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Thursday, March 28, 2013

The O’Malley-Brown Gun Bill: The “Eye Wall” Takes Shape

By Delegate Mike McDermott

(Annapolis) The “eye wall” on the O’Malley-Brown Gun Bill (SB-281) has finally taken shape and, as I have flown through the rhetoric during committee meetings in the past weeks, I believe we are looking at a Cat 5. A “Ban List” of what the governor has designated as “bad guns” has remained alive and well despite indications that our committee was moving toward a more reasonable “features list”. It seems quite clear that the 45 semi-automatic rifles that are currently considered legal, regulated firearms will, overnight, become illegal and banned forever in Maryland. It also seems likely that the current “Handgun Roster Board” that must give its seal of approval on handguns will now be tasked with overseeing rifles based upon a set of suggested language and features to be interpreted going forward by the board and applied to any semi-automatic rifle being sold in state.

So, the deer rifle you hunt with this year could find itself on the Banned List next year depending on the interpretation of a board of bureaucrats appointed by our gun loathing governor. Of course, all this is in the name of public safety in a state where no one has been murdered with one of these “bad guns.”

Going forward, registration is alive and well as is mandatory licensing. After October 1st this year, Marylanders who want to purchase a regulated firearm will need to submit to fingerprinting and an extensive background check by the State Police. There will be a fee associated with this process that will total anywhere from $100 to $400 depending on the final posture of the legislation. This will be the prerequisite to the additional background check that must be conducted every time you apply to purchase one of these firearms.

Further, it is now likely that the magazine restrictions will remain in the bill limiting capacity to no more than 10-rounds. This could have a devastating effect on firearm sales in Maryland as most manufacturers will not retool to suit the needs of a minor market like the State of Maryland. Of course, this could result in a de facto gun ban sure to bring a grin to the face of every liberal and progressive who will gleefully cast a green vote against the 2nd Amendment on any day of the week.

It also seems evident that the mental health aspects of the bill will include a possession ban for anyone who voluntarily commits themselves for treatment options. This truly presents an obstacle for folks who will now be forced to choose between treatment and their firearm rights. For many this is simply unthinkable and they could forego certain treatment options.

Whether or not the House has “71” votes (141 members) to pass, Hurricane Martin’s gun bill remains to be seen. What is clear is the tragic departure from the principles of good leadership we have left in our rear view mirror. No longer do our state leaders attempt to build consensus to insure that a decent level of ownership and buy-in has taken place before they move significant legislation. It all boils down to a mere 71 by hook or by crook, and that identifies division not unity. Getting to 71 does not require much effort so long as you are willing to break a few arms or lean hard on certain projects. To glance up at the board and see the magic “71” should hardly be seen as victory, rather it should be viewed as the symbolic, jaded view that has come to define “leadership” in Annapolis.

Marylanders...Take back your state!

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

when you elect idiots as leaders, what do you expect? thanks sjd

Anonymous said...

It's just another tax. I'm sure all the criminals are lined up to register their guns. When it comes to Annapolis, it seems there's no common sense anymore.

Anonymous said...

Hopefully the Moose Lodge crowd sees this. Turn off their slot machines, close the taps, and tell them O'Malley is coming after their hunting rifle. The streets will be safer as a result.

Anonymous said...

Looks like I'm going to be an outlaw. Second Amendment Outlaws. SAO... I like it.

Anonymous said...

1:13 I guess I"ll become one as well.

Anonymous said...

1:26 welcome to the SAO's

lmclain said...

Nothing like having your state legislature turn law abiding citizens into felons overnight. I can't wait until I see how they plan to get all the newly illegal guns out of our hands. Pry them off, I suppose. Send storm troopers house to house (search warrants are SO yesterday)? Demand "registration" so as to accumulate a "list", THEN go house to house? Looking for the "spark" along the lines of the Boston Tea Party? I think I may see one in the near future. These Nazi's are playing with gasoline in the middle of a forest fire and they are so used to acting like monarchs, they don't even see the danger.

Anonymous said...

Tell us how Mike, short of a blood spilling revolution...to take our state back?

lmclain said...

That (revolution) IS the only way. Our "representatives" have started pushing a legal gun grab (screw the Constitution) despite the fact that few (very few) CITIZENS asked for it and overwhelmingly are AGAINST it. They are going to do it anyway. Talk about taxation without representation...Its not about "the safety of our children, for God's sake!!", or making sure hunters can't unload 20 rounds into a deer (no hunter I know ever needed to do that). Its about making sure citizens can't do anything about their imperial and pompous directives. As long as "we, the people" have weapons, there is always the threat that we will follow Jefferson's prediction and slaughter them. And they (politicians) seem to be following the script that Jefferson so accurately laid out. That ain't speculation or tin-foil hat theory --- thats the scenario that, 230 years ago, Jefferson said would one day manifest itself. He put in writing, but didn't anticipate that, in a couple of centuries, reading would become such a bore and history would be ignored, altered for political correctness, or erased from the collective conscience.