DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Sunday, March 03, 2013
MD Sheriffs Testify On HB294
Originally posted at 7am.
We feel this needs to stay up top most of today.
A Primer On Guns For Survival, By The Last New Jersey Conservative
Before his untimely demise, survivalist author Mel Tappan wrote his book Survival Guns some four decades ago, yet it still remains the authoritative source on the topic. Mel also wrote columns for various magazines, expanding upon his previous writings and clarifying some concepts. It is those columns and articles which formed the basis of not only this essay, but also leaving what is now an indelible impression upon my thought process for the same subject. Mel Tappan had a rifle as his first acquisition and a shotgun as his third acquisition; I flip flopped it for this piece due to the fact he lived in the wilderness – where I live in the jungle; an asphalt jungle. That being the case, here goes:
First and foremost, a decisive firearm capable of ending any fight should be your initial purchase. It is here the shotgun excels. The shotgun is the most versatile firearm there is. Based upon the hundreds of loadings, it can take small, medium, and large game as well as zombies in all shapes and sizes. There is no more devastating impact upon an evil doer in and around your home. The 12 gauge pump action shotgun with a short, 18 inch barrel fits this bill nicely. Get a model with “ghost ring sights” and an attached flashlight and you can identify close in targets from contact distances out to engage long range targets with slugs over 100 yards away. At close encounters of the worst kind, “#4” buckshot serves up a multiple pellet rat wound. In law enforcement circles, this round is referred to sarcastically as a ‘crowd pleaser’. As the range extends, fewer yet larger pellets may be the answer, all the way up the high end of the scale at “OOO” buckshot. “OO” buckshot is the law enforcement and military standard loading for anti-personnel use. The exact middle of the scale size is “#1” buckshot, probably the best round to utilize when usage is not defined as to target types and distances. I keep “#4” buckshot in warm months and “OOO” buckshot in cold months in my home protection shotgun – it is a matter of penetrating coats and jackets and vests and whatever else a bad guy may be wearing in the winter versus a likely t-shirt in the summer. The shotgun slug is an awesome round. You should practice head shots on a full size silhouette target at 50 yards with only a bead front sight – then you can rest assuredly hit effectively out to 150 yards and sometimes more with slugs and a “ghost ring sights” setup. Have a spare 28” barrel for hunting birds and fowl with birdshot loads and you’ll expand the utility of the shotgun exponentially. There are also numerous special loadings available in shotshells including: flares, flechettes, gas (riot control agents such as CS or CN or OC), incendiary, etc. Another special loading is the door breaching round, and it is phenomenal when employed correctly to forcibly enter through a secured door. The 12 gauge is the most common caliber for law enforcement and military applications, as well as a majority of hunting uses. However, a 20 gauge shotgun might be better for use by smaller statured adults and younger shooters. The pump or slide action is better because you can use the most diverse types of ammunition without a hiccup, plus there are less moving parts to break. With the shotshell tube attached under the barrel, one has about half a dozen rounds readily available and no fear of losing any detachable magazines. If you can’t end the fight with half a dozen well placed 12 gauge rounds, you probably need some help. Regardless of caliber (gauge) selected, get the 3” chamber so both 3” and 2 & ¾” shotshells can be used.
More
First and foremost, a decisive firearm capable of ending any fight should be your initial purchase. It is here the shotgun excels. The shotgun is the most versatile firearm there is. Based upon the hundreds of loadings, it can take small, medium, and large game as well as zombies in all shapes and sizes. There is no more devastating impact upon an evil doer in and around your home. The 12 gauge pump action shotgun with a short, 18 inch barrel fits this bill nicely. Get a model with “ghost ring sights” and an attached flashlight and you can identify close in targets from contact distances out to engage long range targets with slugs over 100 yards away. At close encounters of the worst kind, “#4” buckshot serves up a multiple pellet rat wound. In law enforcement circles, this round is referred to sarcastically as a ‘crowd pleaser’. As the range extends, fewer yet larger pellets may be the answer, all the way up the high end of the scale at “OOO” buckshot. “OO” buckshot is the law enforcement and military standard loading for anti-personnel use. The exact middle of the scale size is “#1” buckshot, probably the best round to utilize when usage is not defined as to target types and distances. I keep “#4” buckshot in warm months and “OOO” buckshot in cold months in my home protection shotgun – it is a matter of penetrating coats and jackets and vests and whatever else a bad guy may be wearing in the winter versus a likely t-shirt in the summer. The shotgun slug is an awesome round. You should practice head shots on a full size silhouette target at 50 yards with only a bead front sight – then you can rest assuredly hit effectively out to 150 yards and sometimes more with slugs and a “ghost ring sights” setup. Have a spare 28” barrel for hunting birds and fowl with birdshot loads and you’ll expand the utility of the shotgun exponentially. There are also numerous special loadings available in shotshells including: flares, flechettes, gas (riot control agents such as CS or CN or OC), incendiary, etc. Another special loading is the door breaching round, and it is phenomenal when employed correctly to forcibly enter through a secured door. The 12 gauge is the most common caliber for law enforcement and military applications, as well as a majority of hunting uses. However, a 20 gauge shotgun might be better for use by smaller statured adults and younger shooters. The pump or slide action is better because you can use the most diverse types of ammunition without a hiccup, plus there are less moving parts to break. With the shotshell tube attached under the barrel, one has about half a dozen rounds readily available and no fear of losing any detachable magazines. If you can’t end the fight with half a dozen well placed 12 gauge rounds, you probably need some help. Regardless of caliber (gauge) selected, get the 3” chamber so both 3” and 2 & ¾” shotshells can be used.
