Official February 6th day of event thread.

[fabsroman]

No sir they are not. "Assault weapon" bans are nothing more than a stepping stone to complete disarmament to those like O'Malley, Frosh, and Feinstein. Feinstein herself is on the record as saying the '94 federal version would have been complete confiscation if she'd had the votes.

True. Let me rephrase that. They are naive enough to think we think they are only thinking about banning "assault weapons". Some of the politicians on the fence are naive enough to think that banning assault weapons will prevent another Sandy Hook. Some know the truth and understand that banning ALL firearms still cannot prevent another Sandy Hook if somebody is actually determined enough.

Everybody confused now?

 

[hvymax]

I have wished for this kind of turn out when MSI was asking for the right to conceal carry at Open Holster Rallies and on gun day in Annapolis. This momentum has built up now and once we put a good dent in SB281 and HB294 we will carry this over to get our way, instead of being reactive. The beginning is finally here! The people are listening and taking action.

Yesterday was so inspiring! Who was outside the Senate yesterday when that trucker rode by twice and yanked the cord to this air horn? How great was that?

I can hardly wait for what the future brings to the 2nd Amendment movement in Maryland.

Thanks to all who knew we needed you now and in the future!

Hopefully we will maintain the network that produced it. This wasn't just MDS/MSI this was also other social media's as well as several squirrely sources as well.

 

[lseries]

Let this not be a one time wonder; that's exactly what the grabbers hope will be the case.

Right. I'm worried (it's one of the few things I do really well) that we won't be able to sustain the momentum for future rallies. Please, everyone, prove my concerns unfounded! I won't mind at all, I promise!

 

[GoldenRing]

I heard on the news that 15 people came out.

 

[Maryland Hunter]

Let's start recruiting friends for March 6th now. Let's make it even bigger.

MH

 

[Bikebreath]

I heard on the news that 15 people came out.

...however, I understand your wisecrack, for I too, am a smartass

 

[kamikazeH20mln]

My wife and I got in line to speak at about 11:30. Since she wore heals, she sat in the overflow room till about 3 and later joined me in the looooong line waiting to sign the book. I personally stood in line till almost 6pm when I could sign the book for my opposition to all the gun control bills being proposed. Wife and our pro 2a linemate got interviewed by a redhead from Washington Post.

Was glad to be there to represent and left at 6. My knees, however, don't thank me :-)

 

[davek]

1st time Annapolis attendee at Wednesday's event ...

I found out about the rally (and then the bills) 1 1/2 weeks ago, quite by chance. I just happened to swing by a local gun shop hoping to find some ammo and there on the counter was a flyer for a rally on the 8th... I did some quick research, found the bills, read them as best I could and made my mind up right there to attend the rally and testify, just as a average, goes target shooting occasionally (mostly .22lr) kind of guy. So NO I did NOT get a robo call or email or letter from the NRA!

I've been to Annapolis plenty of times but only to walk around, get Gelato?sp, go to dinner, etc. The state house and what not, I always just zoomed on by. So nope, I've NEVER attended a Judicial Hearing.


Here's my play by play for Wednesday, with commentary and apologies in advance.

Bad news: From my take, communication on this issue happened by chance and miracles. The guy in back of me, found out last minute via some kind of Facebook posting. I stumbled upon a flyer at a gun shop. While I appreciate many websites getting the word out (now that I found and joined them), basically it went out only to members. I wasn't smart enough to ask someone to hold my place in line, while I waited to sign up, and ask the people 'how did you find out about this bill/event?'. Even my State Delegates didn't send me (or if they did, didn't highlight) the critical nature of these bills.

Bad news: you ain't gonna win this battle preaching to the choir. Communication needs to get to the other 99% of people who would find these bills objectionable, not just died in wool enthusiasts who shoot often.

Bad news: I left the house shortly after 9:00AM and usually it takes 45 minutes to get to the Annapolis docks, past the State houses. Traffic was stopped on Rt 50 waiting to exit onto Rowe Blvd. It probably took me a 1/2 hour to get from Rt50/Rowe Blvd into the Stadium to catch the shuttle to the Miller Senate building. Time to get from house to Stadium and park – nearly 1 ½ hours.

