Gun Bill Day Written Testimony

[Applehd]

I have been working on written testimony to submit to the Judiciary Committees before the upcoming "Gun Bill" days. Unfortunately for me(or fortunately, depending how you look at it), I will be in sunny Florida on both days. Although I will not be present to give oral testimony, I will, however, be delivering my written testimony to Annapolis prior to my departure.

The point of this thread:
There are a lot of new people on the Forum since the 2013 MGA session and a lot of good legislation people need to get behind and nudge their Representatives about. Not only will I submit the testimony to committee, but I will share my testimony with my 3 Delegates and my Senator. What I would like to do is to paste my testimony here so folks can cut/paste to your word processor and fill in your info. For each, you could then, copy and submit to the committees. I am a fan of flooding the committee with testimony... if nothing else, it goes "on the record". Once posted, feel free to copy it and use it whole or edit it as you like, merely using it as a template. And I always personally sign every page...

Before I post my testimony for all to copy, I would like some feedback on this idea. I will update the original post accordingly.

Here are a few examples:
Your Name
Your Address
Somewhere, MD. 20135
Registered (Dem. or Rep.)
District (#)

Testimony to the House Judiciary Committee

In Favor of HB 21

Members of the Judiciary Committee

Qualified Handgun Instructors teach the Handgun Qualification License class... Why would they need to take the class that they teach? Qualified Handgun Instructors should be given the Permits that they teach the class for. Common sense.

I respectfully request a FAVORABLE report on HB 21.

Thank you,

Your Name

___________________________________________________________

Your Name
Your Address
Somewhere, MD. 20135
Registered (Dem. or Rep.)
District (#)

Testimony to the House Judiciary Committee

In Favor of HB 25

Members of the Judiciary Committee

The branding of certain semi-automatic rifles as "assault weapons" was done by people wanting to create a sense of fear amongst the unknowing or unwilling to be educated about firearms... Here, I reluctantly use the title as it has been injected into Maryland's Code of Law... For this purpose, owner's of "assault weapons" should be given the opportunity to replace that which becomes lost or broken.

I respectfully request a FAVORABLE report on HB 25.

Thank you,

Your Name
___________________________________________________

Your Name
Your Address
Somewhere, MD. 20135
Registered (Dem. or Rep.)
District (#)

Testimony to the House Judiciary Committee

In Favor of HB 39

Members of the Judiciary Committee

As much as the shell casing requirement has been proven to be an enormous failure and the equipment used to document shell casings has been disposed of for many been years now, I believe it is time to relieve citizens the burdensome requirement to submit a fired shell casing.

I respectfully request a FAVORABLE report on HB 39.

Thank you,

Your Name
_____________________________________________________

Your Name
Your Address
Somewhere, MD. 20135
Registered (Dem. or Rep.)
District (#)

Testimony to the House Judiciary Committee

In Favor of HB 160

Members of the Judiciary Committee

Integrated mechanical safety devices are non-existent on most handguns. External safety devices are readily available and serve the same purpose. A handgun that is stored at home/office/wherever with an external lock properly installed, is basically rendered inoperative until the lock is removed. Purpose served.
Now... If I may interject a little common-sense food for thought. A person who purchases a handgun goes through the rigorous process to do so. They jump through all the hoops that the Legislature mustered up to deter the purchaser from getting that handgun. The same person that just purchased that handgun is escorted out of the store by store personnel with the handgun. That same purchaser has the key to the lock. Why is a lock necessary from the store sales counter to the door? It's NOT... because the purchaser is a LAW-ABIDING CITIZEN. Criminals don't buy guns at gun stores.

I respectfully request a FAVORABLE report on HB 160.