More
QUOTE OF THE DAY 3-3-13
“And this last enactment [affirmation of Voting Rights in 2006], not a single vote in the Senate against it. And the House is pretty much the same.
Now, I don’t think that’s attributable to the fact that it is so much clearer now that we need this. I think it is attributable, very likely attributable, to a phenomenon that is called perpetuation of racial entitlement.
It’s been written about. Whenever a society adopts racial entitlements, it is very difficult to get out of them through the normal political processes.
Antonin Scalia, Speaking About the 1965 Voting Rights Act, Feb 27, 2013
Now, I don’t think that’s attributable to the fact that it is so much clearer now that we need this. I think it is attributable, very likely attributable, to a phenomenon that is called perpetuation of racial entitlement.
It’s been written about. Whenever a society adopts racial entitlements, it is very difficult to get out of them through the normal political processes.
Antonin Scalia, Speaking About the 1965 Voting Rights Act, Feb 27, 2013
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT DISARMS GUNMAN…GETS SUSPENDED?
The 16-year-old Cypress Lake High student in Fort Myers, Fla. told WFTX-TV there was “no doubt” he saved a life after grappling for the loaded .22 caliber revolver being aimed point-blank at another student on Tuesday.
“I think he was really going to shoot him right then and there,” said the suspended student, not identified by WFTX because of safety concerns. “Not taking no pity.”
More
Mississippi Town Stunned By Slaying Of Mayoral Candidate
McMillian, 34, may have been the first openly gay man to be a viable candidate for public office in Mississippi, according to his campaign. His death is being investigated as a homicide.
JACKSON, Miss. — Whatever his prospects for winning the coming mayoral election in his hometown of Clarksdale, Miss., Marco McMillian was considered by many to be a man on the rise. So word spread fast when his SUV was involved in a wreck this week, and he was nowhere to be found....
JACKSON, Miss. — Whatever his prospects for winning the coming mayoral election in his hometown of Clarksdale, Miss., Marco McMillian was considered by many to be a man on the rise. So word spread fast when his SUV was involved in a wreck this week, and he was nowhere to be found....
China Deal Benefits Obama Donors
The government watchdog group Judicial Watch is suing the Treasury Department for records pertaining to the department’s decision to grant a Chinese government-backed company access to oil deposits in the Gulf of Mexico, a move that will benefit Obama donors.
The Chinese National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) reached a “definitive agreement” with Nexen, Inc., a Canadian energy company, announced on July 23, 2012, to buy all of the company’s outstanding public shares. Nexen has holdings in the Gulf of Mexico and Canada, giving the Chinese government access to millions of barrels of Keystone XL and Gulf reserve oil.
Nexen’s holdings in the Gulf, coupled with the Chinese government’s ownership of CNOOC, meant the Treasury Department’s Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States had to approve the takeover, which it did on Feb. 12.
See More
The Chinese National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) reached a “definitive agreement” with Nexen, Inc., a Canadian energy company, announced on July 23, 2012, to buy all of the company’s outstanding public shares. Nexen has holdings in the Gulf of Mexico and Canada, giving the Chinese government access to millions of barrels of Keystone XL and Gulf reserve oil.
Nexen’s holdings in the Gulf, coupled with the Chinese government’s ownership of CNOOC, meant the Treasury Department’s Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States had to approve the takeover, which it did on Feb. 12.
See More
ILLEGALS BRINGING DRUG-RESISTANT TB TO U.S.
A member of Congress who for more than 30 years worked as a doctor says the baggage that illegal aliens are bringing into the United States now is killing people.
Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, told WND that it’s not suitcases, clothes or the like – it’s the highly infectious cases of drug-resistant and lethal tuberculosis that are walking across the Mexican border.
“It is something I am aware of and it is definitely a factor to consider in the immigration debate,” Burgess said.
Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that generally attacks the lungs, although it can attack any part of the body. The disease is easily spread when an infected individual coughs, sneezes or even talks in the presence of another person. If not properly treated the disease can be fatal.
Read More
Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, told WND that it’s not suitcases, clothes or the like – it’s the highly infectious cases of drug-resistant and lethal tuberculosis that are walking across the Mexican border.
“It is something I am aware of and it is definitely a factor to consider in the immigration debate,” Burgess said.
Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that generally attacks the lungs, although it can attack any part of the body. The disease is easily spread when an infected individual coughs, sneezes or even talks in the presence of another person. If not properly treated the disease can be fatal.
Read More
University of Maryland Bringing Doctors To Barber Shops With Federal Grant
Some Maryland residents may be asking for a haircut, shave and a doctor's consultation at their local barber shop thanks to a new University of Maryland health program funded by a $5.9 million federal grant.
The university's Center for Health Equity received the grant from the National Institutes of Health to address racial disparities in Maryland health care. The center's research will focus on raising vaccination rates and lowering obesity rates among minorities, as well as addressing the role fathers can play in reducing infant mortality.
Part of this will be done at barber shops and beauty salons in an initiative the center has titled Health Advocates In-Reach and Research, or HAIR. Medical professionals there can provide education, encourage people to participate in clinical trials and even provide medical consultations, center Director Dr. Stephen Thomas said.
