Tag: gun safety

Concealment No, Theft Yes

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I read yesterday that a significant number of gun thefts are from automobiles.

The gun is visible to the passer-by.

If concealed, it is more likely not to find its way into the wrong hands.

But gun owners resist mandating how they are supposed to handle their firearms under any circumstances.

Nonetheless, I added the link to the article to my bills.24 file.

By chance, I joined two Republican colleagues at lunch today.

I was thinking of discussing this issue with them.

Before I could, gun control came up.

One of the delegates made it very clear that his constituents vigorously oppose any restrictions on their guns.

The chances of our working together on this issue diminished drastically.

Straightforward and a More Perfect State

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As a bill sponsor, I try to describe what my bill would do in a straightforward (no legal terms) manner that is readily understandable to a fellow legislator or a constituent.

“To support House Bill 259,” I told the Judiciary Committee members this afternoon, “You have to answer two questions.”

Should the State of Maryland hold gun manufacturers liable for the harm caused by their product?

Does the bill before you allow such lawsuits within the limited set of circumstances permitted by the relevant federal law, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act?

I answered both questions with a Yes.

What matters is the response of a majority of the committee.

—

Governor Wes Moore, in his State of the State address today, declared, “Service is how we re-engage our people in the project of forming a more perfect state.”

If proof were needed as to how important a year of service opportunity is to the new governor, that makes it very clear.

After the Gunfire

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Gun safety is the most depressing issue I work on.

Far more people die from guns in this country than anywhere else.

Legislative remedies are blocked or limited by the NRA

Now, even the Supreme Court has struck down gun safety laws.

We heard testimony today on the positive effects of intervention to assist someone hospitalized because of gunfire or other violence.

The patient and/or the family is asked if there is a danger of retaliation.

If needed, steps are taken to try to prevent that from happening.

Before leaving, the patient gets a case manager who assists with rehabilitation, mental health, and long term healing. The patient is also offered job training and employment.

Studies demonstrate that these services have a positive impact for the individual.

I will work with Lifebridge Health and other advocates to increase funding for these programs.

Thank You!

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People like to be asked for their vote and thanked for their vote.

Tip O’Neill, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, said that.

I asked for your vote with my work over the last four years – on issues in Annapolis and on problems back home.

I write now to thank you for your vote in the Democratic primary.

My colleagues, Senator Jill Carter, Delegates Dalya Attar and Tony Bridges, and I received more votes than any other General Assembly candidates in Baltimore City.

That’s a tribute to our working together on your behalf and to your exercising your right to vote.

Now it’s time to turn to the general election in November and the legislative session next winter.

The choice for Governor is clear.

I supported Wes Moore in the primary because of his positions on the issues and his broad experience in the public and private sector.

Wes Moore has pledged to implement a Service Year Option program that will enable Maryland high school graduates “to serve for a year in a public service role in exchange for job training, mentorship, and other support, including compensatory tuition at a Maryland college or university.”

During my career, I have enacted legislation to encourage students to enter public service.

Wes and I have already discussed this issue, and I look forward to working on it with him in Annapolis.

We also agree on two issues – reproductive health care and gun safety, that the Supreme Court has put on our agenda.

We must make access to reproductive health care affordable and accessible for all women so that they can receive the treatment they choose.

The Maryland law licensing the carrying of handguns in public must now be revised.  We must ensure public safety consistent with the Supreme Court’s ruling.

There’s lots of work to be done.  I welcome your thoughts on these and other issues.

Thank you again for your support.

Gun Safety – No Longer Settled Law

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We used to have a Handgun Permit Review Board in Maryland.

Starting in 1972, if you wanted to carry, wear, or transport a handgun outside of your home, you sought a permit from the State Police.  You could appeal that decision to the Handgun Board.

In most instances, the State Police allowed individuals to carry a gun only when on the job.  Over the years, there were few reversals of those holdings, until Governor Hogan’s appointees rejected 83% of those decisions in 2018 for being too restrictive.

The next year, Delegate Atterbeary and I introduced legislation eliminating the Handgun Board.

In its place, administrative law judges now hear appeals from the decisions of the State Police.  The full-time job of these judges is to hear appeals from actions taken by state agencies.

However, this structure is in the cross hairs of the Supreme Court.  By the end of June, the court is widely expected to rule that a similar New York law violates the Second Amendment.

What should we do if that happens?

We should seek legal advice from Attorney General Brian Frosh.  What action, if any,  regulating handguns can the Governor take by executive order?  When the General Assembly returns in January, what action can the new legislature and the new Governor take?

During his term in office, Governor Hogan has stated that both gun regulation and abortion are matters of settled law.

That is no longer the case.

 

—

 

A Celebration of Life for my Mother, Babette Hecht Rosenberg, will be held on Sunday, June 12 at 2:30 at the Har Sinai – Oheb Shalom, 7310 Park Heights Av.

 

You are welcome to join us.

Real Guns and Virtual Ads

| by delsandy | Sandy's 2018 Legislative Diary | No Comments

Two bills that I worked on were debated on the House floor today.

I was the lead sponsor of neither.

Under House Bill 819, an appeal of the State Police’s denial of a license to carry a hand gun would be heard by an administrative law judge, instead of political appointees of the Governor.

A gun safety lobbyist raised this idea with me last summer.

I told her that the lead sponsor of the bill should be someone on the Judiciary Committee.

Delegate Atterbeary was in the room when the vote was taken on whether to give the bill a favorable report and send it to the House floor.

My role: strategize on how to pass the bill, testify at the public hearing, and prepare to speak during the floor debate.

The bill passed with enough votes to overcome a veto, should Governor Hogan choose to do so.

– – –

Much of the Russian meddling in the 2016 election took place on Facebook and other online platforms.

Protecting and expanding our right to vote is one of my proudest and most important areas of accomplishment as a legislator.

My bill would compel buyers of online political ads to register with the State Board of Elections and file reports of their disbursements over a certain amount.

House Bill 768 would also direct online platforms to retain digital copies of online political ads, as well as contact information for the political committees or individuals who purchase such ads.

A bill addressing this problem was also introduced by Delegate Alonzo Washington, chair of the Election Law subcommittee in the ways and Means Committee.

It was his bill that was debated on the House floor today.

Several provisions of my bill were amended onto his.

Mission accomplished.

I waited until the midnight hour

| by delsandy | Sandy's 2018 Legislative Diary | No Comments

I testified in the midnight hour last night.

I’ve passed bills in the last hour of the 90-day session. I’ve seen my bills die because the clock ran out at midnight.

I don’t think I’ve ever testified on a bill as late as I did yesterday.
House Bill 819 was one of 40 gun bills heard by the Judiciary Committee, starting at 1 pm.

This legislation deals with a license to carry a concealed weapon, specifically who hears appeals from the initial decision made by the State Police.

Under existing law, it’s the Handgun Permit Review Board, whose members are appointed by the Governor.

The current members, all appointees of Governor Hogan, have reversed many more license denials by the State Police than did their predecessors.

HB 819 would send those appeals to the Office of Administrative Hearings, where administrative law judges are experienced in reviewing decisions by state agencies.

A little later than normal, but still early this morning, I contacted OAH to get the relevant data on issues raised the night before by the pro-gun opponents of HB 819.

—

Tzedek means justice, in Hebrew.

At the funeral of Judge Dana Levitz, one of his eulogists told the mourners that the judge’s license plate was TZEDEK.

That prompted me to ask the Governor’s Office if that license plate could be retired.

It soon was and will not be issued again.

I told Dale Levitz, Dana’s widow, and she has given me permission to share this story.

We call this a mitzvah, a good deed that is a positive commandment.

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