http://www.washtimes.com/metro/default-20004422329.htm
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>April 4, 2000
Maryland House approves
measure on locks for guns
By Margie Hyslop
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
ANNAPOLIS — The House of Delegates approved Gov. Parris
N. Glendening's landmark gun-control initiative by an 83-57 vote
last night, but not before delegates had their say about having
Democratic leaders pressure them to pass a flawed Senate bill and
reject changes many agreed would improve it.
"We can't stop illegal products, so we go after legal products,"
said House Democratic Whip George W. Owings III. "What we
have done is we've said 'no' to persons with disabilities, police,
armored car guards.
"We're so concerned about gun safety that if we don't pass the
gun bill the tax credit [for gun safes and locks] disappears," said
Mr. Owings, who represents Calvert and Anne Arundel counties.
His remarks echoed frustrations even some Democrats
expressed over the political maneuvers used to push through a bill
widely acknowledged as flawed in several aspects — including its
treatment of adults who have certain offenses on their juvenile
record and lack of exemptions for people who are unable to use two
hands to operate the built-in locks that will be required on new
handguns sold after 2002.
The bill also will require buyers to purchase external safety locks
with all new handguns sold beginning Oct. 1.
During almost 2 and 1/2 hours of debate last night, legislators
rejected 10 amendments Democratic leaders feared would kill the
bill by sending it back to the Senate with little time left before the
legislative session ends on Monday.
The Responsible Gun Safety Act of 2000, which the Senate
approved March 27 on a 26-21 vote, now goes to the desk of Mr.
Glendening, who is eager to sign it.
"This bill will take a giant step toward creating safer
communities not just in Maryland but across the country," Mr.
Glendening said. He predicted that within 18 months six to 12
states will move forward on similar legislation. "I predict that it will
be almost impossible for gun makers to manufacture guns without
internal safety locks. The liability simply will be too great," he said.
President Clinton called Mr. Glendening and Lt. Gov. Kathleen
Kennedy Townsend less than 30 minutes after the vote to
congratulate them. The president said Maryland's success will
inspire other states.
Mr. Clinton told Mrs. Townsend he thought the vote would ease
the pressure on gun maker Smith & Wesson. Many retailers have
threatened to stop selling the company's products, angry that to stop
lawsuits, the company entered an agreement with federal authorities
to incorporate as-yet-undeveloped safety technology on their guns.
The strategy Democratic supporters implemented last night on
the floor mirrored that carried out in the House Judiciary
Committee, which voted Friday to move the bill to the House floor.
"I think there's one thing we should learn from this," Delegate
Kenneth Montague, Baltimore Democrat, told fellow Judiciary
Committee members then. "When we have the opportunity to write
our own bill, we should take it. I hope we never have to go through
the situation [again] when all the good ideas expressed cannot be
incorporated."
Yet the vote split largely along rural vs. urban lines, with
delegates from Western and Southern Maryland and the Eastern
Shore generally opposing the bill and those from the
Washington-Baltimore corridor supporting it.
Several Baltimore County Democrats joined rural legislators in
opposing the bill.
The only Republicans who voted for the bill were Delegates Jean
Cryor and Richard LaVay, both of Montgomery County. In the
Senate, the only Republicans supporting the bill were from
Montgomery and Prince George's counties.
Those Republicans apparently agreed with House Democratic
Leader John A. Hurson of Montgomery County who said: "We
have more to do . . . but we also need this bill."
Mr. Hurson urged legislators to join Massachusetts — which,
by regulation yesterday, mandated trigger locks on all new guns —
to help the nation in "turning the corner" on gun safety.
Mr. Owings is not the only ranking Democrat put in a tough
position by the power wielded by the governor, a fellow Democrat
— especially in the final days of the session.
As chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Joseph F. Vallario Jr., a
longtime foe of mandatory sentences, found himself in the unlikely
position yesterday of having to defend five-year terms for anyone
caught possessing a handgun who has already been convicted of a
crime of violence or drug possession.
Mr. Vallario delayed action on a House bill that also contained
Mr. Glendening's proposal.
That left his committee on Friday, with just 10 days before the
session ends, few alternatives to keep the Glendening initiative alive
but to consider the Senate bill and, as House leadership requested,
to pass it without any change.
"The governor said we had to report out a clean bill," said
Delegate Anthony O'Donnell, a Republican representing Calvert and
St. Mary's counties. "Why? Because he wants to foist his executive
power onto this legislative body. We have three branches of
government."
Most Democrats called the bill a flawed but necessary "safety
measure."
Most Republicans said it was an incursion against law-abiding
persons' rights to own guns.
