This year, in a first for the Mayor of Baltimore, I started a diverse media campaign to build state-wide support for common-sense gun legislation. In addition to traditional methods, we engaged the public with a social media campaign, called SaferCity. Its homepage and Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube pages allowed people who wanted to make Baltimore a safer city to take part in our efforts, and this year it lead to success.

After years of defeat, this year we worked successfully to pass tougher sentencing options for felons in possession firearms who have previous convictions for a violent crime or drug felony by creating a tougher sentencing range of 5 years minimum to 15 years maximum and by closing a loophole that exempted rifles and shotguns. SB240 / HB241 will provide police and prosecutors a much-needed tool in their efforts to combat gun violence in Baltimore. This legislative accomplishment will help make Baltimore better, safer, and stronger in the years ahead.

I would like to thank the O'Malley-Brown administration, the Baltimore City Delegation, and our supporters in the Maryland General Assembly for partnering with my administration to help Baltimore continue to make progress.

Specifically, I would like to thank the city and state leaders who joined me in Annapolis to testify on behalf of this legislation: Howard County Executive Ken Ulman, Baltimore City State's Attorney Gregg Bernstein, Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger, Prince George's County State's Attorney Angela D. Alsobrooks, City Council President Bernard "Jack" Young, Johns Hopkins University President Ron Daniels, Co-Director of Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research Dr. Daniel Webster, and many Baltimore City faith and community leaders. I appreciate that they understand that this law will make the entire state safer.

Two individuals, Ms. Nicole Harris-Crest and Officer Todd Strohman, gave very emotional testimony, for which I am especially grateful. Their words helped bring to light the impact illegal guns have on the lives of people in every community. Ms. Harris-Crest also recorded a video for our YouTube campaign.

While we are pleased that this important legislation passed, we are not satisfied, and our efforts to improve public safety will continue. Next year, we will return to Annapolis to fight for common sense legislation that will make Baltimore and Maryland safer.

Today, Commissioner Bealefeld and I unveiled the Hometown Heroes Recruitment Project, a new initiative designed to encourage residents of the city to consider careers within the Baltimore Police Department. The initiative is part of our broader effort to hire 300 new police officers in 2011 so we can continue making progress reducing violent crime.