More
The university's Center for Health Equity received the grant from the National Institutes of Health to address racial disparities in Maryland health care. The center's research will focus on raising vaccination rates and lowering obesity rates among minorities, as well as addressing the role fathers can play in reducing infant mortality.
Part of this will be done at barber shops and beauty salons in an initiative the center has titled Health Advocates In-Reach and Research, or HAIR. Medical professionals there can provide education, encourage people to participate in clinical trials and even provide medical consultations, center Director Dr. Stephen Thomas said.
More
22-Year-Old Wins Award For Film On Saving Babies
.jpg)
This recent gathering of independent Christian filmmakers gave testament to God’s work through His people, making a big impact, no matter the size of the budget.
Absent the pageantry, glitz and massive budget of their Hollywood peers, these Christian filmmakers are moved to produce motion pictures that give voice to the heart.
It was no surprise to many then that the 2013 Grand Prize winner for the “Best of Festival” film went to the documentary “The Drop Box,” directed by 22-year old Brian Ivie.
Read More
2013 Proposed Fee Bills
The Fisheries Service wants to make anglers aware of two bills proposed in the 2013 Legislative Session which, if approved, will affect 2014 fishing license fees. Senate Bill 525 affects both commercial and recreational fees and Senate Bill 662 only affects commercial fees, including fishing guides.
The legislation was not submitted by the Department of Natural Resources. Both bills were recommended by the Chesapeake Bay Commercial Fishermen’s Association and the sponsors of the bills are listed below. The Department is reaching out to assure you are aware of the bills and we encourage you to contact the sponsors and organizations that recommended these bills to share your support or concerns.
· SB 525/ HB 1253 - Fishing - Sustainable Fisheries Enforcement Fund
Senators Colburn and Dyson, Delegate Jacobs
(Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs, 1st Reader: Hearing 2/26/2013, 1pm) Establishing the Sustainable Fisheries Enforcement Fund as a special enforcement fund; applying a $10 surcharge to commercial fishing licenses and recreational fishing licenses (except seniors and complimentary); requiring that the surcharge supplements current revenue and can only be used for enforcement activities of the Natural Resources Police.
· SB 662/HB 1241 - Natural Resources - Commercial Fishing - Licensing
Senators Mathias and Colburn, Delegate Jacobs
(Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs, 1st Reader: Hearing 2/26/2013, 1pm) Raises certain authorized annual fees and surcharges for specified commercial fishing licenses (includes fishing guides), authorizations, and permits; establishes an annual harvester's registration for all commercial fishermen (except charter only captains) for a fee of $215; requiring anyone that purchases Maryland seafood for resale to be licensed as a dealer or to have purchased from a dealer; and repealing provisions of law that authorize the Department to establish and issue a commercial fishing apprenticeship permit.
The legislation was not submitted by the Department of Natural Resources. Both bills were recommended by the Chesapeake Bay Commercial Fishermen’s Association and the sponsors of the bills are listed below. The Department is reaching out to assure you are aware of the bills and we encourage you to contact the sponsors and organizations that recommended these bills to share your support or concerns.
· SB 525/ HB 1253 - Fishing - Sustainable Fisheries Enforcement Fund
Senators Colburn and Dyson, Delegate Jacobs
(Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs, 1st Reader: Hearing 2/26/2013, 1pm) Establishing the Sustainable Fisheries Enforcement Fund as a special enforcement fund; applying a $10 surcharge to commercial fishing licenses and recreational fishing licenses (except seniors and complimentary); requiring that the surcharge supplements current revenue and can only be used for enforcement activities of the Natural Resources Police.
· SB 662/HB 1241 - Natural Resources - Commercial Fishing - Licensing
Senators Mathias and Colburn, Delegate Jacobs
(Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs, 1st Reader: Hearing 2/26/2013, 1pm) Raises certain authorized annual fees and surcharges for specified commercial fishing licenses (includes fishing guides), authorizations, and permits; establishes an annual harvester's registration for all commercial fishermen (except charter only captains) for a fee of $215; requiring anyone that purchases Maryland seafood for resale to be licensed as a dealer or to have purchased from a dealer; and repealing provisions of law that authorize the Department to establish and issue a commercial fishing apprenticeship permit.
Repeal of Maryland Death Penalty Moves Forward
A repeal of Maryland's death penalty is expected to pass the state Senate next week, but voters could have the ultimate say on its fate in the 2014 election.
Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., D-Prince George's and Calvert counties, has said he expects the issue, which received preliminary approval Friday, to go to voter referendum. That possibility was improved when senators eliminated a funding provision, as legislation that can be considered a budget item cannot go to referendum under Maryland rules.
Police and prosecutors throughout the state are fighting to keep the death penalty for those who commit heinous crimes. They argue that capital punishment is a valuable tool and that the death penalty is the only thing deterring violent criminals already serving prison terms from killing corrections officers or one another.
More
Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., D-Prince George's and Calvert counties, has said he expects the issue, which received preliminary approval Friday, to go to voter referendum. That possibility was improved when senators eliminated a funding provision, as legislation that can be considered a budget item cannot go to referendum under Maryland rules.
Police and prosecutors throughout the state are fighting to keep the death penalty for those who commit heinous crimes. They argue that capital punishment is a valuable tool and that the death penalty is the only thing deterring violent criminals already serving prison terms from killing corrections officers or one another.
More
Party Like There's No Tomorrow
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way – in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.”
-Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities
One of the most famous opening paragraphs ever penned. A tale of the years leading up to the French Revolution that ended in the Jacobin Reign of Terror. The world, today, is neither in the best of times nor the worst of times but perhaps the oddest of times would be appropriate. Italy is in total disarray---don’t care. The United States faces sequester tomorrow---don’t care. Earnings at many companies are coming in far short of expectations---don’t care. “The world’s central banks are handing out free money at the giant ATM and don’t bother me until they finish,” said Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men in the Marketplaces.
“Anything that happens, happens. Anything that, in happening, causes something else to happen, causes something else to happen. Anything that, in happening, causes itself to happen again, happens again. It doesn’t necessarily do it in chronological order, though.”
-Douglas Adams, Mostly Harmless
There is little sense to all of this except the flood continues, no letup in sight, and money like water must go somewhere and all of the boats, without exception, have been floated. Political governance has become irrelevant, a sideshow, both technicals and fundamentals are of paltry value, and I am reminded of the boys at the table in Oliver, “More gruel, if you please.” The central banks slop it out into the various bowls, it is consumed, more is demanded, more is ladled out and the dining continues unabated. You would think, a rational man would assume, that there was an end to this somewhere but with nowhere else to put the gruel; the feeding frenzy continues. A momentary glance at Spain, at Greece, at Italy; a fleeting look at the U.S. budget, a brief examination of the sushi table, but who cares, nothing else matters, “More gruel if you please.”
“The wind is rushing after us, and the clouds are flying after us, and the moon is plunging after us, and the whole wild night is in pursuit of us; but, so far we are pursued by nothing else.”
-Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities
More
-Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities
One of the most famous opening paragraphs ever penned. A tale of the years leading up to the French Revolution that ended in the Jacobin Reign of Terror. The world, today, is neither in the best of times nor the worst of times but perhaps the oddest of times would be appropriate. Italy is in total disarray---don’t care. The United States faces sequester tomorrow---don’t care. Earnings at many companies are coming in far short of expectations---don’t care. “The world’s central banks are handing out free money at the giant ATM and don’t bother me until they finish,” said Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men in the Marketplaces.
“Anything that happens, happens. Anything that, in happening, causes something else to happen, causes something else to happen. Anything that, in happening, causes itself to happen again, happens again. It doesn’t necessarily do it in chronological order, though.”
-Douglas Adams, Mostly Harmless
There is little sense to all of this except the flood continues, no letup in sight, and money like water must go somewhere and all of the boats, without exception, have been floated. Political governance has become irrelevant, a sideshow, both technicals and fundamentals are of paltry value, and I am reminded of the boys at the table in Oliver, “More gruel, if you please.” The central banks slop it out into the various bowls, it is consumed, more is demanded, more is ladled out and the dining continues unabated. You would think, a rational man would assume, that there was an end to this somewhere but with nowhere else to put the gruel; the feeding frenzy continues. A momentary glance at Spain, at Greece, at Italy; a fleeting look at the U.S. budget, a brief examination of the sushi table, but who cares, nothing else matters, “More gruel if you please.”
“The wind is rushing after us, and the clouds are flying after us, and the moon is plunging after us, and the whole wild night is in pursuit of us; but, so far we are pursued by nothing else.”
-Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities
More
Effects Of Sequestration Begin To Take Shape In Md.
Civilian employees would be placed on unpaid furlough status for 22 workdays and programs meant to help the unemployed find work could also see their dollars cut.
“Sequestration is no way to run a country,” said Rep. Elijah Cummings.
A letter from the Pentagon to Governor O’Malley states the army would lose $95 million–that includes cuts to Fort Meade and Aberdeen Proving Ground–the Air Force at least $10 million, affecting projects at Andrews Air Force Base and a $9 million cut to the Naval Academy.
More
SB281 - RESTRICTIONS
Maryland SB 281 proposes major restrictions on gun ownership
January 23, 2013 by Maryland Legislative Watch
SB 281 (the “Firearms Safety Act of 2013″) is proposed by SenatorMiller at the request of the O’Malley administration. It is co-sponsored by Senators Benson, Conway, Currie, Ferguson, Forehand, Frosh,Kelley, King, Madaleno, Manno, Montgomery, Peters, Pinsky, Ramirez,Raskin, Robey, Rosapepe, Young, and Zirkin.
Among other things, this legislation will classify, as “assault weapons”:
“ASSAULT pistol” means any of the following firearms:
(1) AA Arms AP�9 semiautomatic pistol;
(2) Bushmaster semiautomatic pistol;
(3) Claridge HI�TEC semiautomatic pistol;
(4) D Max Industries semiautomatic pistol;
(5) Encom MK�IV, MP�9, or MP�45 semiautomatic pistol;
(6) Heckler and Koch semiautomatic SP�89 pistol;
(7) Holmes MP�83 semiautomatic pistol;
(8) Ingram MAC 10/11 semiautomatic pistol and variations including 15 the Partisan Avenger and the SWD Cobray;
(9) Intratec TEC�9/DC�9 semiautomatic pistol in any centerfire variation;
(10) P.A.W.S. type semiautomatic pistol;
(11) Skorpion semiautomatic pistol;
(12) Spectre double action semiautomatic pistol (Sile, F.I.E., Mitchell);
(13) UZI semiautomatic pistol;
(14) Weaver Arms semiautomatic Nighthawk pistol; or
(15) Wilkinson semiautomatic “Linda” pistol.
(D) “ASSAULT WEAPON” MEANS:
(1) AN ASSAULT LONG GUN;
(2) AN ASSAULT PISTOL; OR
(3) A COPYCAT WEAPON.