"It's not a slippery slope, it's an avalanche," said Delegate
Carmen Amedori, Carroll County Republican.[/quote]
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>April 4, 2000
Maryland House approves
measure on locks for guns
By Margie Hyslop
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
ANNAPOLIS — The House of Delegates approved Gov. Parris
N. Glendening's landmark gun-control initiative by an 83-57 vote
last night, but not before delegates had their say about having
Democratic leaders pressure them to pass a flawed Senate bill and
reject changes many agreed would improve it.
"We can't stop illegal products, so we go after legal products,"
said House Democratic Whip George W. Owings III. "What we
have done is we've said 'no' to persons with disabilities, police,
armored car guards.
"We're so concerned about gun safety that if we don't pass the
gun bill the tax credit [for gun safes and locks] disappears," said
Mr. Owings, who represents Calvert and Anne Arundel counties.
His remarks echoed frustrations even some Democrats
expressed over the political maneuvers used to push through a bill
widely acknowledged as flawed in several aspects — including its
treatment of adults who have certain offenses on their juvenile
record and lack of exemptions for people who are unable to use two
hands to operate the built-in locks that will be required on new
handguns sold after 2002.
The bill also will require buyers to purchase external safety locks
with all new handguns sold beginning Oct. 1.
During almost 2 and 1/2 hours of debate last night, legislators
rejected 10 amendments Democratic leaders feared would kill the
bill by sending it back to the Senate with little time left before the
legislative session ends on Monday.
The Responsible Gun Safety Act of 2000, which the Senate
approved March 27 on a 26-21 vote, now goes to the desk of Mr.
Glendening, who is eager to sign it.
"This bill will take a giant step toward creating safer
communities not just in Maryland but across the country," Mr.
Glendening said. He predicted that within 18 months six to 12
states will move forward on similar legislation. "I predict that it will
be almost impossible for gun makers to manufacture guns without
internal safety locks. The liability simply will be too great," he said.
President Clinton called Mr. Glendening and Lt. Gov. Kathleen
Kennedy Townsend less than 30 minutes after the vote to
congratulate them. The president said Maryland's success will
inspire other states.
Mr. Clinton told Mrs. Townsend he thought the vote would ease
the pressure on gun maker Smith & Wesson. Many retailers have
threatened to stop selling the company's products, angry that to stop
lawsuits, the company entered an agreement with federal authorities
to incorporate as-yet-undeveloped safety technology on their guns.
The strategy Democratic supporters implemented last night on
the floor mirrored that carried out in the House Judiciary
Committee, which voted Friday to move the bill to the House floor.
"I think there's one thing we should learn from this," Delegate
Kenneth Montague, Baltimore Democrat, told fellow Judiciary
Committee members then. "When we have the opportunity to write
our own bill, we should take it. I hope we never have to go through
the situation [again] when all the good ideas expressed cannot be
incorporated."
Yet the vote split largely along rural vs. urban lines, with
delegates from Western and Southern Maryland and the Eastern
Shore generally opposing the bill and those from the
Washington-Baltimore corridor supporting it.
Several Baltimore County Democrats joined rural legislators in
opposing the bill.
The only Republicans who voted for the bill were Delegates Jean
Cryor and Richard LaVay, both of Montgomery County. In the
Senate, the only Republicans supporting the bill were from
Montgomery and Prince George's counties.
Those Republicans apparently agreed with House Democratic
Leader John A. Hurson of Montgomery County who said: "We
have more to do . . . but we also need this bill."
Mr. Hurson urged legislators to join Massachusetts — which,
by regulation yesterday, mandated trigger locks on all new guns —
to help the nation in "turning the corner" on gun safety.
Mr. Owings is not the only ranking Democrat put in a tough
position by the power wielded by the governor, a fellow Democrat
— especially in the final days of the session.
As chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Joseph F. Vallario Jr., a
longtime foe of mandatory sentences, found himself in the unlikely
position yesterday of having to defend five-year terms for anyone
caught possessing a handgun who has already been convicted of a
crime of violence or drug possession.
Mr. Vallario delayed action on a House bill that also contained
Mr. Glendening's proposal.
That left his committee on Friday, with just 10 days before the
session ends, few alternatives to keep the Glendening initiative alive
but to consider the Senate bill and, as House leadership requested,
to pass it without any change.
"The governor said we had to report out a clean bill," said
Delegate Anthony O'Donnell, a Republican representing Calvert and
St. Mary's counties. "Why? Because he wants to foist his executive
power onto this legislative body. We have three branches of
government."
Most Democrats called the bill a flawed but necessary "safety
measure."
Most Republicans said it was an incursion against law-abiding
persons' rights to own guns.
"It's not a slippery slope, it's an avalanche," said Delegate
Carmen Amedori, Carroll County Republican.[/quote]