The Defeat of 2A Champion Delegate Smigiel

[MJD438]

I'll say it again, just to put it out there since several choose to ignore the facts:

1. With all of the changes due to the primary and personal decisions of some of our legislators, we have lost multiple voices in critical places. Like them or not, I don't care, but they had seniority and reputations that made some (I am not saying ALL) legislators listen to reason on Constitutional boundary issues:
   1. House Judiciary:
      1. Don Dwyer (lost his seat due to penalties for inappropriate actions outside of the GA)
      2. Mike Smigiel (lost bid for reelection during this year's primary)
      3. Mike McDermott (decided to vacate the House to run for Senate)
   2. Senate Judicial Proceedings - Nancy Jacobs (retired)
2. Those voices WILL be replaced with the absolute weakest and/or most junior members of the Republican Caucus that Busch/Miller think they can get away with.
3. End result - remains to be seen, but I don't see anything other than trouble on any issue that affects Constitutional boundaries (which the Maryland General Assembly has a colorful history of avoiding until directed, or threatened to be directed, by federal court cases).

 

[Mr H]

I'll say it again, just to put it out there since several choose to ignore the facts:

1. With all of the changes due to the primary and personal decisions of some of our legislators, we have lost multiple voices in critical places. Like them or not, I don't care, but they had seniority and reputations that made some (I am not saying ALL) legislators listen to reason on Constitutional boundary issues:
   1. House Judiciary:
      1. Don Dwyer (lost his seat due to penalties for inappropriate actions outside of the GA)
      2. Mike Smigiel (lost bid for reelection during this year's primary)
      3. Mike McDermott (decided to vacate the House to run for Senate)
   2. Senate Judicial Proceedings - Nancy Jacobs (retired)
2. Those voices WILL be replaced with the absolute weakest and/or most junior members of the Republican Caucus that Busch/Miller think they can get away with.
3. End result - remains to be seen, but I don't see anything other than trouble on any issue that affects Constitutional boundaries (which the Maryland General Assembly has a colorful history of avoiding until directed, or threatened to be directed, by federal court cases).

Good summation... and exactly why we all need to push hard in the general election to oust (wherever possible) sitting Critters who act against 2A (whether on the floor, or particularly in procedural votes).

 

[frogman68]

It means nothing? You must be oblivious to almost everything then.

Just like we were trying to send a message to those that voted in favor of SB281 by ousting them in the primaries, do you think that replacing the most 2nd Amendment friendly rep in the primary (i.e., Mike) might not make the rest of the General Assembly feel a lot more comfortable about passing additional gun restrictions. Hell, the 2nd Amendment backers in this state couldn't even keep their most supportive rep in office after SB281 got passed. What message do you think that sends?

Me, I honestly believe that the Courts are our only hope at this point and that is a crap shoot as far as I am concerned.

On this matter, as it applies to our 2nd Amendment Rights, I think you are oblivious to the ramifications.

If you think the courts are our only salvation then you sir are oblivious . The Courts will side With MD . When it reaches SCOTUS the only way I see Cert being granted is if 2 of the 5 Heller Justices retire and Obozo gets to pick their replacements.

Here's what we need to know:

Who's Andi gonna work for next session?
Whose office do we report to for preparation of the onslaught of new legislative battles?
Who is going to stand with us on the committee and floor to defend our 2nd amendment rights?

Mike will be sorely missed. What ever his faults were, he was the most vocal defender of the 2A and we must never forget his epic stand against the Freedom Suppression Act of 2013.

FIFY

No if that were true he would be staying in MD. He is not.

All is not lost with Mike gone, but the fight will need to be quieter. I myself will not be wasting valuable time "rallying" folks. Show up speak the truth, and go home.. the rest is court.

But we should still show up. Those who want to give up should do so, the rest of u will carry on.

I am not staying as this State is a lost cause . I will still fight for gun rights but doing a tactical retreat to a free state to ensure they don't get the same way MD is

But will that person be as vocal about all things 2A and constitutional as Mike?

We already know Jacobs and how he supports us (he does, but is reluctant to author bills that may be controversial).

