Ferguson then gave the floor
to Senate President Mike Miller.
Ferguson's action forfeited a recorded vote on cloture. But he, and
any other "pro-gun" Senator who refused to "talk" against the bill
(i.e. join the filibuster), is guilty of selling out your rights and
safety.
Action now turns to the House.
Please begin contacting your delegate(s). Oppose SB 211 in any
form.
The main switch board numbers are:
From Baltimore/Annapolis 410-841+Ext. # / FAX 410-946-5075
From Prince George's/Montgomery 301-858+Ext. # / FAX 301-970-5075
From all other areas in MD 1-800-492-7122 + Ext. #
If you don't know who your delegates are, call 301-858-3000 and ask
for help. Or, go to this address on the web:
http://archive2.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/who_reps/html/who_reps.ht
ml
No matter what anyone tells you, a Senator's refusal to join the
filibuster was an act of surrender to the Governor and of your
rights.
The vote on final passage was empty posturing.
Compromise is where your rights and safety die.
Any?s Call GOA / Guns Save Lives
Maryland State Senate Roster
E-mail addresses at:
http://www.mlis.state.md.us
District maps at:
http://webdb.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/who_reps/html/legmaps.html
* These Senators should have been helping with the filibuster.
+ These Senators did lead the filibuster
? What was he thinking?
Name Dist Ext. #
* Astle John C. 030 3578
* Baker Walter M. 036 3639
Blount Clarence W. 041 3697
* Bromwell Thomas L. 008 3620
? Colburn Richard F. 037 3590
* Collins Michael J. 006 3642
* Conway Joan Carter 043 3145
Currie Ulysses 025 3127
DeGrange Sr James E. 032 3593
Della Jr George W. 047 3600
Dorman Arthur 021 3141
* Dyson Roy P. 029 3673
Exum Nathaniel 024 3148
* Ferguson Timothy R. 004 3704
Forehand Jennie M. 017 3134
Frosh Brian E. 016 3124
Green Leo E. 023 3631
* Hafer John J. 001 3565
* Haines Larry E. 005 3683
+ Harris Andrew P. 009 3706
Hoffman Barbara A. 042 3648
* Hogan Patrick J. 039 3686
Hollinger Paula C. 011 3131
* Hooper J. Robert 035 3603
Hughes Ralph M. 040 3656
+ Jacobs Nancy 034 3158
* Jimeno Philip C. 031 3658
Kasemeyer Edward J. 012 3653
Kelley Delores G. 010 3606
Lawlah Gloria G. 026 3092
* Madden Martin G. 013 3572
* McCabe Christopher J. 014 3671
McFadden Nathaniel J. 045 3165
* Middleton Thomas M. 028 3616
Miller Jr Thomas V. Mike 027 3700
Mitchell IV Clarence M. 044 3612
+ Mooney Alex X. 003 3575
* Munson Donald F. 002 3609
* Neall Robert R. 033 3568
Pinsky Paul G. 022 3155
* Roesser Jean W. 015 3169
Ruben Ida G. 020 3634
Sfikas Perry 046 3598
* Stoltzfus J. Lowell 038 3645
* Stone Jr Norman R. 007 3587
Teitelbaum Leonard H. 019 3151
Van Hollen Jr Christopher 018 3137
From Baltimore/Annapolis 410-841+Ext. # / FAX 410-946-5075
From Prince George's/Montgomery 301-858+Ext. # / FAX 301-970-5075
From all other areas in MD 1-800-492-7122 + Ext. #