When he was running for governor, Larry Hogan talked about guns and gun control about as little as possible. When his opponents in the Republican primary espoused full-throated support for an absolutist interpretation of the Second Amendment, he talked about the need to keep guns away from those with mental illness. When his Democratic opponent in the general election started running attack ads against him featuring images of assault rifles on a playground and in a shopping cart, Mr. Hogan reiterated a promise not to try to overturn the state's gun laws and then changed the subject back to taxes and the economy.
But for those who reject the gun lobby's rhetoric that a heavily armed society is a safe one, there was some cause for doubt. During the campaign, the Washington Post reported on gun activists' claims that Mr. Hogan had given them private assurances that he would loosen Maryland's standards for issuing concealed-carry permits, and Mr. Hogan refused repeated requests to release the questionnaire he filled out for the National Rifle Association, which endorsed him and gave him an A- rating.
In December, Mr. Hogan was asked by a caller during an appearance on WBAL-AM's C4 show whether he would loosen the restrictions on the issuance of concealed-carry permits for handguns. Maryland not only requires applicants to pass a background check but also that they demonstrate a "good and substantial" reason for carrying a weapon outside the home. Mr. Hogan said his goal was to make it harder for criminals and the mentally ill to possess handguns but easier for everyone else. He bragged that 95 percent of those who applied to the state police for concealed-carry permits were getting them (others questioned that statistic) but lamented that while his administration was "trying to do what we can to make improvements," he was constrained by the legislature. "The law is the law," he said.
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DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Saturday, April 16, 2016
Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Press Release
On April 8, 2016 at approximately 8:34 pm a Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Deputy observed a green Dodge Ram Pickup truck with a headlight out. The Deputy stopped the vehicle at Route 113 and Old Ocean City Blvd. The Deputy made contact with the driver, Martin Whittemore, age 28, from Montpelier, Va. The Deputy detected a strong odor of burnt marijuana coming from the vehicle. A search of the vehicle was conducted. Located in the search was a loaded Smith & Wesson 9mm semi-automatic handgun and suspected marijuana.
Mr. Whittemore was charged with carry and knowingly transporting a loaded handgun in vehicle, possession of control dangerous substance, marijuana, and possession of control dangerous substance paraphernalia. Mr. Whittemore is awaiting trial.
On April 8, 2016 at about 7:13 P.M. A Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Deputy responded to the Walmart in Berlin for a report of shoplifting. Upon arrival the Deputy met with Walmart employees who had stopped a suspected shoplifter attempting to steal $125.67 in merchandise. The woman was identified as Wendy Firebaugh 57 years of age, of Marion Station, Md.
Ms. Firebaugh was issued criminal citations for Theft and Trespassing. Ms. Firebaugh was released pending a court date in Snow Hill District Court.
Mr. Whittemore was charged with carry and knowingly transporting a loaded handgun in vehicle, possession of control dangerous substance, marijuana, and possession of control dangerous substance paraphernalia. Mr. Whittemore is awaiting trial.
On April 8, 2016 at about 7:13 P.M. A Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Deputy responded to the Walmart in Berlin for a report of shoplifting. Upon arrival the Deputy met with Walmart employees who had stopped a suspected shoplifter attempting to steal $125.67 in merchandise. The woman was identified as Wendy Firebaugh 57 years of age, of Marion Station, Md.
Ms. Firebaugh was issued criminal citations for Theft and Trespassing. Ms. Firebaugh was released pending a court date in Snow Hill District Court.
Governor Larry Hogan Gives Opening Remarks at Maryland’s First Annual Crime Victims’ Rights Conference
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Larry Hogan today welcomed hundreds of individuals who provide services and support to Marylanders who have been victims of crime, at the first statewide Maryland Crime Victims’ Rights Conference at the DoubleTree Hotel near BWI Airport in Linthicum. The daylong conference, sponsored in part by the Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention, provided opportunities for law enforcement officers, prosecutors, victim service providers, nonprofit organizations, and health department officials to learn about new methods to apply a victim-centered approach to every aspect of the criminal justice system in Maryland.
“Decades ago, victims were expected to stay on the sidelines of the criminal justice system, but today that is no longer true,” said Governor Hogan. “Our administration is committed to helping these individuals rebuild, and creating a criminal justice system that does not exclude crime victims, and holds those who inflict harm accountable for their actions.”
After delivering opening remarks, Governor Hogan presented Governor’s Victim Assistance Awards to three Marylanders who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to assist crime victims. The awards are given in memory of individuals who helped to put crime victims’ rights and services on the map in Maryland and nationally.
