Why is Maryland so anti-gun?

Ragnar · Jan 10, 2014

It's not just gun policy in Maryland. It's a more statist view among a majority here on many issues. And it's not just Maryland. All the very blue states (NY, CA, NJ, MA, etc.) have this almost socialistic view of the government. Actually, Maryland isn't as bad as some other places like New York.

The view is characterized by high, almost confiscatory taxes, dependency on government for services, protection, etc., redistribution of wealth and income, poor business climate, gun control, etc. It's characterized by the view that whatever problem society faces can best be solved through government intervention, either through regulation/control or taxing/spending. It's a perspective on government much closer to the European Democratic Socialist idea. Individual freedom takes a backseat to government intervention.

The U.S. is really two countries, the more traditional, constitutional, individualistic "red" America and the more statist "blue" America. And the divide is growing.

Jaybeez · Jan 10, 2014

Inigoes said:
Racism of the elected elite.

They fear a black man with a gun.

this.

violence in baltimore is todays anti gun rallying cry in maryland. statistically....

concealed carry prohibition passed in md just a few after some very large race related riots. (and a bombing)

Bob A · Jan 10, 2014

Docster said:
That's not so much training as it is socialization. People don't have to be trained to be comfortable letting others handle weapons or be around weapons. Hoplophobia is a learned behavior. Those who grow up around guns don't fear them nearly as much as those that haven't and have to learn about guns through TV and Hollywood.

I agree with your comment regarding socialisation. I re-emphasise the training concept. People can be, and are, trained to fear firearms, as your statement "Hoplophobia is learned behavior" indicates.

Somehow rationality needs to enter the loop. There's a lot of leftish self-help lit out there that tells people to deal with their fears by confronting them. We need programs that permit and encourage the fearful to overcome their learned behavior.

Sting · Jan 10, 2014

Winston Churchill said:
“The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter.”
The voters can be easily swayed by statist media and politicians.

The socialist statist elites fear the free individual and hate one that can defend himself.

Time4change · Jan 10, 2014

O’Malley, billed by CNN as a ‘possible presidential party pick. I believe he used gun control
as a way to gain political attention to his presidential dreams.

Anotherpyr · Jan 10, 2014

Inigoes said:
Racism of the elected elite.

They fear a black man with a gun.

Or a white one for that matter.

lsw · Jan 10, 2014

Docster said:
You're really concerned about the historical context? What real difference does it make? Do you feel you'll be able to better understand the minds of liberals who run a nanny state?

Good luck with that. Better to focus on how to change it. If you really want the history, go to the sticky in Maryland 2A forum, " In their own words"; there's a few other threads there for history as well.

It can make a difference. As Orwell said, "He who controls the past controls the future. He who controls the present controls the past."

brownspotz · Jan 10, 2014

thomfantomas said:
but you're on point it is an inner city issue...let the counties be ccw ......I can give a f*** less about Baltimore city it's Godforsaken

I'm with you on this one as I worked/"did a tour of duty" in the inner city ghetto and had my MD CCW. trust me, I would not go back down there to work again not even if it meant I could get my CCW again.

smokering · Jan 10, 2014

Too many "highly educated" people who actually believe they know what's good for the masses and that anyone that disagrees just doesn't know better. Thus they convince people that to be intelligent like them they volunteer to belong or be deemed neophytes. It happens in populations where the haves can control the have nots without physical superiority, they use the system to their advantage because they implemented the system and make people believe it is the correct thing for "civilized" people to do.

deesly1 · Jan 11, 2014

Brooklyn said:
There is evidence that the black family was stronger during Jim Crow than after the effects of Johnsons war on poverty. I make no causal claim... I have no idea...

But it is both tragic and hard to explain..

Much work has been done on this, but much has been surpressed as well. The black community is going to have to ask of itself some hard questions. The rest of us can only stand and watch and if asked we can help.... but this must be done by the community itself. These answers are not ours to give. We hold no secret.. no cure....

