Oppose SB 341 -- Senator Hoffman's Gun Raffle Ban
Gun Owners of America E-Mail/FAX Alert
8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, Virginia 22151
703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408 / www.gunowners.org
March 14, 2000
Dear Maryland Gun Owner,
There's no time to lose. Anti-gunners led by Governor Glendening,
Lt. Governor Kennedy-Townsend, and Attorney General Curran, plan to
push their gun control package to the floor as soon as possible
after March 15, 2000.
Anti-gunners hope to ram what GOA calls the GUN CONTROL 2000 package
through -- in spite of the fact that the safety record of gun owners
is outstanding -- while emotions are still running hot after recent
high profile crimes and before people have a chance to think through
the legislative proposals.
The anti-gunners have some powerful tricks to use...
You see, Governor Parris Glendening and Senate President Mike Miller
are working to get around the Senate Judicial Proceedings (JPR)
Committee. It may be a deal, a procedural move or an amendment to a
bill like SB 209 passed out from another committee.
I'm counting on you -- and tens of thousands of other Marylanders --
to create a firestorm of protest by saying "NO GUN CONTROL IN 2000"
to your legislators, Governor Glendening, Lt. Governor
Kennedy-Townsend, and Attorney General Curran.
Together, you and I can defeat the GUN CONTROL 2000 package.
Please, take the following actions:
1. First, send the attached pre-written message (or better yet, send
a personal letter or fax) to your State Senator and State
Delegate(s). In some areas you may live in a multi-member Delegate
district. This means you could have up to three Delegates and one
Senator who represent you in Annapolis.
2. Please copy and give extra messages to your friends or family and
ask them to send one or more.
3. Use E-mail, too. See the roster that comes with this alert.
4. If you have time, flood the following phone numbers with calls
demanding that there be NO GUN CONTROL IN 2000.
From:
Baltimore/Annapolis: 410-841 +Ext. number / FAX at 410-946-5075
Prince George's/Montgomery: 301-858 +Ext. number / FAX at
301-970-5075
All other Maryland areas: Dial 1-800-492-7122 +Ext. number
See roster below for extensions.
I ask you to do this for the reason that your right of self-defense
is hanging in the balance.
Governor Parris Glendening (who has never been considered a friend
of law-abiding gun owners) is more interested in kissing up to the
anti-gun media than protecting your rights and upholding the
Constitution.
That's why Governor Glendening is now called Governor Gun Control by
those who know him best.
Ever since Parris Glendening moved in the Governor's mansion he's
done harm to pro-gun self-defense efforts to defend yourself and
your family and make Maryland safer. He viciously opposes any
concealed carry reform bill and pushed through the 1996 gun
rationing, gun control bill.
Now Gov. Glendening and his minions are ready to ram the following
anti-gun measures through the legislature in the name of
"compromise" and "doing something" about safety and crime.
* Gov. Glendening is calling for so-called "smart guns" in order
to choke off the existing supply of self-defense firearms. You and
others will be forced to purchase very expensive "smart guns" that
are beyond the financial reach of average Marylanders. Such guns may
not even be available because no manufacturers can or will produce
them for the small Maryland market. This is a major step towards a
complete gun ban.
* Gov. Glendening wants every gun you have to be virtually
useless when you need it most -- government-mandated LOCK UP YOUR
SAFETY, the same type of legislation that Bill Clinton is pushing in
Washington.
Anti-gun spinmeisters claim that dangerous locking devices -- LOCK
UP YOUR SAFETY programs -- on handguns will protect children from
very rare accidental shootings. (Of course, many of the shootings
they cite are not accidents, but crimes, and are not committed by
children, but by 17, 18 and even 19 year olds!)
President Clinton, and probably Governor Glendening, thinks that
crack dealers and crack house residents will use gunlocks even
though they are breaking federal drug laws.
Anti-gunners fail to mention guns are used by law-abiding citizens
over 2 MILLION times a year in lawful self-defense cases.
No murderer, burglar or rapist will wait for you to "unlock" your
gun from "storage" or a "trigger-lock." And you and I both know the
police may be there too late -- if you can even call the police.