Thank you,

Your Name
______________________________________________________

Your Name
Your Address
Somewhere, MD. 20135
Registered (Dem. or Rep.)
District (#)

Testimony to the House Judiciary Committee

In Favor of HB 306

Members of the Judiciary Committee

The draconian firearms laws enacted in 2013 have done nothing to curb violence committed with the use of a firearm. What is has done, is to cause many businesses in Maryland to either move out of Maryland (Beretta, U.S.A. from Accokeek, for one) or close altogether. The net effect of the 2013 firearms legislation was a loss of revenue from these businesses and to cause a chilling effect on the firearms industry within Maryland. Some companies outside of Maryland have refused to do business with citizens of Maryland. Maryland is no financial condition to chase away business. More than 4,000 Citizen voices fell on deaf Legislative ears in 2013. It's time to listen to the voice of the people, those whom you are sent to Annapolis to serve. Do not delay the restoration of the Citizen's rights.

I respectfully request a FAVORABLE report on HB 306.

Thank you,

Your Name
________________________________________________________

Your Name
Your Address
Somewhere, MD. 20135
Registered (Dem. or Rep.)
District (#)

Testimony to the House Judiciary Committee

In Favor of HB 417

Members of the Judiciary Committee

"Profiling", albeit against most Police department policies, is a method of establishing patterns. Deciphering these patterns is sometimes useful for the purpose of law enforcement. Persons with wear and carry permits are deemed to be law-abiding citizens in order to receive their permit. To "profile" a person, known to have been issued a permit to wear, carry or transport a firearm based on data retrieved by tag readers serves no legitimate purpose as the registrant of the tags has already been vetted.

I respectfully request a FAVORABLE report on HB 417.

Thank you,

Your Name
________________________________________________________

Your Name
Your Address
Somewhere, MD. 20135
Registered (Dem. or Rep.)
District (#)

Testimony to the House Judiciary Committee

In Favor of HB 432 with amendments

Members of the Judiciary Committee

Maryland handgun law requires that a law-abiding citizen give a "good and substantial" reason to wear and carry a handgun. For this purpose, the term "good and substantial" has NO definition in any Maryland state law or COMAR. The term "good and substantial" being totally ambiguous, leaves its complete interpretation to the Maryland State Police with no impunity. I am, therefore, in favor of HB 432 as it eliminates this requirement. Self-protection should satisfy the need.

The next logical step in this process would be to eliminate the need for a person with a Wear and Carry Permit to wait an additional 7 days to pick up a purchased handgun. The same person with a Wear and Carry Permit walks into a gun store to purchase a gun... WITH A GUN ON HIS/HER HIP. This person needs a "cooling-off period"?... Really?

This Article is should not apply to Wear and Carry/HQL Permit holders.

Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments
2 442.
3 (c) (1) No regulated firearms dealer shall sell, rent, or transfer any
4 regulated firearm until after [seven] 7 days shall have elapsed from the time an
5 application to purchase or transfer shall have been executed by the prospective
6 purchaser or transferee, in triplicate, and the original copy is forwarded by the
7 prospective seller or transferor to the Secretary

I respectfully request a FAVORABLE WITH AMENDMENTS report on HB 432.

Thank you,

Your Name
_________________________________________________________

Your Name
Your Address
Somewhere, MD. 20135
Registered (Dem. or Rep.)
District (#)

Testimony to the House Judiciary Committee

In Favor of HB 464

Members of the Judiciary Committee

Paraphrasing Amendment 14 of the Constitution of the United States of America... "No State shall make or abridge any law which shall abridge the privileges... of citizens of the United States... nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."
Citizens receiving a Wear and Carry Permit from other States are required to be vetted before being issued said Permit. Maryland should honor these States Permits per the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America.

I respectfully request a FAVORABLE report on HB 464.

Thank you,

Your Name
____________________________________________________________

Your Name
Your Address
Somewhere, MD. 20135
Registered (Dem. or Rep.)
District (#)
Testimony to the House Judiciary Committee

In Favor of HB 767

Members of the Judiciary Committee

Maryland handgun law requires that a law-abiding citizen give a "good and substantial" reason to wear and carry a handgun. For this purpose, the term "good and substantial" has NO definition in any Maryland state law or COMAR. The term "good and substantial" being totally ambiguous, leaves its complete interpretation to the Maryland State Police with little recourse. I am, therefore, in favor of HB 767 as it eliminates this requirement. Self-protection should satisfy the need.

I respectfully request a FAVORABLE report on HB 767.