In order to comply with the proposed law, current owners of deemed “assault weapons” must register their weapons with the state of Maryland:
A PERSON WHO LAWFULLY POSSESSED AN ASSAULT LONG GUN OR A COPYCAT WEAPON BEFORE OCTOBER 1, 2013, AND WHO REGISTERS THE ASSAULT LONG GUN OR COPYCAT WEAPON WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE POLICE BEFORE NOVEMBER 1, 2013, MAY:
(I) CONTINUE TO POSSESS THE ASSAULT LONG GUN OR COPYCAT WEAPON
OR (II) WHILE CARRYING A COURT ORDER REQUIRING THE SURRENDER OF THE ASSAULT LONG GUN OR COPYCAT WEAPON, TRANSPORT THE ASSAULT LONG GUN OR COPYCAT WEAPON DIRECTLY TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT UNIT, BARRACKS, OR STATION IF THE PERSON HAS NOTIFIED THE LAW ENFORCEMENT UNIT, BARRACKS, OR STATION THAT THE PERSON IS TRANSPORTING THE ASSAULT LONG GUN OR COPYCAT WEAPON IN ACCORDANCE WITH A COURT ORDER AND THE ASSAULT LONG GUN OR COPYCAT WEAPON IS UNLOADED.
This legislation also limits ammunition magazines to 10 rounds (likeHB 107/SB 539). SB 281 also requires one to take an approved firearm safety course from a state approved instructor.
Also worth noting, one may not get a state permit for a gun if one has a current non ex-parte order against him/her. This legislation also criminalizes the possession of ammunition if one is barred from owning a gun under this bill.
Also:
A PERSON WHO MOVES INTO THE STATE WITH THE INTENT OF BECOMING A RESIDENT SHALL REGISTER ALL REGULATED FIREARMS WITH THE SECRETARY WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER ESTABLISHING RESIDENCY.
This bill is 38 pages long and above is just a portion of the proposed changes. It is cross filed (exact replica in both Houses) with HB 294.The fiscal and policy note is 30 pages and does a pretty thorough job of analyzing the bills’ effects.
January 23, 2013 by Maryland Legislative Watch
SB 281 (the “Firearms Safety Act of 2013″) is proposed by SenatorMiller at the request of the O’Malley administration. It is co-sponsored by Senators Benson, Conway, Currie, Ferguson, Forehand, Frosh,Kelley, King, Madaleno, Manno, Montgomery, Peters, Pinsky, Ramirez,Raskin, Robey, Rosapepe, Young, and Zirkin.
Among other things, this legislation will classify, as “assault weapons”:
“ASSAULT pistol” means any of the following firearms:
(1) AA Arms AP�9 semiautomatic pistol;
(2) Bushmaster semiautomatic pistol;
(3) Claridge HI�TEC semiautomatic pistol;
(4) D Max Industries semiautomatic pistol;
(5) Encom MK�IV, MP�9, or MP�45 semiautomatic pistol;
(6) Heckler and Koch semiautomatic SP�89 pistol;
(7) Holmes MP�83 semiautomatic pistol;
(8) Ingram MAC 10/11 semiautomatic pistol and variations including 15 the Partisan Avenger and the SWD Cobray;
(9) Intratec TEC�9/DC�9 semiautomatic pistol in any centerfire variation;
(10) P.A.W.S. type semiautomatic pistol;
(11) Skorpion semiautomatic pistol;
(12) Spectre double action semiautomatic pistol (Sile, F.I.E., Mitchell);
(13) UZI semiautomatic pistol;
(14) Weaver Arms semiautomatic Nighthawk pistol; or
(15) Wilkinson semiautomatic “Linda” pistol.
(D) “ASSAULT WEAPON” MEANS:
(1) AN ASSAULT LONG GUN;
(2) AN ASSAULT PISTOL; OR
(3) A COPYCAT WEAPON.
In order to comply with the proposed law, current owners of deemed “assault weapons” must register their weapons with the state of Maryland:
A PERSON WHO LAWFULLY POSSESSED AN ASSAULT LONG GUN OR A COPYCAT WEAPON BEFORE OCTOBER 1, 2013, AND WHO REGISTERS THE ASSAULT LONG GUN OR COPYCAT WEAPON WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE POLICE BEFORE NOVEMBER 1, 2013, MAY:
(I) CONTINUE TO POSSESS THE ASSAULT LONG GUN OR COPYCAT WEAPON
OR (II) WHILE CARRYING A COURT ORDER REQUIRING THE SURRENDER OF THE ASSAULT LONG GUN OR COPYCAT WEAPON, TRANSPORT THE ASSAULT LONG GUN OR COPYCAT WEAPON DIRECTLY TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT UNIT, BARRACKS, OR STATION IF THE PERSON HAS NOTIFIED THE LAW ENFORCEMENT UNIT, BARRACKS, OR STATION THAT THE PERSON IS TRANSPORTING THE ASSAULT LONG GUN OR COPYCAT WEAPON IN ACCORDANCE WITH A COURT ORDER AND THE ASSAULT LONG GUN OR COPYCAT WEAPON IS UNLOADED.
This legislation also limits ammunition magazines to 10 rounds (likeHB 107/SB 539). SB 281 also requires one to take an approved firearm safety course from a state approved instructor.