If LOCK UP YOUR SAFETY passes you may have to choose between being
defenseless or being fined thousands of dollars and/or go to jail.
* Gov. Glendening wants bureaucrats accountable only to him to
decide what is a "smart gun" and force all other guns out of the
market in Maryland. Gov. Glendening is telling the public "smart
guns" are for police and their safety while his legislation -- SB
211 and HB 279 -- does not include the police.
Is there something about so-called "smart guns" that makes police
oppose them? Maybe they're not safe, which isn't smart.
* Gov. Glendening refuses to let Marylanders carry concealed
handguns for lawful self-defenses. In fact he allows his officials
to play politics and corrupt the current Maryland concealed carry
law so that "little people" get denied their rights.
* Finally, Gov. Glendening's SB 211 and HB 279 impose government
mandated training for the ownership or purchase of a handgun.
Unelected, politically appointed bureaucrats will design and likely
administer this course. You could be forced to spend long hours
over several days in a classroom and shoot like an Olympian just to
own a handgun.
There is no funding so the direct costs to you and others may be in
the hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. And, there is no
requirement that the course ever be offered to the public.
Your action is needed right away. If you and others take action, we
can win.
Here's what to do:
First of all, gun owners must bottle SB 211 and HB 279 in committee
and oppose SB 209 and HB 280 -- Gun Safety Device Tax Credits --
because they are likely to be backup vehicles for anti-gun
amendments on the floor.
Second of all, if your pressure is enough, the heat on the House and
Senate could produce some unexpected opposition to SB 211 and HB
279. So you see, if you and I make things controversial enough,
legislators may back down from slavishly doing the bidding of the
Governor and the bills will die.
Third of all, if the anti-gunners do get around the Senate JPR
Committee, you and I need to support a filibuster in the Senate.
Gun owners will need a minimum of 16 Senators to mount and hold a
filibuster. (There are only 14 Republicans, which means we need
some Democrats to stand up for your rights and safety.)
Sincerely,
Dennis Fusaro
Director of State Legislation
P.S. Now is the time to oppose Gov. Glendening's "Gun Control 2000"
agenda. Start by contacting the Senate Judicial Proceedings
Committee. Then contact your own Senator if he or she is not on this
committee. Tell him or her you want a filibuster on the floor if
need be.
P.P.S. If you can help GOA with a contribution to run phone banks in
the closing weeks, days and hours of the General Assembly session,
please call 703-321-8585. I am setting up a massive phone calling
operation to put tens of thousands of pro-gun Marylanders directly
in touch with their legislators.
Your donation of $25, $35, $50 or even $100 will help mobilize
pro-gun citizens I can't reach with Fax or E-Mail. Only lots of
phone calls in the last hours will do it.
A roster of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee comes with
this alert. It is time to start cranking.
Any ?s Call GOA / Guns Save Lives
[Pre-written message and roster follows]
JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS COMMITTEE
From:
Baltimore/Annapolis: 410-841+Ext. number / FAX at 410-946-5075
Prince George's/Montgomery: 301-858+Ext. number / FAX at
301-970-5075
All other Maryland areas: Dial 1-800-492-7122 +Ext. number
Name Ext. Fax E-mail
Walter Baker 3639 1109
Leo Green 3631 1109 leo_green@senate.state.md.us
Richard Colburn 3639 richard_colburn@senate.state.md.us
Timothy Ferguson 3704 1133 timothy_ferguson@senate.state.md.us
Jennie Forehand 3134 jennie_forehand@senate.state.md.us
Larry Haines 3683 3659 larry_haines@senate.state.md.us
Ralph Hughes 3656
Philip Jimeno 3658 3586
Clarence Mitchell 3612 clarence_mitchell@senate.state.md.us
Alex Mooney 3575 3193 alexander_mooney@senate.state.md.us
Location for Hearings on March 14th and 15th:
James Senate Office Building, Room 300, 110 College Ave., Annapolis,
MD 21401-1991 (410) 841-3623, (301) 858-3623, 1-800-492-7122 + ext.