Blame may make you feel better....but it will solve nothing... I hope the community starts to ask the hard questions. I will help if I can and if asked... but its not my place to play ( pardon the experesion) white knight.

I belive the black community is strong enough to right itself and built a strong base-- even save Baltimore.. what I do not know is when they will start and if it will be in time...

I totally agree and very good points! I believe the black community has spent far too much time placing blame instead of fixing its broken foundation.

Biggfoot44 · Jan 11, 2014

Understanding History and Context , is not just a good thing , but nesecary.

Basic factor #1 - A super majority of the population inhabits the DC I Balt region. There is not enough population in the remainder of the state to provide any counter balance. If the 703 area code were to become a seperate state , it would politically resemble Maryland. Likewise if the southeastern third of Pa, etc .

Factor #2 - the specific political landscape. Many of our GOP lawmakers are fine , dedicated people. But specificly in Md , the GOP is as dead as the Whigs. And even on the otherside , a lot of the actual Moderates who didn't like the way the Dems were heading have been increasingly registering Independent ( aka Unaffiliated) , rather than being a moderating force within the Dems. This has left the Dem Party aparatus to be controled the hardest left faction by default.

EL1227 · Jan 11, 2014

All that and a bag of ... ammo

smokering said:
Too many "highly educated" people who actually believe they know what's good for the masses and that anyone that disagrees just doesn't know better. Thus they convince people that to be intelligent like them they volunteer to belong or be deemed neophytes. It happens in populations where the haves can control the have nots without physical superiority, they use the system to their advantage because they implemented the system and make people believe it is the correct thing for "civilized" people to do.

The current downhill slide started with "A Farewell To Arms, The Solution to Gun Violence in America", by Maryland Attorney General J.J. Curran, published in 1999. It's no longer in the OAG's online 'press room', but I've attached our own 'archived' copy below.

Good Riddance To Joe Curran, An Enemy Of The Second Amendment, Constitutional Right Of Self-Defense details his borderline psychotic anti-2A stance and gives a glaring example of the politics behind MD's 'Good and Substantial' rule for CCW.

Unfortunately, his legacy lives on in the OAG with 'Doogie' Gansler and the 2014 run by AG hopeful Brian Frosh, bolstered by Curran's son-in-law, Gov. Martin OWE'Malley who married into the Curran political dynasty.

It's an ongoing political family game of 'can you top this ?' and the most insidious example of gun-control incrementalism anywhere in the country.

thomfantomas · Jan 11, 2014

brownspotz said:
I'm with you on this one as I worked/"did a tour of duty" in the inner city ghetto and had my MD CCW. trust me, I would not go back down there to work again not even if it meant I could get my CCW again.

certain districts that would prohibit conceal carry,fine!!!I'm ok with that......Maryland needs to be a shall issue state with same sex marriage now legal which I strong oppose and voted against 2012 and now the talks of small amount of marijuana being legal huh....it's a broken record I just want my fundamental rights let others law biden conceal their firearm and crime will drop isn't rock science

No_comment · Jan 11, 2014

thomfantomas said:
certain districts that would prohibit conceal carry,fine!!!I'm ok with that......Maryland needs to be a shall issue state with same sex marriage now legal which I strong oppose and voted against 2012 and now the talks of small amount of marijuana being legal huh....it's a broken record I just want my fundamental rights let others law biden conceal their firearm and crime will drop isn't rock science

It's interesting that you bring up same sex marriage. Right now I'm having a 'discussion' with a Facebook friend who takes the diametrically opposite position as you on SSM and 2A.

In terms of political parties, I understand the libertarian view to be one that puts a strong emphasis on personal liberty, and supports 2A rights, same sex marriage, legalized abortion, legalized marijuana and open borders. As I see it, Democrats and Republicans pick and choose on these issues.

For me personally, I just want to be left alone. That doesn't seem likely, however.

thomfantomas · Jan 11, 2014

No_comment said:
It's interesting that you bring up same sex marriage. Right now I'm having a 'discussion' with a Facebook friend who takes the diametrically opposite position as you on SSM and 2A.