Also worth noting, one may not get a state permit for a gun if one has a current non ex-parte order against him/her. This legislation also criminalizes the possession of ammunition if one is barred from owning a gun under this bill.
Also:
A PERSON WHO MOVES INTO THE STATE WITH THE INTENT OF BECOMING A RESIDENT SHALL REGISTER ALL REGULATED FIREARMS WITH THE SECRETARY WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER ESTABLISHING RESIDENCY.
This bill is 38 pages long and above is just a portion of the proposed changes. It is cross filed (exact replica in both Houses) with HB 294.The fiscal and policy note is 30 pages and does a pretty thorough job of analyzing the bills’ effects.
Search For Man Swallowed By Sinkhole Ends
The effort to recover the body of Jeff Bush had resumed earlier in the day after authorities stopped operations overnight, saying the hole was still expanding and the house could collapse at any time.
"We just have not been able to locate Mr. Bush and so for that reason the rescue effort is being discontinued," Mike Merrill, county administrator for Hillsborough County, told reporters Saturday evening. "At this point, it's really not possible to recover the body."
More
SU Theatre Presents 'Camelot' March 1-10
SALISBURY, MD---One of the most beloved legends of all time takes the stage at Salisbury University as the Bobbi Biron Theatre Program presents Lerner and Loewe’sCamelot March 1-3 and 8-10 in Holloway Hall Auditorium.
Directed by Dr. T. Paul Pfeiffer, chair of the Theatre and Dance Department, with musical direction by Dr. William Folger, chair of the Department of Music, curtain is 8 p.m., 2 p.m. Sundays.
More
Directed by Dr. T. Paul Pfeiffer, chair of the Theatre and Dance Department, with musical direction by Dr. William Folger, chair of the Department of Music, curtain is 8 p.m., 2 p.m. Sundays.
More
How Not To Compromise
As high-stakes fiscal showdowns have become a constant feature of our national politics, calls for compromise have come from every corner and are growing louder. But political compromise, to paraphrase Mark Twain, is a bit like the weather: while everyone talks about it, no one does anything about it.
Maybe that’s because we’re confused about how we should compromise. It’s certainly true that we live in an overly polarized political culture and that governing requires more than the base-pleasing demonization and posturing that feeds campaigns. What we need now, though, is not compromise for its own sake; it’s smarter compromise. And that means two things: finding a real middle in negotiations (it’s not where Washington thinks it is) and getting politicians to yield on matters of principle.
Maybe that’s because we’re confused about how we should compromise. It’s certainly true that we live in an overly polarized political culture and that governing requires more than the base-pleasing demonization and posturing that feeds campaigns. What we need now, though, is not compromise for its own sake; it’s smarter compromise. And that means two things: finding a real middle in negotiations (it’s not where Washington thinks it is) and getting politicians to yield on matters of principle.
Queen Anne's County Office of the Sheriff
Sheriff Gary Hofmann
Queen Anne’s County Office of the Sheriff
Coming from a family that has hunted and fished the counties of Maryland, as well as been an avid marksman at an early age, being taught to be a responsible gun owner by competition shooting as a child, my views are in line with our current second amendment. I agree with several other Maryland Sheriffs when I say I oppose any law or regulation that infringes or restricts a citizen’s right to bear arms under the Second Amendment. The Maryland Sheriff’s Association has agreed to work with Governor O’Malley and our local delegation on the following issues regarding gun control and public safety. The following statements are in line with other Sheriffs who have expressed the same beliefs as I:
1.) Closing background loopholes to keep guns out of dangerous hands
2.) Working with prosecutors to vigorously prosecute those that commit crimes with firearms
3.) Making schools safer by enhancing security and working with school administrators in planning for critical incidents
4.) Increasing access to mental health services for at risk patients
I agree with these common sense points of discussion which identify the real issues associated with gun control that do not infringe on a citizen’s right to bear arms under the Second Amendment. Overall, proposed Senate Bill 281 will do nothing to reduce, suppress or stem the flow of gun crime on the streets of Maryland. These are nothing more than “feel good” proposals that do nothing more than impact our law-abiding citizens. For that reason, it is imperative these discussions be had in the House and the Senate, and not silenced unilaterally by executive orders.
My Office has been promoting responsible gun ownership since I took Office in 2006, by supplying gun locks and supporting gun safety programs such as Hunter Safety and training programs for children.
I swore a solemn oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of Maryland, and I’m prepared to defend my beliefs and oath for the preservation of its traditional interpretation.
Why The Tea Party Is Here To Stay
It was February 2009 when my family hit rock-bottom. Little did I know that, one year later, TIME Magazine would name me one of the world’s Most Influential people for my role as a leader in the Tea Party movement.
I did not feel influential on that cool February morning. I felt like a greying mother of young twins who had just lost her Atlanta family home to foreclosure. Our family was not alone in our suffering. Millions of Americans had lost their homes too, in what was called the worst foreclosure crisis in American history. Millions more, like my husband and I, were also newly out of work, with the U.S. unemployment rate climbing to levels not seen since the Great Depression.
Things looked bleak for our family. But we did not lose hope. We did not lose our belief in the American Dream. Most importantly; we did not lose our sense of responsibility to our children.
I did not feel influential on that cool February morning. I felt like a greying mother of young twins who had just lost her Atlanta family home to foreclosure. Our family was not alone in our suffering. Millions of Americans had lost their homes too, in what was called the worst foreclosure crisis in American history. Millions more, like my husband and I, were also newly out of work, with the U.S. unemployment rate climbing to levels not seen since the Great Depression.