3623 (toll free) FAX: (410) 841-1109, (301) 858-1109
Complete Assembly rosters: http://www.mlis.state.md.us
Dear Senator ___________________:
I urge you to oppose SB 341 (bans gun raffles), which is on the
hearing schedule of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee for
today, Tuesday, March 14, 2000. This bill violates my First and
Second Amendment rights. It must be defeated outright.
I also oppose SB 211, Burglar Protection via "smart guns," which is
on the hearing schedule for Wednesday, March 15, 2000. This is
Governor Glendening's phased-in gun ban, which is being imported
under the guise of so-called "smart guns" and "child safety" schemes
designed to leave me as defenseless in my own home as Maryland's
concealed carry law leaves me on the street. This bill attacks my
rights and safety. It must be defeated outright. No deals!
GOA will keep me informed.
Sincerely,
Dear Delegate ___________________:
I urge you to oppose SB 341 (bans gun raffles), which is on the
hearing schedule of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee for
today, Tuesday, March 14, 2000. This bill violates my First and
Second Amendment rights. It must be defeated outright.
I also oppose SB 211, Burglar Protection via "smart guns," which is
on the hearing schedule for Wednesday, March 15, 2000. This is
Governor Glendening's phased-in gun ban, which is being imported
under the guise of so-called "smart guns" and "child safety" schemes
designed to leave me as defenseless in my own home as Maryland's
concealed carry law leaves me on the street or in my car. This bill
attacks my rights and safety. It must be defeated outright. No
deals!
Please note that I also oppose HB 279, the companion to SB 211, and
urge you to vote against it at every opportunity.
GOA will keep me informed.
Sincerely,
**************
Cheaper Than Dirt donates a percentage of your total order to GOA if
you use http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/goa.htm to enter their online
store.
**************
Did someone else forward this to you? To be certain of getting up to
date information, please consider subscribing to the GOA E-Mail
Alert Network directly. There is no cost or obligation, and the
volume of mail is quite low. To subscribe, simply send a message to
goamail@gunowners.org and include the state in which you live, in
either the subject or the body. To unsubscribe, reply to any alert
and ask to be removed.
Gun Owners of America E-Mail/FAX Alert
8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, Virginia 22151
703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408 / www.gunowners.org
March 14, 2000
Dear Maryland Gun Owner,
There's no time to lose. Anti-gunners led by Governor Glendening,
Lt. Governor Kennedy-Townsend, and Attorney General Curran, plan to
push their gun control package to the floor as soon as possible
after March 15, 2000.
Anti-gunners hope to ram what GOA calls the GUN CONTROL 2000 package
through -- in spite of the fact that the safety record of gun owners
is outstanding -- while emotions are still running hot after recent
high profile crimes and before people have a chance to think through
the legislative proposals.
The anti-gunners have some powerful tricks to use...
You see, Governor Parris Glendening and Senate President Mike Miller
are working to get around the Senate Judicial Proceedings (JPR)
Committee. It may be a deal, a procedural move or an amendment to a
bill like SB 209 passed out from another committee.
I'm counting on you -- and tens of thousands of other Marylanders --
to create a firestorm of protest by saying "NO GUN CONTROL IN 2000"
to your legislators, Governor Glendening, Lt. Governor
Kennedy-Townsend, and Attorney General Curran.
Together, you and I can defeat the GUN CONTROL 2000 package.
Please, take the following actions:
1. First, send the attached pre-written message (or better yet, send
a personal letter or fax) to your State Senator and State
Delegate(s). In some areas you may live in a multi-member Delegate
district. This means you could have up to three Delegates and one
Senator who represent you in Annapolis.
2. Please copy and give extra messages to your friends or family and
ask them to send one or more.
3. Use E-mail, too. See the roster that comes with this alert.
4. If you have time, flood the following phone numbers with calls
demanding that there be NO GUN CONTROL IN 2000.
From:
Baltimore/Annapolis: 410-841 +Ext. number / FAX at 410-946-5075
Prince George's/Montgomery: 301-858 +Ext. number / FAX at
301-970-5075
All other Maryland areas: Dial 1-800-492-7122 +Ext. number
See roster below for extensions.
