Martin O'Malley's Is No Opportunist on Gun Control

[JustAnotherGen]

June 2015 -
http://www.businessinsider.com/martin-omalley-launching-major-push-for-gun-control-2015-6


 2011 Maryland State of the State Address Feb 3, 2011

http://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc5300/sc5339/000113/014000/014577/unrestricted/20120413e.pdf

At the beginning, he tips his hat to President Obama -
As President Obama said just last week, “We know what it takes to compete for the jobs and industries of our time. We need to out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world.”

He then went on to speak about Tough Choices - one being gun control reform in Maryland:

With tough choices, we are also taking back our streets and neighborhoods from violent crime. Since 2007, we have reduced murders in our state by 23%.64 But the spate of homicides early this year, I think reminds all of us wherever we live of the urgency of work yet done. Better isn’t good enough. Thirty-one children, thirty-one kids were the victims of homicides in 2010. 

Now the State Police tell us that this is the lowest number of juvenile victims of homicide on record.  But how do we explain that to the families, to the moms and dads of kids that were lost. How do you tell them that those thirty-one lives lost – we consider that to be progress or a state accomplishment?

Two years ago, you required judges, rightly, to remove guns from the houses of domestic abusers.  This year, I need your help to further toughen the enforcement of our gun laws.

And while nobody believes that we should criminalize poverty, there are things that we can do – must do – to bring Maryland in line with what every other state does and what every other state expects when it comes to preventing the willful neglect of a child.

In his conclusion he tips his hat to President Clinton -
As President Clinton once rightly said, “There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America.” 


Two years later - February 2013:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/16/maryland-gun-control-law_n_3287475.html

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Gov. Martin O'Malley has signed a gun-control measure to give Maryland some of the nation's tightest gun laws and the National Rifle Association says it plans to challenge the law in court.

Part of the law requires people to submit fingerprints to the state police to get a license to buy a handgun.

O'Malley says states with similar laws have substantially lower gun death rates than states that do not

The measure banned 45 types of assault weapons and gun magazines will be limited to 10 bullets.


September 2013 - the NRA gets butt hurt:

Maryland Gun Control Law Gets Second Challenge

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/30/maryland-gun-control-law_n_4017220.html

HAGERSTOWN, Md. — The state of Maryland fired back Monday at gun advocates seeking to block a new law creating some of the nation's toughest firearm restrictions, arguing a lawsuit filed last week came too late and lacks merit.

Attorney General Doug Gansler said the plaintiffs – three private citizens and seven gun dealers and associations – waited more than four months after Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley signed the legislation to file the lawsuit.

The law, enacted in response to Newtown, Conn., elementary school shooting, adds 45 types of guns to a list of banned assault weapons and limits magazines to 10 bullets. It also requires handgun buyers to be fingerprinted before purchase. The law is set to take effect Tuesday.

Just wanted to clear up the headlines that O'Malley is JUST DOING THIS NOW.

He's not. He's as pissed as the rest of us who want these bullshit shootings to stop - and he has been.

A National Database of gun owners, finger prints, limitations on the types of guns one can own - these are tough and expensive choices -

But it has to happen. Understand - among you at DU (for those who want no limitations on gun ownership in case The Gub'mint does whatever ) are Democratic Party Members for whom this issue is non negotiable.

Notes -
We are a home with guns. Yes - multiple guns. Like two handguns and numerous hunting rifles. We also have bullets for these. We would pass finger print, mental health, background checks - we have no fear.

My cousin was murdered by having a bullet put in his head by a kid trying to get into a gang (black on black violence - random shooting) on April 13, 1991.

[Stellar]

1. For O'Malley!

[FSogol]

2. K&R. n/t

[brer cat]

3. Unlike the other candidates

O'Malley has a very public record of what he has actually accomplished: legislation proposed, passed, and signed into law. He is not afraid of the NRA.

I love the Bill Clinton quote and glad to see that M O'M has used it. “There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America.”

[JustAnotherGen]

4. I love that quote too!

Because it's true.

And doing things like this really are tough tasks - but with a little grit we can get it done.

[brer cat]

5. This is why the cowardly

drive me crazy: it can be done.

[aikoaiko]

6. Additional Federal gun bans are a worthless idea in terms of gun safety

and campaigning on that will likely help republicans keep the House and prevent fewer Democrats from entering the senate (although I think we can win back the Senate).

I can live with a Manchin-Toomey background check, but it would help if the pro-restrictions side would remove the Hughes amendment to FOPA or eliminate the ATF discretion to ban the importation of rifles that are legal to own if made within the US.

[JustAnotherGen]

7. I think we should all follow in Maryland's foot steps

This has already been done.

So it can be done.

I have zero tolerance for ideas that have not been fully implemented in a state.

Now a worthless idea would be us banning the NRA from being allowed to operate in the US. In 2010 they reported 781 employees (125 volunteers - probably unpaid interns because that's probably how those people are) - and I wouldn't want to see them lose their jobs.

I would like them to get their full salaries taxed for Social Security however as a trade off. Now that's something O'Malley is proposing too. And that will impact me too.

See - I'm not selfish. I'll leave that selfish title to others.

[aikoaiko]

9. What's good for "Bodymore, Murderland" may not be good for elsewhere.

That's a reference to Baltimore before O'Malley and while Baltimore's homicide rate has improved, its still way up there.

And all three candidates have expressed support for the so-called Assault Weapons Ban, so this is not a criticism of OMalley per se.

Selective gun bans are a big mistake for Democrats.

Judicious background checks may work.

[JustAnotherGen]

11. And what's good for

South Carolina, Oklahoma, and Mississippi - isn't good for NJ, MD, NJ, NY, MA, CA, IL.

Unfortunately they are dependent on us.

Assault Weapons ban is on the table.

I'm so sick and tired of but "we caaaaan't!". Says who? Some dumbass pundit putz? wasserman-Schultz? The NRA?

This is why DC politics disgust me and we need an outsider in the White House.

And we all need to be brave. This is why I'm supporting O'Malley.

[aikoaiko]

12. I guess we'll have to wait and see. I can't see O'M being more successful than Obama/Biden

after the horrible massacre in Newtown.

And in all fairness I can't see anyone being successful at banning so-called assault rifles.

[JustAnotherGen]

13. Just 45

Not all - just 45 of them.

[Andy823]

8. I think that even republicans

Are getting tired of all the killings in this country. Sure the die hard republican tea party nuts might not vote for someone who wants to strengthen gun laws, but I am willing to be that there are a lot of republicans that would be for tougher laws, especially women with children who don't want to have to get a phone fall the some nut with a gun has taken over the school, theater, shopping mall etc. where their children happen to be.

Tougher gun laws are not just an issue for democrats, but independents and even republicans. O'Malley is telling it like it is, and he has done what he talks about. We have to get something done before more innocent people die.

[aikoaiko]

10. I guess we'll see.

[JustAnotherGen]

14. I'm there with you when Sanders says

Free college for everyone - we'll see.

[JustAnotherGen]

15. Where many die hards are

We don't need them to win the White House. There are paths to electoral votes that don't include them.