Good news: Nearly everyone on the shuttle from the USMC Stadium, or to whom I talked to, or waited in line with was there to oppose the proposed bill. At the Miller Senate Building, a young man standing behind me traveled from Western Maryland (Washington County) for his 1st visit to Annapolis. The gentleman in front of me lived in Annapolis, surprising because we think that's a bastion of Democrats.

Good news: Several veteran politicians (MD delegates) said they had never seen so many people show up to sign up for testimony (and so far as I could tell 100% were against the bill.) They reported that even the State Police said they had never seen anything like it.

Good News: most everyone got the word NOT to visually reinforce gun-owner stereotypes by wearing offensive t-shirts or sweatshirts or by wearing camo or carrying 'don't tread on me' flags. Most folks in line with me wore suits and ties or sport coats and ties. Everyone I saw acted like Gentlemen/Lady citizens.

Bad News: most everyone in line was like me, older white guy. I didn't see very much diversity OR young people. We gotta do better than that.

Bad News: from most any perspective, news or legislature, it was difficult to visually see from the hundreds (or thousands of people) who was there to support the bill or oppose it. How can you tell those that oppose .vs. support the bill by looking at a crowd or a picture of a crowd?

Bad news: the very same veteran politicians who said they had never seen such outpouring response, said they had never seen legislation like this before. One legislator said 'in 30 years'. Worse, there's been a lot of gun related legislation and a lot is proposed. People are getting numb, so many are tired of it all and tired of cries that 'the sky is falling'. But these bills SB281/HB294 even to a casual shooter like me, do in fact seem like the sky is falling. As we stood in line for hours, several Delegates stopped by to thank us and say, 'make no mistake we are in the fight of our lives on this one'.

Bad news: I spent nearly 5 1/2 hours in line signing up to testify, from before 11:00AM until after 4:00 PM. The Miller Senate Building was closed around 3:00 (I think) by the fire marshal citing safety concerns. I made that assessment myself at 12:00 after standing in line for more than an hour and reaching the 2nd floor. It's the 1st thing I said to people around me when I reached the 2nd floor - this isn't safe. There were just too many people crammed into a LARGE space. The guy next to me tried to count several times and said he estimated 250 people were on the 2nd floor in line to sign up. He figured at least 100 were on the 1st floor.

Bad news: since I spent so much time in line, I completely missed the rally from 12:00 - 1:00.

Good news: Before the Miller Building was closed there was a line to get in that wrapped around the block. Folks told us that 'two or three' hundred were probably waiting to get in.

Good news: Although the Miller Building was closed and folks outside could not get in, alternate accommodations were set up outside for people to sign up, so no one was excluded from the political process.

Bad news: Although I called my State Delegate's office after standing in line for the 1st hour, they said nothing could be done to speed up the signing up process. Really? One podium and EVERYONE has to single thread to sign up. Hmmm... Well in the <expletive deleted> private sector, at Safeway or Giant or Sams club, etc. , when we see that there's a <expletive deleted> line, we open up MORE <expletive deleted> registers... When the decision was made to close the building is when I guess they finally said, hey we have to have alternate ways for people to sign up!

Good/Bad news: Bills are normally debated and testimony given in the Senator Amoss Hearing Room with another room set up for overflow. I heard there were so many people in attendance a 2nd overflow room was set up and even THAT could not accommodate everyone. Due to overcrowding I didn't see or squat all day!

Bad news: Sometime in the afternoon, I think around 3:00 when we were notified the Miller Senate Building was being closed, we were informed debate was being limited to 8 hours, 4 hours for the bill, 4 for those against, with 1 hour alternating slots. (It was incredibly hard to hear what was being announced to us so sorry if I got this wrong.) Apparently the Governor was given the 1st hour to provide his testimony, earlier in the day. We were told so many people had signed up BEFORE 12:00 noon that those signing up after 12:00 would most likely not get a chance to testify.