I ask you to do this for the reason that your right of self-defense
is hanging in the balance.
Governor Parris Glendening (who has never been considered a friend
of law-abiding gun owners) is more interested in kissing up to the
anti-gun media than protecting your rights and upholding the
Constitution.
That's why Governor Glendening is now called Governor Gun Control by
those who know him best.
Ever since Parris Glendening moved in the Governor's mansion he's
done harm to pro-gun self-defense efforts to defend yourself and
your family and make Maryland safer. He viciously opposes any
concealed carry reform bill and pushed through the 1996 gun
rationing, gun control bill.
Now Gov. Glendening and his minions are ready to ram the following
anti-gun measures through the legislature in the name of
"compromise" and "doing something" about safety and crime.
* Gov. Glendening is calling for so-called "smart guns" in order
to choke off the existing supply of self-defense firearms. You and
others will be forced to purchase very expensive "smart guns" that
are beyond the financial reach of average Marylanders. Such guns may
not even be available because no manufacturers can or will produce
them for the small Maryland market. This is a major step towards a
complete gun ban.
* Gov. Glendening wants every gun you have to be virtually
useless when you need it most -- government-mandated LOCK UP YOUR
SAFETY, the same type of legislation that Bill Clinton is pushing in
Washington.
Anti-gun spinmeisters claim that dangerous locking devices -- LOCK
UP YOUR SAFETY programs -- on handguns will protect children from
very rare accidental shootings. (Of course, many of the shootings
they cite are not accidents, but crimes, and are not committed by
children, but by 17, 18 and even 19 year olds!)
President Clinton, and probably Governor Glendening, thinks that
crack dealers and crack house residents will use gunlocks even
though they are breaking federal drug laws.
Anti-gunners fail to mention guns are used by law-abiding citizens
over 2 MILLION times a year in lawful self-defense cases.
No murderer, burglar or rapist will wait for you to "unlock" your
gun from "storage" or a "trigger-lock." And you and I both know the
police may be there too late -- if you can even call the police.
If LOCK UP YOUR SAFETY passes you may have to choose between being
defenseless or being fined thousands of dollars and/or go to jail.
* Gov. Glendening wants bureaucrats accountable only to him to
decide what is a "smart gun" and force all other guns out of the
market in Maryland. Gov. Glendening is telling the public "smart
guns" are for police and their safety while his legislation -- SB
211 and HB 279 -- does not include the police.
Is there something about so-called "smart guns" that makes police
oppose them? Maybe they're not safe, which isn't smart.
* Gov. Glendening refuses to let Marylanders carry concealed
handguns for lawful self-defenses. In fact he allows his officials
to play politics and corrupt the current Maryland concealed carry
law so that "little people" get denied their rights.
* Finally, Gov. Glendening's SB 211 and HB 279 impose government
mandated training for the ownership or purchase of a handgun.
Unelected, politically appointed bureaucrats will design and likely
administer this course. You could be forced to spend long hours
over several days in a classroom and shoot like an Olympian just to
own a handgun.
There is no funding so the direct costs to you and others may be in
the hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. And, there is no
requirement that the course ever be offered to the public.
Your action is needed right away. If you and others take action, we
can win.
Here's what to do:
First of all, gun owners must bottle SB 211 and HB 279 in committee
and oppose SB 209 and HB 280 -- Gun Safety Device Tax Credits --
because they are likely to be backup vehicles for anti-gun
amendments on the floor.
Second of all, if your pressure is enough, the heat on the House and
Senate could produce some unexpected opposition to SB 211 and HB
279. So you see, if you and I make things controversial enough,
legislators may back down from slavishly doing the bidding of the
Governor and the bills will die.
Third of all, if the anti-gunners do get around the Senate JPR
Committee, you and I need to support a filibuster in the Senate.
Gun owners will need a minimum of 16 Senators to mount and hold a
filibuster. (There are only 14 Republicans, which means we need
some Democrats to stand up for your rights and safety.)