Arantz has only been in office for a year and is still getting his feet under him. For his first session he more of a go along to get along person, we will see if that changes.

So, will Ghrist be as vocal as Mike has been? Will he buck the system and the party when needed? Will he reach across the aisle like Mike did to get stuff passed? He for sure won't be on Judiciary and he for sure won't be permitted in any back room dealings for committee like Mike.

Buck the party to do what ? He will stand up for what he believes in . I said it before a loud obnoxious person usually gets shut off by the person they are speaking with more so then when you calmly explain your position . This could be exactly what the 2A community needs.

i have lived in maryland my whole 50 years and mike was the most vocal constitution and 2a elected official i ever saw from this state. he will surely be missed. i believe the hole left by him not getting re elected will never get completely filled and we, the 2a community will miss him greatly.

District 36 will not miss him .

Yep, you definitely do not get it. dblas summed it up pretty good. Just getting another person in office that will vote pro 2nd Amendment is not the same thing as somebody that will vote for it AND fight for it. Hell, we are all for the 2nd Amendment on this forum (trolls excluded), but some don't vote based on the 2nd Amendment stance of candidates and some don't fight as hard as others.

If you think that whoever replaces Mike will be just as good for the 2nd Amendment as Mike because he will also vote pro 2nd Amendment, than as I already said, you are oblivious, oblivious to what Mike has done for the 2nd Amendment and oblivious to how politics works.

Not sure as if I want to buy a handgun I need a HQL . When any bill is drafted they build it up because they know all won't pass. Wasn't live fire removed from SB281? Didn't MSP add it back. The libs got what they wanted and threw us a few bones that you say Mike fought for and won , I am not buying that.

Well thats pretty much what I was gonna say so...I'll just say "THIS!!!"

Okay, I lied...

Anyone can push the right button...but who's going to be our fighter on this issue. Who's going to be in the backroom with Joe and the liberals on JUD when it comes time to try to kill conservative bills?

And frankly, who's the Conservative fighter from Cecil now?

Fighter ? He was out manned in the back rooms . Did they ever catch the person who made some weird picture of Mike (thinking it was a noose but can't recall) . Seems to me that some other people in Annapolis don't like him either

Something just occured to me Fabs...wouldn't it be nice if we all had time to obsess about one legislator the way someone else does?

Me? I've got a show to prep for, a job to find, a house to clean and a daughter to raise...Oh, and some time at the range would be lovely too

Lol obsess , Just like everyone here if Frosh or Brown loses in November . Will you say they obsess about them too?

Perhaps the next session we should take a little different tact. Rather than a nice peaceful demonstration on Lawers Mall, we should stage a sit in at the front door to the House of Delegates Office Building on the first day of the new session and prevent the passage of anyone into the building. Perhaps a divide and conquer concept and also block the Senate building since there is a tunnel between the buildings. If we disrupt the process we may get more notice. Yes, we may get a disorderly conduct or trespass charge, but it may be more effective.

This is what is needed , new ideas but the Old Guard here in MD just shoots it down instead of seeing the good of it and suggesting ways around the bad parts.

Idea above ok it's not completely feasible but what about a Rolling Roadblock to disrupt traffic around the state house

Just don't discard a new idea work with it the tried and failed methods are never going to work . The sooner that is learned the better .

 

[eruby]

When the Jazzman's frogman's testifyin'
A faithless man believes
He can sing you into paradise
Or bring you to your knees

 

[Brooklyn]

This is what is needed , new ideas but the Old Guard here in MD just shoots it down instead of seeing the good of it and suggesting ways around the bad parts.

Idea above ok it's not completely feasible but what about a Rolling Roadblock to disrupt traffic around the state house

Just don't discard a new idea work with it the tried and failed methods are never going to work . The sooner that is learned the better .

Do it. I think its a bad idea and will not do it. So its up to you.

 

[dgapilot]

This is what is needed , new ideas but the Old Guard here in MD just shoots it down instead of seeing the good of it and suggesting ways around the bad parts.

Idea above ok it's not completely feasible but what about a Rolling Roadblock to disrupt traffic around the state house

Just don't discard a new idea work with it the tried and failed methods are never going to work . The sooner that is learned the better .