Thank you,

Your Name
_________________________________________________________________________________
Your Name
Your Address
Somewhere, MD. 20135
Registered (Dem. or Rep.)
District (#)
Testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee

In Favor of SB 100

Members of the Judiciary Committee

Maryland handgun law requires that a law-abiding citizen give a "good and substantial" reason to wear and carry a handgun. For this purpose, the term "good and substantial" has NO definition in any Maryland state law or COMAR. The term "good and substantial" being totally ambiguous, leaves its complete interpretation to the Maryland State Police with little recourse. I am, therefore, in favor of SB 100 as it prescribes "self-defense" as a "good and substantial" reason.

I respectfully request a FAVORABLE report on SB 100.

Thank you,

Your Name

Just a friendly reminder... "I, _______________, do swear, (or affirm, as the case may be,) that I will support the Constitution of the United States; and that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the State of Maryland, and support the Constitution and Laws thereof; and that I will, to the best of my skill and judgment, diligently and faithfully, without partiality or prejudice, execute the office of________________, according to the Constitution and Laws of this State, (and, if a Governor, Senator, Member of the House of Delegates, or Judge,) that I will not directly or indirectly, receive the profits or any part of the profits of any other office during the term of my acting as___________ (originally Article I, sec. 6, renumbered by Chapter 681, Acts of 1977, ratified Nov. 7, 1978)."

"...of the People, by the People, for the People..." Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address, November 1863

__________________________________________________________

Testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee

In Favor of SB 454

Members of the Judiciary Committee

Paraphrasing Amendment 14 of the Constitution of the United States of America... "No State shall make or abridge any law which shall abridge the privileges... of citizens of the United States... nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." Citizens receiving a Wear and Carry Permit from other States are required to be vetted before being issued said Permit. Maryland should honor these States Permits per the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America.

I respectfully request a FAVORABLE report on SB 454.

Thank you,

Your Name

Just a friendly reminder... "I, _______________, do swear, (or affirm, as the case may be,) that I will support the Constitution of the United States; and that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the State of Maryland, and support the Constitution and Laws thereof; and that I will, to the best of my skill and judgment, diligently and faithfully, without partiality or prejudice, execute the office of________________, according to the Constitution and Laws of this State, (and, if a Governor, Senator, Member of the House of Delegates, or Judge,) that I will not directly or indirectly, receive the profits or any part of the profits of any other office during the term of my acting as___________ (originally Article I, sec. 6, renumbered by Chapter 681, Acts of 1977, ratified Nov. 7, 1978)."

"...of the People, by the People, for the People..." Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address, November 1863

_______________________________________________________

Testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee

In Favor of SB 736

Members of the Judiciary Committee

As much as the shell casing requirement has been proven to be an enormous failure and the equipment used to document shell casings has been disposed of for many been years now, I believe it is time to relieve citizens the burdensome requirement to submit a fired shell casing.

I respectfully request a FAVORABLE report on SB 736.

Thank you,

Your Name

Just a friendly reminder... "I, _______________, do swear, (or affirm, as the case may be,) that I will support the Constitution of the United States; and that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the State of Maryland, and support the Constitution and Laws thereof; and that I will, to the best of my skill and judgment, diligently and faithfully, without partiality or prejudice, execute the office of________________, according to the Constitution and Laws of this State, (and, if a Governor, Senator, Member of the House of Delegates, or Judge,) that I will not directly or indirectly, receive the profits or any part of the profits of any other office during the term of my acting as___________ (originally Article I, sec. 6, renumbered by Chapter 681, Acts of 1977, ratified Nov. 7, 1978)."

"...of the People, by the People, for the People..." Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address, November 1863

_______________________________________________________
The following is from the MGA Website.
*With this exception, I added the HJC address as it was not listed. Called HJC and was told who's "Attn." to mark mailed testimony to.

Witness Guidelines: Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee
· Please provide twenty (20) copies of written testimony to Committee staff by 12:00 PM the day of the bill hearing. The bill’s number and your position (Support, Support with Amendments, or Opposed) should be clearly marked on the first page of each copy of testimony.