“It is an honor to recognize those who have contributed so much to the crime victims’ rights movement here in Maryland—the advocates and counselors, police officers, prosecutors, forensic nurses, hotline workers, and trainers. Thank you for the incredibly selfless work you do,” said Governor Hogan, who also presented two governor’s proclamations, one proclaiming April 3 as “Crime Victim and Advocate Commemorative Day,” and another proclaiming April 10-16 as “Crime Victims’ Rights Week” in Maryland.
Following the presentation, nine workshops were offered to conference attendees on subjects including human trafficking investigations, justice reinvestment, and identity theft and fraud, among others.
Can Obama Appoint Garland Without Senate?
While Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland cools his heels amid Republicans' refusal to hold confirmation hearings, Barack Obama is almost surely plotting his next move in this ginned up political drama. Shaming his opponents in the media is unlikely to move the needle in his direction.
Both sides have staked out their position, and there is little that can be done to sway them at this point. The Republicans don’t want to allow Obama the opportunity to pack the Court with another liberal before he leaves office. The Democrats will do whatever it takes to get their man nominated, conveniently forgetting that they practically invented the judicial nominee filibuster or that Obama is the only Senator-cum-president to ever supportsuch a tactic on a Supreme Court nominee.
One trick that Obama might try should the Senate refuse to act on his nomination is to simply appoint Garland directly to the Court. Can this be done?
More here
Both sides have staked out their position, and there is little that can be done to sway them at this point. The Republicans don’t want to allow Obama the opportunity to pack the Court with another liberal before he leaves office. The Democrats will do whatever it takes to get their man nominated, conveniently forgetting that they practically invented the judicial nominee filibuster or that Obama is the only Senator-cum-president to ever supportsuch a tactic on a Supreme Court nominee.
One trick that Obama might try should the Senate refuse to act on his nomination is to simply appoint Garland directly to the Court. Can this be done?
More here
Friday, April 15, 2016
Subject: Rep. Collins: Speeding Up Syrian Refugee Applications Is ‘A Threat to Our National Security’
(CNSNews.com) – The Obama administration’s fast-tracking of Syrian refugee applications is “a threat to our national security,” Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) said on Tuesday.
Collins was responding to reports that processing time for Syrian refugee applications has been cut to three months – down from the standard 18-24 months – as part of a “surge” aimed at reaching President Obama’s target of admitting 10,000 in fiscal year 2016.
“Accelerating the timeline to admit and resettle refugees from countries that are hotbeds of terrorism is a threat to our national security,” he said in a statement. “Despite serious risks, the Obama administration decided being politically correct is more important than the safety of the American people.”
“Abruptly dropping the amount of time it will take to vet people raises serious concerns that there will be a less comprehensive process that will not screen out those seeking to take advantage of our system.”
With less than six months of FY 2016 to go, fewer than 14 percent of the 10,000 Syrian refugees have been admitted. Against that background, the State Department launched a three-month “surge” operation in Amman, Jordan on February 1, according to U.S. Ambassador Alice Wells.
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Collins was responding to reports that processing time for Syrian refugee applications has been cut to three months – down from the standard 18-24 months – as part of a “surge” aimed at reaching President Obama’s target of admitting 10,000 in fiscal year 2016.
“Accelerating the timeline to admit and resettle refugees from countries that are hotbeds of terrorism is a threat to our national security,” he said in a statement. “Despite serious risks, the Obama administration decided being politically correct is more important than the safety of the American people.”
“Abruptly dropping the amount of time it will take to vet people raises serious concerns that there will be a less comprehensive process that will not screen out those seeking to take advantage of our system.”
With less than six months of FY 2016 to go, fewer than 14 percent of the 10,000 Syrian refugees have been admitted. Against that background, the State Department launched a three-month “surge” operation in Amman, Jordan on February 1, according to U.S. Ambassador Alice Wells.
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Subject: Child Nearly Drowns - Returns to Family With Power of Speech
KOMO-TV reports that while the family was moving, 2-year-old girl Catalina Ackers slipped out of her home and into a neighborhood retention pond.
Catalina’s mother, Natalie Holiday, said she went upstairs for a minute came back down and sensed something was wrong.
"It happened in an instant," she said.
She called 911 and the family fanned out in all directions, but it was her 12-year-old son Ethan who spotted his baby sister in a nearby pond.
"He saw her pink shirt and she was floating face down in the water," Holiday told KOMO.
Ethan dove into the pond, got Catalina and carried her to the sidewalk above the pond, where a neighbor helped with CPR efforts until a police officer arrived.