I don't think my ideas were shot down, someone just suggested that they be presented to the board of MSI. Not sure that is really a good idea as MSI has to work within a certain legal framework to remain a credible organization.

I think my comments came from the frustration of all of us trying to work within the system and seeing no progress. We need to attack this with a systematic approach using civil disobediance in a peacefull mannor. I really think this should be done as individuals joined together by a common cause and not using one of the organizations (MSI, NRA . . .). Disrupting the first day of the next GA session is symbolic, they have failed to foolow through on their oath of office and our point should be to prevent a further erosion on OUR civil rights! To that end, we need to change the subject from gun rights to the right to self defense. The right to protect our loved ones and our property. Change the message from a bunch of gun nuts (in the public eye) to concerned citizens for the erosion of the Bill of Rights. Focus on free speach, freedom of the presss and religion. Freedom from unwarrented search and seizure, the dangers of no-knock raids, the killing of pets by police for no justifiable reason, the intrusion of governemt on property owners rights and on and on. Not to water down the purpose, but to change the picture and the dialog. We are talking the infringement of ALL our rights and the right to keep and bear arms is part of that. Perhaps a push to include the text of Ammendments I, II, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, & XIV to be included in the Maryland Constitution. It looks like this is alluded to in Article 2 of the Declaration of Rights in the MD Constitution, but it sure gets missed by the GA! If it is spelled out they may actually have to abide by it. (silly me, the federal legislature doesn't read it either)

 

[44man]

If you think the courts are our only salvation then you sir are oblivious . The Courts will side With MD . When it reaches SCOTUS the only way I see Cert being granted is if 2 of the 5 Heller Justices retire and Obozo gets to pick their replacements.



FIFY



I am not staying as this State is a lost cause . I will still fight for gun rights but doing a tactical retreat to a free state to ensure they don't get the same way MD is


Buck the party to do what ? He will stand up for what he believes in . I said it before a loud obnoxious person usually gets shut off by the person they are speaking with more so then when you calmly explain your position . This could be exactly what the 2A community needs.



District 36 will not miss him .



Not sure as if I want to buy a handgun I need a HQL . When any bill is drafted they build it up because they know all won't pass. Wasn't live fire removed from SB281? Didn't MSP add it back. The libs got what they wanted and threw us a few bones that you say Mike fought for and won , I am not buying that.



Fighter ? He was out manned in the back rooms . Did they ever catch the person who made some weird picture of Mike (thinking it was a noose but can't recall) . Seems to me that some other people in Annapolis don't like him either



Lol obsess , Just like everyone here if Frosh or Brown loses in November . Will you say they obsess about them too?



This is what is needed , new ideas but the Old Guard here in MD just shoots it down instead of seeing the good of it and suggesting ways around the bad parts.

Idea above ok it's not completely feasible but what about a Rolling Roadblock to disrupt traffic around the state house

Just don't discard a new idea work with it the tried and failed methods are never going to work . The sooner that is learned the better .

but maryland will miss him and the fact that he is not in assapolis will only strengthen the anti's side and weaken our side.

 

[MDFF2008]

Not hard to understand at all.....but at the end of the day the result was the same...SB281 passed with no problems....

I believe that 5000 people standing outside the state house carrying long rifles makes much more of a statement to our representatives than 5000 standing in line with nothing more than letters for their reps and 3 minute speeches....or 50,000 walking around with empty holsters......

5,000 rifles, that's just 5,000 crazy white guys.

Maybe if you want to talk about 50,000 rifles, or 100,000 rifles.

But since most Maryland gun owners can't be bothered to give 2 shits, you'd end up with like 30 people and it would look like crazy white guy day.

 

[frogman68]

but maryland will miss him and the fact that he is not in assapolis will only strengthen the anti's side and weaken our side.

no Maryland won't miss him a certain section of MD will but not the state or the people of his district

 

[44man]

no Maryland won't miss him a certain section of MD will but not the state or the people of his district

the 2a community in Maryland will miss him.

 

[dblas]

This is what is needed , new ideas but the Old Guard here in MD just shoots it down instead of seeing the good of it and suggesting ways around the bad parts.