Sincerely,
Dennis Fusaro
Director of State Legislation
P.S. Now is the time to oppose Gov. Glendening's "Gun Control 2000"
agenda. Start by contacting the Senate Judicial Proceedings
Committee. Then contact your own Senator if he or she is not on this
committee. Tell him or her you want a filibuster on the floor if
need be.
P.P.S. If you can help GOA with a contribution to run phone banks in
the closing weeks, days and hours of the General Assembly session,
please call 703-321-8585. I am setting up a massive phone calling
operation to put tens of thousands of pro-gun Marylanders directly
in touch with their legislators.
Your donation of $25, $35, $50 or even $100 will help mobilize
pro-gun citizens I can't reach with Fax or E-Mail. Only lots of
phone calls in the last hours will do it.
A roster of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee comes with
this alert. It is time to start cranking.
Any ?s Call GOA / Guns Save Lives
[Pre-written message and roster follows]
JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS COMMITTEE
From:
Baltimore/Annapolis: 410-841+Ext. number / FAX at 410-946-5075
Prince George's/Montgomery: 301-858+Ext. number / FAX at
301-970-5075
All other Maryland areas: Dial 1-800-492-7122 +Ext. number
Name Ext. Fax E-mail
Walter Baker 3639 1109
Leo Green 3631 1109 leo_green@senate.state.md.us
Richard Colburn 3639 richard_colburn@senate.state.md.us
Timothy Ferguson 3704 1133 timothy_ferguson@senate.state.md.us
Jennie Forehand 3134 jennie_forehand@senate.state.md.us
Larry Haines 3683 3659 larry_haines@senate.state.md.us
Ralph Hughes 3656
Philip Jimeno 3658 3586
Clarence Mitchell 3612 clarence_mitchell@senate.state.md.us
Alex Mooney 3575 3193 alexander_mooney@senate.state.md.us
Location for Hearings on March 14th and 15th:
James Senate Office Building, Room 300, 110 College Ave., Annapolis,
MD 21401-1991 (410) 841-3623, (301) 858-3623, 1-800-492-7122 + ext.
3623 (toll free) FAX: (410) 841-1109, (301) 858-1109
Complete Assembly rosters: http://www.mlis.state.md.us
Dear Senator ___________________:
I urge you to oppose SB 341 (bans gun raffles), which is on the
hearing schedule of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee for
today, Tuesday, March 14, 2000. This bill violates my First and
Second Amendment rights. It must be defeated outright.
I also oppose SB 211, Burglar Protection via "smart guns," which is
on the hearing schedule for Wednesday, March 15, 2000. This is
Governor Glendening's phased-in gun ban, which is being imported
under the guise of so-called "smart guns" and "child safety" schemes
designed to leave me as defenseless in my own home as Maryland's
concealed carry law leaves me on the street. This bill attacks my
rights and safety. It must be defeated outright. No deals!
GOA will keep me informed.
Sincerely,
Dear Delegate ___________________:
I urge you to oppose SB 341 (bans gun raffles), which is on the
hearing schedule of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee for
today, Tuesday, March 14, 2000. This bill violates my First and
Second Amendment rights. It must be defeated outright.
I also oppose SB 211, Burglar Protection via "smart guns," which is
on the hearing schedule for Wednesday, March 15, 2000. This is
Governor Glendening's phased-in gun ban, which is being imported
under the guise of so-called "smart guns" and "child safety" schemes
designed to leave me as defenseless in my own home as Maryland's
concealed carry law leaves me on the street or in my car. This bill
attacks my rights and safety. It must be defeated outright. No
deals!
Please note that I also oppose HB 279, the companion to SB 211, and
urge you to vote against it at every opportunity.
GOA will keep me informed.
Sincerely,
**************
Cheaper Than Dirt donates a percentage of your total order to GOA if
you use http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/goa.htm to enter their online
store.
**************
Did someone else forward this to you? To be certain of getting up to
date information, please consider subscribing to the GOA E-Mail
Alert Network directly. There is no cost or obligation, and the
volume of mail is quite low. To subscribe, simply send a message to
goamail@gunowners.org and include the state in which you live, in
either the subject or the body. To unsubscribe, reply to any alert
and ask to be removed.