More here
Maine On Track to Uncover Record Amount of Welfare Fraud
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services announced on Monday that it expects to surpass last year's record number of uncovered welfare fraud.
"We're seeing an awful lot of welfare fraud," Director of Fraud Operations Tom Roth told WCSH-TV. "We definitely have more calls coming in than we have people to handle. Having the support from the state and the public is paramount, I think, to our success."
WCSH reports, the Fraud Investigation and Recovery Unit brought a total of 105 cases to the Attorney General for prosecution last year, totaling more than $1.2 million in stolen state benefits.
So far this year, the unit has brought 29 cases for prosecution totaling $456,131.56 in theft of state benefits.
Roth said that cases where a person uses a dead relative's EBT card are becoming more common.
He said one of the big "red flags" that a card may be being used inappropriately is out-of-state purchases.
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"We're seeing an awful lot of welfare fraud," Director of Fraud Operations Tom Roth told WCSH-TV. "We definitely have more calls coming in than we have people to handle. Having the support from the state and the public is paramount, I think, to our success."
WCSH reports, the Fraud Investigation and Recovery Unit brought a total of 105 cases to the Attorney General for prosecution last year, totaling more than $1.2 million in stolen state benefits.
So far this year, the unit has brought 29 cases for prosecution totaling $456,131.56 in theft of state benefits.
Roth said that cases where a person uses a dead relative's EBT card are becoming more common.
He said one of the big "red flags" that a card may be being used inappropriately is out-of-state purchases.
More
TN Gov. Bill Haslam Vetoes Bill to Make Bible the State Book
The Bible isn’t Tennessee’s official book — yet.
Gov. Bill Haslam vetoed a bill Thursday that would have granted the Christian holy book that status.
In his veto message Thursday, Mr. Haslam cited Article I, Section 3 of the Tennessee Constitution which states “no preference shall ever be given, by law, to any religious establishment or mode of worship.”
He added that while “I strongly disagree with those who are trying to drive religion out of the public square,” that battle is “very different from the governmental establishment of religion.”
Proponents said the honor merely recognizes the Bible’s historic role in building the overwhelmingly Christian state, but Mr. Haslam said that was no better.
“My personal feeling is that this bill trivializes the Bible, which I believe is a sacred text. If we believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God, then we shouldn’t be recognizing it only as a book of historical and economic significance,” he added in his veto message.
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Gov. Bill Haslam vetoed a bill Thursday that would have granted the Christian holy book that status.
In his veto message Thursday, Mr. Haslam cited Article I, Section 3 of the Tennessee Constitution which states “no preference shall ever be given, by law, to any religious establishment or mode of worship.”
He added that while “I strongly disagree with those who are trying to drive religion out of the public square,” that battle is “very different from the governmental establishment of religion.”
Proponents said the honor merely recognizes the Bible’s historic role in building the overwhelmingly Christian state, but Mr. Haslam said that was no better.
“My personal feeling is that this bill trivializes the Bible, which I believe is a sacred text. If we believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God, then we shouldn’t be recognizing it only as a book of historical and economic significance,” he added in his veto message.
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Is Obama Planning Revenge on Netanyahu?
"During his final year in the White House, US President Barack Obama is preparing a metaphorical roadside IED for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It cannot be that the tainted relations between the two leaders will not end with Obama exacting some sweet revenge."
Variations of the above statement have been uttered for a while now by senior American and Israeli officials since Netanyahu's speech to the US Congress last year during his campaign against Obama and his nuclear agreement with Iran.
This week, the New York Times brought the fraught Obama-Netanyahu relationship back into the headlines when the paper expounded on the US president's possible future revenge against the Israeli leader that will be served up cold in the form of a UN Security Council resolution on the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
Several officials have said that Obama has grown so frustrated with trying to revive Middle East peace talks that he may lay down his own outline for an Israeli-Palestinian two-state solution, in the form of a resolution in the United Nations Security Council, the Times reported.
“There will be a great temptation to do something in the final year. “For a president who came out faster and more aggressively on the Middle East than any of his predecessors, there is a gnawing sense of incompletion and perhaps even failure,” Aaron David Miller, a vice president at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, told the Times last month.
More
Variations of the above statement have been uttered for a while now by senior American and Israeli officials since Netanyahu's speech to the US Congress last year during his campaign against Obama and his nuclear agreement with Iran.