In terms of political parties, I understand the libertarian view to be one that puts a strong emphasis on personal liberty, and supports 2A rights, same sex marriage, legalized abortion, legalized marijuana and open borders. As I see it, Democrats and Republicans pick and choose on these issues.

For me personally, I just want to be left alone. That doesn't seem likely, however.

there were more important state issues at the time.......they got what they wanted......new chapter "I want my fundamental right to carry my firearm"

RustinRifle55 · Jan 11, 2014

Maryland democrats have always had this thing about "power". They feel they have the right to "control" the citizens. Since they are in control they have the right to make the rules. They believe they know what is best for you and the state. It is all about power and control. Look at the "rain tax".

Lucca1 · Jan 11, 2014

tball said:
If a city has a high crime and murder rate; instead of doing something about the crime, it is easier to blame guns. It is easier to go after law abiding citizens than it is to go after criminals. They arrest criminals, then either can't convict them or let them plead to a lesser crime and they get out early. Someone who has a criminal record cannot hope to get a job, so they continue to commit crimes. If you can't keep drugs out of the hands of criminals, you won't keep guns out of the hands of criminals. Now they are talking about legalizing drugs, maybe they should consider legalizing guns! It has already been proven that more guns leads to less crime. Don't mess with old people. That little old lady is probably packing.

I agree. The politicians pushed tougher gun legislation with the knowledge that doing so would have no impact on reducing crime. This was simply done so that they can stand in front of constituents crying that they made a difference and most idiots will believe them. Its far easier to infringe on a constitutional right and alienate a smaller subsection of the voting populous then it is to actually address crime reduction policy. To reduce crime, some say you need to enact tougher legislation such as lengthening mandatory sentencing for violent offenders. However this will never happen for several reasons. For one, keeping criminals off the streets is a conflict of interest given that many/most of our politicians are lawyers and doing so would reduce billable hours for themselves or their cronies. Second, I would imagine that per person incarceration costs to the state run $30-$40K per year. Whatever the costs are, its clear that adding 5 years to a sentence is not a net revenue positive activity in the eyes of our politicians and therefore its cheaper to keep funneling career criminals in and out of our judicial system. Just my $0.02.

Alutacon · Jan 11, 2014

Half-cocked said:
And the eastern shore, but in the populous counties we're a minority - that's why I added "to a large extent". Not all Marylanders are helpless idiots, just an unfortunately high % of them.

Scratched onto a piece of slate and carried by specially trained prehistoric birds.

our issues are no different than any other state. the problem that we have is that urban areas tend to be left leaning, that is true all over the country. as an extremely small state we have the disadvantage of having our left leaning urban areas maintaining a disproportionately severe level of control over statewide politics. The OP referenced our neighboring states and their more lax gun laws relative to our high levels of crime. Well, most of our crime comes out of Baltimore. consider that our neighbor PA, a state with gun laws more lax than ours, has a city, Philadelphia, with higher crime levels, to include a higher murder rate, than Baltimore. however, PA is a large state and the big city politicians in Philly do not control the politics of the state.

swinokur · Jan 11, 2014

Like Illinois. The Cook County politicians have finally lost their grip on the rest of the state.

Alutacon · Jan 11, 2014

RustinRifle55 said:
Maryland democrats have always had this thing about "power". They feel they have the right to "control" the citizens. Since they are in control they have the right to make the rules. They believe they know what is best for you and the state. It is all about power and control. Look at the "rain tax".

that is not unique to Maryland democrats.

Why is Maryland so anti-gun?

The #1 community for Gun Owners of the Northeast

Member Benefits:

Ultimate Member

Ultimate Member

όυ φροντισ

Member, League the Armed

Member

Ultimate Member

לא לדרוך עליי

Ultimate Member

Day Walker

Active Member

Ultimate Member

R.I.P.

Attachments

Crna Ovca

Active Member

Crna Ovca

Active Member

Ultimate Member

Desert Storm

In a State of Bliss

Desert Storm

Users who are viewing this thread

Log in

Forum statistics