Things looked bleak for our family. But we did not lose hope. We did not lose our belief in the American Dream. Most importantly; we did not lose our sense of responsibility to our children.
Man Struck, Seriously Injured, By Hit And Run Vehicle In Rehoboth Beach
Location:
Rehoboth Avenue (St. Rt. 1A) west of Church Street, Rehoboth Beach, DE
Date of Occurrence:
Saturday, March 2, 2013, at 8:17 p.m.
Operator and Vehicle:
Operator 1: Unknown
Vehicle 1: Unknown
Pedestrian: Unidentified white male (admitted to Christiana Hospital in serious condition)
Resume
Rehoboth Beach- The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is investigating a crash where a man who was rollerblading was seriously injured last night.
A preliminary investigation suggests that a male was rollerblading on the shoulder of westbound Rehoboth Avenue (St. Rt. 1A), west of Church Street. The male was struck by a vehicle, which continued traveling westward after the collision.
The male was transported by ambulance to Beebe Hospital and then flown to Christiana Hospital, where he was admitted in serious condition with injuries to his head and torso.
The Delaware State Police is asking anyone who may have any information in reference to this incident to contact the Collision Reconstruction Unit at Troop 7 at (302) 644-5020 extension 117. Citizens may also provide a tip by texting keyword “DSP” plus your message to 274637 (CRIMES), or through lines maintained by Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333. Information can also be submitted through the internet at www.tipsubmit.com.
Rehoboth Avenue (St. Rt. 1A) west of Church Street, Rehoboth Beach, DE
Date of Occurrence:
Saturday, March 2, 2013, at 8:17 p.m.
Operator and Vehicle:
Operator 1: Unknown
Vehicle 1: Unknown
Pedestrian: Unidentified white male (admitted to Christiana Hospital in serious condition)
Resume
Rehoboth Beach- The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is investigating a crash where a man who was rollerblading was seriously injured last night.
A preliminary investigation suggests that a male was rollerblading on the shoulder of westbound Rehoboth Avenue (St. Rt. 1A), west of Church Street. The male was struck by a vehicle, which continued traveling westward after the collision.
The male was transported by ambulance to Beebe Hospital and then flown to Christiana Hospital, where he was admitted in serious condition with injuries to his head and torso.
The Delaware State Police is asking anyone who may have any information in reference to this incident to contact the Collision Reconstruction Unit at Troop 7 at (302) 644-5020 extension 117. Citizens may also provide a tip by texting keyword “DSP” plus your message to 274637 (CRIMES), or through lines maintained by Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333. Information can also be submitted through the internet at www.tipsubmit.com.
SEARCH FOR MISSING QUEEN ANNE'S CO. WOMAN UNDERWAY
(STEVENSVILLE, MD) – State troopers and sheriff’s deputies are continuing their investigation into the suspicious disappearance of a Queen Anne’s County woman who has been missing for the past two days.
The woman is identified as Robin L. Pope, 51, of Stevensville, Md. She is described as a white female, 5’4”, 105 lbs., with brown hair. Until December 2012, Pope had been residing with her husband, Wayne A. Pope Jr., in the 100-block of Beach Road, Stevensville. The couple separated in December and Robin Pope had been staying at a residence owned by a female friend on Kent Island.
Shortly after 2:00 a.m. on March 2, 2013, the Queen Anne’s County Emergency Operations Center received a call from Wayne Pope, who reported suspicious circumstances involving his wife. When Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Wayne Pope’s home, he told them his wife Robin had come to the home late Friday night to retrieve some belongings. After she arrived, he left the home. When he returned to the home early Saturday morning, he found his wife’s black 2011 Infinity still parked in the driveway, but she was not at the residence. He also said his dog, a Great Dane, was missing. Deputies found Robin Pope’s keys, purse, credit cards, and cash still in her vehicle.
Deputies entered Robin Pope into the National Crime Information Center database as a missing person and information was forwarded to area law enforcement agencies. They interviewed relatives and friends as they continued the search for Pope. A deputy responded to a residence in the vicinity of the Pope’s home, where their dog was found dead near the pier, with obvious trauma to the upper torso. The dog’s body has been taken to the Queen Anne’s County Humane Society pending further investigation.
On the evening of March 2, 2013, the Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Office contacted the Maryland State Police Criminal Investigation Bureau and requested troopers take the lead in this investigation. Troopers from the State Police Homicide Unit and Criminal Enforcement Division responded and have been working the investigation since. Assistance is being provided by troopers from the Centreville Barrack, as well as Natural Resources Police officers and Queen Anne County Sheriff’s Office deputies.
State Police investigators and crime scene technicians are continuing to examine the location where Robin Pope was last seen. The Maryland State Police dive team will be conducting a search of the Chesapeake Bay in the area of the scene today, assisted by a State Police helicopter and marine units from the Natural Resources Police and the Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Office.
Anyone with information about Robin Pope is urged to contact Maryland State Police at the Centreville Barrack at 410-758-1101. Callers may remain confidential.
The woman is identified as Robin L. Pope, 51, of Stevensville, Md. She is described as a white female, 5’4”, 105 lbs., with brown hair. Until December 2012, Pope had been residing with her husband, Wayne A. Pope Jr., in the 100-block of Beach Road, Stevensville. The couple separated in December and Robin Pope had been staying at a residence owned by a female friend on Kent Island.