· Please do not submit testimony with plastic covers, binders or other materials that cannot be easily filed or recycled.

· Electronic testimony – facsimile or email – is not accepted.

· Electronic witness sign-up screens are located in the lobby outside the Committee Room. Sign-up is available between 8:30AM and 12:30PM the day of the bill hearing.

· Audio visual presentations must be saved to a zip drive and are limited to three minutes. Please contact JPR committee staff before the hearing to notify them of your presentation.

Committee Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
· If I am testifying on a bill, is it necessary to have written testimony?
No. However, if you do have written testimony, please submit 20 copies to Committee staff by 12:00 PM the day of the hearing so that it may be distributed to the members.
· How much time will be allotted for each witness?

As a rule, testimony is limited to three minutes per person/presentation. The Chairman will announce the allotted time for testimony at the beginning of each hearing.
· In what order will the bills be heard?

A tentative bill order is announced at the beginning of each hearing and is subject to availability of sponsors, the number of bills and the number of witnesses signed up to testify.
· May I submit written testimony prior to the day of the bill hearing?

Yes, early submission of testimony is welcome. Please follow testimony guidelines listed above and deliver twenty (20) copies to:
Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee
11 Bladen Street
2 East Miller Senate Office Building
Annapolis, MD 21401
· Do I have to come in person to listen to a bill hearing?

Committee bill hearings are streamed live over the internet and may be accessed through the Maryland General Assembly’s website
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Witness Guidelines: House Judiciary Committee:

· Anyone wishing to testify on any bill must sign the witness register by 12:45 p.m.
· Witnesses are strongly encouraged not to read their testimony and limit their testimony to three minutes for an individual and five minutes for a panel of individuals.
· Written testimony must be submitted no later than one hour prior to the scheduled start of the hearing. Written testimony must include the appropriate bill number on the front page and the name of the person and/or organization submitting the testimony. Thirty-five copies should be submitted to the committee clerk.
· The order in which bills are listed on the schedule is not necessarily the order in which the bills will be heard.
· Any extra written testimony will be available at the conclusion of the hearing.
· Food and drinks are not permitted in the audience area and cell phones should be turned off.

·Mail thirty-five(35) copies for each Bill to:
House Judiciary Committee
Attn. Denise Tyler
6 Balden Street
Annapolis, MD 21401
****According to Deborah @ HJC, the sooner they receive written testimony by mail, the better****

 

[Mr H]

I look forward to seeing everyone's ideas on their testimony.

 

[swinokur]

Is it relevant if you should tell them you are an Independent, rather than a R or D?

 

[Bertfish]

How is written testimony submitted? Email? Special mailing address? At very least I'd like to submit that.

 

[Applehd]

How is written testimony submitted? Email? Special mailing address? At very least I'd like to submit that.

Working on mailing addresses and guidelines. No emails or facsimiles. I will update OP.

 

[Tomcat]

Check with your representatives, on 2A Tuesday while in my delegates office discussing one of his tax reduction bills his secretary told me it was OK to e-mail testimony as long as it was well ahead of time. She said she needs to make something like 30 copies and that can take some time and not to wait until the last minute.

 

[Mooseman]

I am subscribing to this thread.

 

[Applehd]

I have updated the OP with the Guidelines for Written Testimony

I look forward to seeing everyone's ideas on their testimony.

Is it relevant if you should tell them you are an Independent, rather than a R or D?

I show my affiliation to send a message to my Reps. as sort of a "I'm watching you and can effect you re-election..." kinda thing. Mine are all Ds(...in more ways than one)

Check with your representatives, on 2A Tuesday while in my delegates office discussing one of his tax reduction bills his secretary told me it was OK to e-mail testimony as long as it was well ahead of time. She said she needs to make something like 30 copies and that can take some time and not to wait until the last minute.

That's fine, but I'm only going by the MGA guidelines and a call to the HJC.

I am subscribing to this thread.

 

[CrazyIvan]

I subscribed to the thread. I would be happy to send in written testimony.

 

[Applehd]

Updated OP... added a few more that I will be submitting.

PS...If anyone has any comments or suggestions they would rather not post to this thread, feel free to send me a PM.