Good News: our names and positions against the bill were officially recorded as a matter or the bill's record. So those waiting in line in the Miller Building who signed up and those who signed up outside, would be officially recognized.

Good News: Delegates are working to see if during the upcoming House Bill debate those who didn't get to testify might will given 1st shots at testimony, but there's no guarantee.

Bad News: The local TV news I've seen and two newspapers I read reported that 'hundreds of people, both for and against the bill, showed up in Annapolis ...' Like I said there's no way to visually see people and tell if they are for or against the bill.

Bad News: There is enormous support for this bill. The Governor has said the magic words "children" & "safety". (I'll give you my $0.02 on this but if you think your 2A rights are superior to or mean more than a mother's concern or grandmother's concern for her school age kids or grandkids, then think 3rd quarter Superbowl - you are going have a really <expletive deleted> bad day. If there isn't a better story than 'my 2A rights', like a value proposition to mother, fathers, grandmothers, etc., consider this thing passed. And if it goes to ballot, you're deader than dead because the language will be worded so that NO ONE will object to it, just like the Dems did for same sex marriage, tuition for illegal immigrants, and congressional re-districting. It will ALL sound like, who in their right mind would vote AGAINST this "safety" bills? I'll take swing at the wording myself ...

"A proposal to reduce crime and protect school children from gun violence".

If you think Joe Average voter will know what's behind that bill and is NOT going to say, 'well hell yeah I'm all for reducing crime and protecting our kids', then you are just kidding yourself. Give it a spin yourselves! You'll find that even YOU will be agreeing with you!

Bad News: Although we had a good showing of pro-2A/gun owners, it just wasn't enough, in my opinion, to ripple the <expletive deleted> pond. IMHO We would need to essentially shutdown Annapolis and be visually RECOGNIZED as opposing the bill. So NO we would not want thousands showing up, jamming up Annapolis, and have the media say ... 'thousands of people showed up in Annapolis today'. In the future we must have some visual reference to be seen as opposing these bills (and in the nicest way possible with a value proposition that average people can understand on how what we propose will reduce crime and protect their/our children).

Good News: We'll have more opportunities to be SEEN (and to be heard).

Good News: Going to Annapolis was a physically draining (and expensive day). However the experience was priceless.

That's all!

 

[kamikazeH20mln]

Another article to share! Wife made the cut at the end :-)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local...39a326-709c-11e2-ac36-3d8d9dcaa2e2_print.html

 

[KD999]

Of course it is in electronic format and I will eventually send it to all the legislators. However, I am pretty sure that it has already all been said to them. When less than 10 people a year are murdered in this state with rifles, and less than 20 a year are murdered with rifles and shotguns, of which assault long guns is a subset of, it is really hard to justify cutting into the 2nd Amendment in an attempt to prevent something like Sandy Hook. Sandy Hook is a result of freedom. Same goes for 9/11 and Oklahoma City. There are prices to be paid and sacrifices to be made. I can think of a myriad of other ways to try to prevent another Sandy Hook without treading on the Bill of Rights, but nobody really wants to discuss that. They are naive enough to think that banning assault rifles will forever prevent something like Sandy Hook and nothing more would need to be done.

I attended a school safety meeting in Howard County back in early January, but have yet to see them post the results from said meeting. The majority of people that attended that meeting were for bullet proof glass, locked doors, and armed guards in the schools. Wonder if that is even an action plan.

I see our fight as one against misinformation more than anything else. It is so frustrating that those for this bill are basing their stance on lies and half truths. The media is the biggest problem as we all know but some of them are just plain dumb and not necessarily malicious. That's the scary part. I think a lot of the questions the committee members asks show that they have been grossly misinformed.

 

[mtb]

Another article to share! Wife made the cut at the end :-)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local...39a326-709c-11e2-ac36-3d8d9dcaa2e2_print.html

Except they said more than 700 showed up on both sides of the issue. Untrue, maybe 5-10 for the bill showed up.

 

[Glaug-Eldare]

Here's a recording of the hearing: http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?zydtbjl21fr49ly

 

[doglover]

Let's start recruiting friends for March 6th now. Let's make it even bigger.