Shortly after 2:00 a.m. on March 2, 2013, the Queen Anne’s County Emergency Operations Center received a call from Wayne Pope, who reported suspicious circumstances involving his wife. When Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Wayne Pope’s home, he told them his wife Robin had come to the home late Friday night to retrieve some belongings. After she arrived, he left the home. When he returned to the home early Saturday morning, he found his wife’s black 2011 Infinity still parked in the driveway, but she was not at the residence. He also said his dog, a Great Dane, was missing. Deputies found Robin Pope’s keys, purse, credit cards, and cash still in her vehicle.
Deputies entered Robin Pope into the National Crime Information Center database as a missing person and information was forwarded to area law enforcement agencies. They interviewed relatives and friends as they continued the search for Pope. A deputy responded to a residence in the vicinity of the Pope’s home, where their dog was found dead near the pier, with obvious trauma to the upper torso. The dog’s body has been taken to the Queen Anne’s County Humane Society pending further investigation.
On the evening of March 2, 2013, the Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Office contacted the Maryland State Police Criminal Investigation Bureau and requested troopers take the lead in this investigation. Troopers from the State Police Homicide Unit and Criminal Enforcement Division responded and have been working the investigation since. Assistance is being provided by troopers from the Centreville Barrack, as well as Natural Resources Police officers and Queen Anne County Sheriff’s Office deputies.
State Police investigators and crime scene technicians are continuing to examine the location where Robin Pope was last seen. The Maryland State Police dive team will be conducting a search of the Chesapeake Bay in the area of the scene today, assisted by a State Police helicopter and marine units from the Natural Resources Police and the Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Office.
Anyone with information about Robin Pope is urged to contact Maryland State Police at the Centreville Barrack at 410-758-1101. Callers may remain confidential.
Same-Sex Couples Not As Healthy As Heterosexual Married Couples
When it comes to our health, marriage may be more than just a formality.
A study published in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior asked same-sex couples who were living together about their health status, and compared their responses to those of heterosexual couples who were married or living together, as well as to people who were divorced, widowed or had never married. The study pooled data from 1,634 women living with same-sex partners and 1,659 men living with their male partners who were part of the National Health Interview Surveys from 1997 to 2009.
Previous research showed that married couples are usually healthier than their non-married counterparts, and the current study confirmed that trend; people in same-sex relationships reported better health than those who were single, but the same-sex partners reported poorer health than heterosexual married couples.
“These same-sex marriage-like relationships represent a very interesting population, not only for politics, but in terms of the health disparities,” says lead study author Hui Liu, an assistant professor of sociology at Michigan State University.
A study published in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior asked same-sex couples who were living together about their health status, and compared their responses to those of heterosexual couples who were married or living together, as well as to people who were divorced, widowed or had never married. The study pooled data from 1,634 women living with same-sex partners and 1,659 men living with their male partners who were part of the National Health Interview Surveys from 1997 to 2009.
Previous research showed that married couples are usually healthier than their non-married counterparts, and the current study confirmed that trend; people in same-sex relationships reported better health than those who were single, but the same-sex partners reported poorer health than heterosexual married couples.
“These same-sex marriage-like relationships represent a very interesting population, not only for politics, but in terms of the health disparities,” says lead study author Hui Liu, an assistant professor of sociology at Michigan State University.
Zit Zapper: How (Good) Bacteria Could Be The Answer To Clear Skin
It’s one of the crueler realities of teendom — some kids are plagued with monster zits and problem skin, while others tend to sail through adolescence with nary a blemish.
Researchers may finally be able to explain why. Pimples, as skin experts have long known, are the result of infected and inflamed pores that are aggravated by bacteria. But not all bacteria residing in the skin are created equal, and some are more prone to causing breakouts than others.
In a study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) explored the world of the skin pore to get a deeper understanding of which species make these niches home and how they’re affected by stress and the environment. Previous studies suggested that one particular species, Propionibacterium acnes, was largely responsible for the pimples that erupt during adolescence; when researchers took samples of zits and cultured the microbial residents, P. acnes proved to be the most numerous. In addition, experiments in animals also showed that introducing P. acnes to the skin could trigger an immune response that resembled a breakout.
Researchers may finally be able to explain why. Pimples, as skin experts have long known, are the result of infected and inflamed pores that are aggravated by bacteria. But not all bacteria residing in the skin are created equal, and some are more prone to causing breakouts than others.
In a study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) explored the world of the skin pore to get a deeper understanding of which species make these niches home and how they’re affected by stress and the environment. Previous studies suggested that one particular species, Propionibacterium acnes, was largely responsible for the pimples that erupt during adolescence; when researchers took samples of zits and cultured the microbial residents, P. acnes proved to be the most numerous. In addition, experiments in animals also showed that introducing P. acnes to the skin could trigger an immune response that resembled a breakout.
Florida Man Shot
A Florida man was shot and wounded over the weekend, but police say the shooter will walk away without charges. No, it's not another Stand Your Ground case, unless the law applies to shooters that stand on four legs. This gun-toting vigilante was the victim's dog. Gregory Dale Lanier told police that he and his dog were riding in his truck, when the dog kicked a loaded gun, causing it to go off, shooting him in the leg. With a straight face, Police Commander Steve Carr actually said they didn't arrest the dog because an investigation was still pending. You can't make this stuff up. No official NRA statement yet, but we expect Wayne LaPierre will soon tell us that the only way to stop a bad dog with a gun, is a good dog with a gun.