Thank you MJD438... Updated this post. My mistake. After listening to the "Lock & Load" replay this morning, I picked that up.

 

[MJD438]

Updated OP... added a few more that I will be submitting. Although HB 160 won't require testimony as it has already been passed through committee, I will still be forwarding a copy to my Reps with a request for a favorable vote.

PS...If anyone has any comments or suggestions they would rather not post to this thread, feel free to send me a PM.

HB160 has not been passed through the committee. The committee chairman, Joe Vallario, picked it up as a "Committee Bill" due to the impending departure of the Bill's Sponsor, Cathy Vitale, to take her seat as a Judge on Monday. It is still on the hearing docket for 10MAR.

 

[Applehd]

Updated HB 432... I guess this is the way you suggest amendments...

 

[Applehd]

Bumping this thread... because the "Gun Bill" days are fast approaching... and... because I am sitting here at my desk with a 4 inch thick stack of written testimony(I know it doesn't sound like much) that I will be delivering to Annapolis tomorrow. I have also drafted another letter to my Representatives with copies of the testimony for their perusal. Like I said in the OP... I started this thread to try to drum up ideas or maybe give someone a little incentive to submit written testimony. I am really bummed that I won't be there in the peanut gallery with those planning to attend... No SNI cookies for me...

I would appreciate feedback on this thread, be it good, bad, or indifferent. I guess what I am asking is...Did at least one person benefit from this thread?

 

[Brooklyn]

Good job on the testimony.

Very good.

 

[dblas]

Anyone not able to attend and wishing to submit written testimony can send it to marylandtestimony@nrahq.org .

E-mails with written testimony sent to the above e-mail address will be printed out and the appropriate amount of copies made for the respective committee and delivered by the timeline.

Pdf or doc/docx is preferred to speed up the process of making copies and the deadline to use the above e-mail is March 8 at midnight. This will give the staff plenty of time to get the copies made and delivered to Annapolis.

This will be like last year, with the difference being the NRA-ILA is graciously donating their time and resources to support papering the House Judiciary Committee and the Senate Judicial Proceedings committees.

 

[dblas]

Would you also start a thread for the Senate Gun Bill Day, or do you want to combine it with this one?

 

[Applehd]

Senate Bills can be posted here as well... I have 3 complete and will update OP. I guess I should have clarified.

 

[Tomcat]

At a meeting I attended the other night one of the speakers mentioned that some people are writers, some speakers and some neither. If you don't have a problem with public speaking but don't know what to say, get with one of the writers and work it out. If you're a writer but scared to speak in public, find a speaker and help them out. If you're both have at it but also help others.

 

[Mr H]

Anyone not able to attend and wishing to submit written testimony can send it to marylandtestimony@nrahq.org .

E-mails with written testimony sent to the above e-mail address will be printed out and the appropriate amount of copies made for the respective committee and delivered by the timeline.

Pdf or doc/docx is preferred to speed up the process of making copies and the deadline to use the above e-mail is March 8 at midnight. This will give the staff plenty of time to get the copies made and delivered to Annapolis.

This will be like last year, with the difference being the NRA-ILA is graciously donating their time and resources to support papering the House Judiciary Committee and the Senate Judicial Proceedings committees.

Was about to post that myself. Thanks!

 

[85MikeTPI]

The mail system

<marylandtestimony@nrahq.org>: host bms.nrahq.org[204.68.130.242] said: 550 No
such user (marylandtestimony@nrahq.org) (in reply to RCPT TO command)

Anyone not able to attend and wishing to submit written testimony can send it to marylandtestimony@nrahq.org .

E-mails with written testimony sent to the above e-mail address will be printed out and the appropriate amount of copies made for the respective committee and delivered by the timeline.

Pdf or doc/docx is preferred to speed up the process of making copies and the deadline to use the above e-mail is March 8 at midnight. This will give the staff plenty of time to get the copies made and delivered to Annapolis.

This will be like last year, with the difference being the NRA-ILA is graciously donating their time and resources to support papering the House Judiciary Committee and the Senate Judicial Proceedings committees.