This week, the New York Times brought the fraught Obama-Netanyahu relationship back into the headlines when the paper expounded on the US president's possible future revenge against the Israeli leader that will be served up cold in the form of a UN Security Council resolution on the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
Several officials have said that Obama has grown so frustrated with trying to revive Middle East peace talks that he may lay down his own outline for an Israeli-Palestinian two-state solution, in the form of a resolution in the United Nations Security Council, the Times reported.
“There will be a great temptation to do something in the final year. “For a president who came out faster and more aggressively on the Middle East than any of his predecessors, there is a gnawing sense of incompletion and perhaps even failure,” Aaron David Miller, a vice president at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, told the Times last month.
More
USAF Senior MSGT Ejected for Reference to 'God'
There has been yet another recent example of Barack Obama’s top-down effort to eradicate any reference to faith by military personnel. MSGT Chuck Roberson invited retired Senior MSGT Oscar Rodriguez Jr. to conduct a traditional flag retirement as part of Roberson’s own retirement ceremony. But when Rodriguez arrived at Travis Air Force Base for his friend’s small retirement gathering of family and friends, he was met by security personnel. Those personnel had been ordered by the base commander to warn Rodriguez that he had to stick to a script that did not reference “God.”
Rodriguez didn’t make the rank of Senior MSGT because he was a pushover. He stood for his part in the ceremony — in civilian clothing we note — and began his flag recitation, ignoring the warning. He was immediately seized by security personnel (as seen in the video below), and forcibly removed from the ceremony — to the alarm of the guests gathered there to honor MSGT Roberson.
According to Lt. Col. Robert Couse-Baker at Travis AFB, the Air Force “respects and defends the right to free speech and religious expression.” But Couse-Baker added, “Rodriguez ignored numerous requests to respect the Air Force prescribed ceremony and unfortunately was forcibly removed. We will continue to investigate the situation fully.” Fact is, Rodriguez was removed for exercising his First Amendment rights at a voluntary retirement ceremony. He is now a civilian, and his remarks were delivered in that capacity.
More here
Rodriguez didn’t make the rank of Senior MSGT because he was a pushover. He stood for his part in the ceremony — in civilian clothing we note — and began his flag recitation, ignoring the warning. He was immediately seized by security personnel (as seen in the video below), and forcibly removed from the ceremony — to the alarm of the guests gathered there to honor MSGT Roberson.
According to Lt. Col. Robert Couse-Baker at Travis AFB, the Air Force “respects and defends the right to free speech and religious expression.” But Couse-Baker added, “Rodriguez ignored numerous requests to respect the Air Force prescribed ceremony and unfortunately was forcibly removed. We will continue to investigate the situation fully.” Fact is, Rodriguez was removed for exercising his First Amendment rights at a voluntary retirement ceremony. He is now a civilian, and his remarks were delivered in that capacity.
More here
Conservative Rebellion over Puerto Rico ‘Bailout’
Congress’ bid to rescue Puerto Rico from its debt crisis is turning into yet another test for House Speaker Paul D. Ryan, and the early signs are not good, with one conservative lawmaker accusing leaders of gagging rank-and-file Republicans to keep them from scuttling the relief package.
Republicans had hoped to clear the bill through the Natural Resources Committee on Thursday in anticipation of a floor vote next week, but the committee vote was scuttled Wednesday evening after party leaders decided they needed more time to work out a compromise with Democrats and the Obama administration.
Democratic support will be needed to make up for the loss of conservative Republicans who rebelled against the bill, calling it a “bailout,” and who accused their own leaders of trying to silence them by ordering them not to offer amendments or to demand a roll-call vote.
“In all my time in Congress, no one has ever asked me to do something quite like this,” said Rep. John Fleming, Louisiana Republican. “This is the kind of ‘go along’ politics Americans and I are tired of. Any time we don’t have full transparency, we have a bad outcome.”
More here
Republicans had hoped to clear the bill through the Natural Resources Committee on Thursday in anticipation of a floor vote next week, but the committee vote was scuttled Wednesday evening after party leaders decided they needed more time to work out a compromise with Democrats and the Obama administration.
Democratic support will be needed to make up for the loss of conservative Republicans who rebelled against the bill, calling it a “bailout,” and who accused their own leaders of trying to silence them by ordering them not to offer amendments or to demand a roll-call vote.
“In all my time in Congress, no one has ever asked me to do something quite like this,” said Rep. John Fleming, Louisiana Republican. “This is the kind of ‘go along’ politics Americans and I are tired of. Any time we don’t have full transparency, we have a bad outcome.”