Idea above ok it's not completely feasible but what about a Rolling Roadblock to disrupt traffic around the state house

Just don't discard a new idea work with it the tried and failed methods are never going to work . The sooner that is learned the better .

Where was this shot down?? I provided additional information and also advised if he would like MSI backing, to present it to the BOD and be as prepared as possible. No where did anyone say it was a bad idea or not to do it.

 

[dblas]

I don't think my ideas were shot down, someone just suggested that they be presented to the board of MSI. Not sure that is really a good idea as MSI has to work within a certain legal framework to remain a credible organization.

I think my comments came from the frustration of all of us trying to work within the system and seeing no progress. We need to attack this with a systematic approach using civil disobediance in a peacefull mannor. I really think this should be done as individuals joined together by a common cause and not using one of the organizations (MSI, NRA . . .). Disrupting the first day of the next GA session is symbolic, they have failed to foolow through on their oath of office and our point should be to prevent a further erosion on OUR civil rights! To that end, we need to change the subject from gun rights to the right to self defense. The right to protect our loved ones and our property. Change the message from a bunch of gun nuts (in the public eye) to concerned citizens for the erosion of the Bill of Rights. Focus on free speach, freedom of the presss and religion. Freedom from unwarrented search and seizure, the dangers of no-knock raids, the killing of pets by police for no justifiable reason, the intrusion of governemt on property owners rights and on and on. Not to water down the purpose, but to change the picture and the dialog. We are talking the infringement of ALL our rights and the right to keep and bear arms is part of that. Perhaps a push to include the text of Ammendments I, II, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, & XIV to be included in the Maryland Constitution. It looks like this is alluded to in Article 2 of the Declaration of Rights in the MD Constitution, but it sure gets missed by the GA! If it is spelled out they may actually have to abide by it. (silly me, the federal legislature doesn't read it either)

I, personally, like new ideas, but I also like to provoke thought on them to get them flushed out. Thank you for not taking my input as shutting it down.

I kind of actually like the idea, so like I said, step up and make it happen. I think the presentation suggestion I made should also be applied here as well. Bring the idea and the how, and be prepared to answer a lot of questions.

 

[frogman68]

That would cost me my job most likely, but then I could leave Md. Assuming I can get a job anywhere else.

Its that simple. The left has nothing to lose. We do.

Where was this shot down?? I provided additional information and also advised if he would like MSI backing, to present it to the BOD and be as prepared as possible. No where did anyone say it was a bad idea or not to do it.

in the first post

the 2a community in Maryland will miss him.

again only a small portion of the 2A community . 2A is strong in District 36 if he was such the champion he would of been reelected

 

[dblas]

in the first post

Actually, the first reply post to the suggestion was someone stating that doing so would cost them their job and would be be doing it. No where did anyone in the first or even my (2nd) post, say not to do it or that it was a bad idea.

 

[Mr H]

Frogman...

Are you quite finished beating this??

It's over and done with.

Now... next steps, and those start with assessing the resources we now have, and planning to maximize those.

 

[frogman68]

Actually, the first reply post to the suggestion was someone stating that doing so would cost them their job and would be be doing it. No where did anyone in the first or even my (2nd) post, say not to do it or that it was a bad idea.

Seems that first post I quoted was a just that

Frogman...

Are you quite finished beating this??

It's over and done with.

Now... next steps, and those start with assessing the resources we now have, and planning to maximize those.

Agreed ( that's a first ) I am just refuting the fiction with facts

 

[Bolts Rock]

Is froggie still engaging in ritual dick beating?

 

[Mr H]

Is froggie still engaging in ritual dick beating?

Based on the quotes I'm seeing in other folks' posts, I'd say yes.

 

[FrankZ]

Is froggie still engaging in ritual dick beating?

Is that why he wasn't allowed to stand on the grass?

 

[frogman68]

Is froggie still engaging in ritual dick beating?

Based on the quotes I'm seeing in other folks' posts, I'd say yes.

Is that why he wasn't allowed to stand on the grass?

I am not the one who keeps bringing it back up