ASSOCIATED GUN CLUBS OF BALTIMORE, INC.

   Legislative Report - January 22, 2013  
P.O. BOX 20102  -  TOWSON, MD  21284-0102

410-296-3947  Email:  [email protected] 

  
Greetings!

Now that we have the actual language of Governor O'Malley's 38 page gun control package, it is obvious that the Governor is attempting to make Maryland as unpleasant as possible for law-abiding tax-paying citizens who own a firearm. If the Governor is able to sign this bill into law, he will take more freedom from Maryland citizens than the British Army and Royal Navy were able to do in the War of 1812. We drove off the tyrant in 1814, and we must do so again in 2013.

A quick "vote count" in  the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee (JPR) indicates that SB 281 will probably receive a favorable report in JPR. The true battleground will be on the floor of the Maryland Senate.

Nothing passes in the Senate without the support and approval of Senate President Mike Miller. It is therefore critical that you provide your views to Senator Miller by means of his public survey. (see article below)

Please keep up the pressure with emails, phone calls, and letters. Contact your local representatives and speak with them directly.

Make it clear to your hunting, and skeet & trap shooting friends that this is their fight, too.

Thank you for your support of freedom in the Free State.

John H. Josselyn
Legislative Vice President
New in this issue:
Governor O'Malley Formally Unveils Gun Ban Legislation
Senate President Mike Miller's Public Survey - Guns
E-mail Blitz - Send 500,000 Emails to the Legislature
Phone Campaign Targeting Key Committee Members & Legislators
Governor O'Malley's Gun Ban

  (click the bill name for the bill text in pdf)
Purpose:

Altering the authorization for a person to wear, carry, or transport a handgun to be within specified limitations; designating 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, purchasing, or receiving an assault weapon; authorizing specified licensed firearms dealers to continue to possess, sell, offer for sale, or transfer specified weapons under specified circumstances; etc.

The major points of the Governor's gun ban agenda:
  • An across-the-board ban on commonly owned semi-automatic firearms
  • Restrict magazine capacity to no more than ten rounds
  • Require a five-year state permit to purchase a firearm which would be obtained after prospective gun purchasers complete a mandatory gun safety class with a live fire component, submit their fingerprints to a state-run database, and undergo a state-funded background check with a potential wait time from application to approval of up to 30 days - permit is renewable 
  • Broaden the list of disqualifying mental health criteria and conditions
  • Grant police additional authority to confiscate firearms 
  • Require an additional federal background check at the actual time of purchase
  • Impose a seven-day waiting period before a purchaser can take possession of their firearm
  • Restrict the purchase or possession of ammunition for certain firearms
  • Require that persons moving into Maryland register all regulated firearms with the Maryland State Police and pay a $15 fee per application
  • Ban persons from bringing "assault long guns" into Maryland unless the firearm was registered with the Maryland State Police before November 1, 2013. 
  • Impose mandatory training requirements for permits to carry a handgun
  • Ban certain turkey shotguns with pistol grips and adjustable/telescoping stocks  
This bill was written quickly and is rather convoluted. A detailed analysis of this legislation will be forthcoming as soon as we complete a detailed investigation of the many provisions in this bill. In the meantime, stay calm and stay focused on opposing this appalling bill sponsored by the Governor of this unfortunate state.

We need your assistance and full participation in the following areas:
Senate President Mike Miller's Public Survey - Guns

Maryland Senate President Mike Miller has posted a public opinion survey covering various topics. The news media is reporting that Senator Miller has indicated that he is inclined to support a ban on semi-automatic firearms.
  
Please take Senator Miller's survey; the gun related questions follow. The link to the survey is at the bottom of this article.  

 

Survey - Gun Related Questions:

 

Currently, Maryland law requires that applicants for concealed carry permits for handguns must have a "good and substantial reason" to require this permit. This law is currently under review in the courts. Do you support: *

  • Greater restrictions on concealed handgun permits
  • Fewer restrictions on concealed handgun permits   OR  <=======
  • Current restrictions on concealed handgun permits
  • Undecided on this issue
  • Other: shall issue    <===== 

This session, proposed legislation would ban the sale of assault weapons in Maryland. Do you: *

  • Support this legislation
  • Oppose this legislation     <======= 
  • Undecided on this legislation
  • Other:

This session, proposed legislation would ban the sale of large capacity gun magazines in Maryland. Do you: *

  • Support this legislation
  • Oppose this legislation  <====== 
  • Undecided on this legislation
  • Other:
E-mail Blitz - Send 500,000 Emails to the Legislature
 

The recent tragedy in Newtown is being used as an excuse to advance legislation intended to ban many types of firearms and magazines.

 

Your legislators need to hear from you and the AGC has provided an effective tool to help Maryland's gun owners.

The "Email your Legislators" feature on the AGC Website's Legislative News page is simple to use and very effective. In no more time than it takes to send a single email, you can send up to 188 individual personal emails, one to each and every member of the Maryland General Assembly.

  

Your message does not need to be long or in great detail. Short and to the point is fine. Save the long detailed explanations for your "on paper" letters.  

 

Let's Blitz the Legislature with 500,000 emails telling them that we won't stand idle, and we should not be blamed for what someone else did. So far this year, over 316,000 emails have been sent.

 

Remember:
  • The system will automatically fill in the Salutation for you by adding either "Dear Senator Name" or "Dear Delegate Name" above your message 
  • Always keep your communications respectful and courteous!
  • Short and to the point emails work best.
Click on the link with the red scrolling banner in the Email Your Legislators system to email the entire Maryland General Assembly.
 

  

Phone Campaign Targeting Key Committee Members & Legislators

When legislative staffers are so busy answering the phone that they cannot accomplish anything else, the legislators take notice. Make them notice you!

Make phone calls and keep calling on a daily basis. Focus on the key members of the Judiciary Committees as well as your own elected representatives.

The message is simple:  Please oppose all gun control legislation.

Click here to find your elected representatives.

Click here to download and print the Call List.

REMEMBER TO ALWAYS BE POLITE RESPECTFUL, AND COURTEOUS. 
 
Keep Your Email Address and Profile Up to Date!

You can update your email address and interest profile (sublists such as AGC Newsletter, Gun Shows, Bus Trips, Hunting, Concealed Carry, etc.) at any time by clicking on the "Join Email List Icon below. A as current list member, you will be sent an automated email asking you to log on to the server and update your information.


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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

John H. Josselyn, Legislative Vice PresidentAGC Logo
Associated Gun Clubs of Baltimore, Inc.
P.O. Box 20102
Towson, MD 21284-0102
410-296-3947
Email: [email protected]
Webpage: www.associatedgunclubs.org

 

 

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