MH

Dave and I will take off from work to attend!

 

[Bikebreath]

I am hearing Friday March 1, now... http://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=105337

 

[SomeGuy]

Because the senate office building is closed, Del Dwyer has sheets to sign in opposition which will be entered into the legislative record. He will try to give those who sign preference when this comes before the House. If you're on station, do not leave until you've signed the books!

I hope it is not unfair to ask that those of us who only got to say our name, district and opposition @ 21:00 to be able to tack ourselves to the ranks of those who signed outside - our contribution included no food to be found in the building, the light service food area ran out of food ( and closed at its normal time of 3pm - I was told that there were still some crackers to be found )- I would also say no water, but there was some of that, at least in the 2nd overflow room - many thanks to whoever got that done.

The truth is that it does not really matter where I am in line - I will be there again until tossed from the building.

And 05 March I will be around for the next round of "Frosh and Friends"

 

[Bikebreath]

I hope it is not unfair to ask that those of us who only got to say our name, district and opposition @ 21:00 to be able to tack ourselves to the ranks of those who signed outside - our contribution included no food to be found in the building, the light service food area ran out of food ( and closed at its normal time of 3pm - I was told that there were still some crackers to be found )- I would also say no water, but there was some of that, at least in the 2nd overflow room - many thanks to whoever got that done.

The truth is that it does not really matter where I am in line - I will be there again until tossed from the building.

And 05 March I will be around for the next round of "Frosh and Friends"

I had:
qt. of seltzer water
16oz. Gatroade
PB&J on 12 grain bread
some cashews
5 granola bars
banana
apple
no partridges
no pear tree

I'm gonna pack 2 PB&J's and a first aid kit for next time.

 

[bobnieder]

My email this evening:

1. A rocket to Sen. Mike Miller -- NRA robocalls -- I call bs.

2. Email to the Senate Judiciary Committee on the mishandling of the testimony (inside the chamber) and a clue that the best way to avoid hearing the "same old" answers to their AWB/gun control bill is to bring a bill with a plan that been seen to work (John R. Lott -- "What A Balancing Test Will Show For Right-To-Carry Laws") vs, something that has been shown to fail (1994 AWB).

 

[fabsroman]

Except they said more than 700 showed up on both sides of the issue. Untrue, maybe 5-10 for the bill showed up.

I just read threw the article and did not see any mention of the 700 on both sides. It seems like the article is more in our favor than the antis, which is quite surprising since it is coming from the Washington Post.

By the way, I just thought of an even better way to prevent something like Newtown from ever happening again. Just have kids learn via the internet at home. No more going to schools that cannot adequately protect my kids. Of course, there would be tons of backlash to such a suggestion, and I might even disagree with it myself do to the social aspect.

It just frustrates me that banning guns is the quickest and apparently only solution that they can come up with, and I agree with the NSSF spokesman in the article. Where all of 2 people in Maryland were murdered with a rifle in 2011, which may or may not have been an assault rifle, I have a serious problem with them wanting to ban assault rifles.

 

[Minuteman]

...

As has been posted many times, we did well yesterday but still have a fight ahead of us.

I was glad to have seen Boxcab, Minuteman, Lou45, BigCity and Boondock Saint yesterday.

It was a pleasure meeting you as well; there were so many of us there I actually never even saw Patrick or a couple other key MSI leaders that I know were there.

We still have a lot of work to do, educating and advocating for responsible gun ownership, which leads to greater Liberty. But there are many a lawmaker in Maryland now that are still getting their heads around what happened the other day. Never thought I'd say this, but for once at least I was proud to consider myself a Marylander.

 

[Mark75H]

I also sent an email to the senators telling them I did not attend because of the NRA and was not robo called.

Everyone should use one of the email tools and tell the senators you did not attend because the NRA called you as MOM is telling the rest of the world. All that matters is that the legislators KNOW the TRUTH from YOU ... if you remain silent, MOM's "truth" will be all they know

Here's AGC's easy to use email tool: http://www.associatedgunclubs.org/email.html

You don't have to be an AGC member to use it