More here
D.C. Metrorail System Seeks Hundreds of Millions From Congress
(CNSNews.com) - The Metrorail system that serves the capital of the free world has dangerous, frayed electrical cables, an unmotivated workforce, reduced ridership, and a new manager who is determined to make changes after years of neglect.
On Wednesday, the chairman of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) told Congress that Metro needs around $25 billion over the next 10 years to run the system, address critical safety issues, and catch up on a ten-year backlog of neglected maintenance. Chairman Jack Evans said the system also faces a $2.5-billion unfunded pension liability that it has no plan or ability to address.
And if Congress doesn't pony up, "next time something happens, I'm blaming it on you guys," Evans said in a heated moment at the hearing of a House Oversight subcommittee.
In response to Republican Rep. Mark Meadows, who questioned why federal taxpayers should assume additional financial burdens for a mismanaged system, Evans got angry:
More here
On Wednesday, the chairman of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) told Congress that Metro needs around $25 billion over the next 10 years to run the system, address critical safety issues, and catch up on a ten-year backlog of neglected maintenance. Chairman Jack Evans said the system also faces a $2.5-billion unfunded pension liability that it has no plan or ability to address.
And if Congress doesn't pony up, "next time something happens, I'm blaming it on you guys," Evans said in a heated moment at the hearing of a House Oversight subcommittee.
In response to Republican Rep. Mark Meadows, who questioned why federal taxpayers should assume additional financial burdens for a mismanaged system, Evans got angry:
More here
The Philippines Re-opens Military Bases to US forces
[Originally published June 6, 2012]
“They can come here provided they have prior coordination from the government,” Filipino Under Secretary for Defense Affairs Honorio Azcueta announced shortly after his meeting with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey on Monday.
“That’s what [the Philippines] want ... increase in exercises and interoperability” with U.S. forces, Azcueta said, according to reports by the Philippine Star.
Azcueta's announcement opens the door for the first American military deployments to Clark Air Force Base and the naval base in Subic Bay since DOD officially shuttered the facilities in 1991 and 1992, respectively.
The deal to reopen Subic Bay and Clark Air Force Base was struck during Dempsey's visit to the Asia-Pacific region to attend the Shangri-La defense talks held in Singapore last Saturday.
Dempsey and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta used the three-day conference among top U.S. and international defense officials to sell the White House's new Pacific-focused national security strategy to its regional allies.
In March, the Obama administration opted to triple the amount of military funding to the Philippines as U.S. forces look to expand their foothold in the country.
In April, DOD officials agreed to relocate 9,000 Marines from Okinawa to Guam and other outposts in the Pacific. It remains unclear whether those displaced Marines will end up on Filipino soil.
Monday's basing agreement also comes months after Manila announced plans to build a new seaport in the Spratly Islands, off the coast of the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam in the South China Sea.
Local residents claim the seaport is the first step in creating a mini-naval base for U.S. and Filipino troops. The Philippine government claims the effort is strictly designed to support commercial business and tourism to the island.
More here
[The Spratley Islands is the location of the controversial airfield and military facilities newly-created by the Chinese. --Editor]
“They can come here provided they have prior coordination from the government,” Filipino Under Secretary for Defense Affairs Honorio Azcueta announced shortly after his meeting with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey on Monday.
“That’s what [the Philippines] want ... increase in exercises and interoperability” with U.S. forces, Azcueta said, according to reports by the Philippine Star.
Azcueta's announcement opens the door for the first American military deployments to Clark Air Force Base and the naval base in Subic Bay since DOD officially shuttered the facilities in 1991 and 1992, respectively.
The deal to reopen Subic Bay and Clark Air Force Base was struck during Dempsey's visit to the Asia-Pacific region to attend the Shangri-La defense talks held in Singapore last Saturday.
Dempsey and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta used the three-day conference among top U.S. and international defense officials to sell the White House's new Pacific-focused national security strategy to its regional allies.
In March, the Obama administration opted to triple the amount of military funding to the Philippines as U.S. forces look to expand their foothold in the country.
In April, DOD officials agreed to relocate 9,000 Marines from Okinawa to Guam and other outposts in the Pacific. It remains unclear whether those displaced Marines will end up on Filipino soil.
Monday's basing agreement also comes months after Manila announced plans to build a new seaport in the Spratly Islands, off the coast of the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam in the South China Sea.
Local residents claim the seaport is the first step in creating a mini-naval base for U.S. and Filipino troops. The Philippine government claims the effort is strictly designed to support commercial business and tourism to the island.
More here
[The Spratley Islands is the location of the controversial airfield and military facilities newly-created by the Chinese. --Editor]
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