Globetruck
Member
- Mar 22, 2013
- 5
I was going to live in near Severna Park. Not any more.
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Dear Governor,
I am an active duty USAF officer in the process of relocating to Andrews AFB MD. I wanted to express my thanks for your crystal-clear policies that helped my family determine that it's in our best academic, social, financial, and safety interests to relocate to Virginia.
First item: I've been around the world, feverishly working to restore order in weak and failing states such as Kosovo, Bosnia, Somalia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Sadly, Prince George's County's inability to govern and provide essential safety or educational services ranks right alongside the likes of Somalia and Afghanistan. But I'm willing to concede that you are already keenly aware of PG County's woes and I won't bore you with additional details.
Second item: gun control. I applaud you for the inclusion of mental health checks and stronger background checks. But the rest of SB 211 contains so many ill-worded sections that I honestly cannot determine whether or not my family's weapons are consistent with your laws. I don't own a single military-style semiautomatic rifle. But unfortunately for me and many others, SB 211 uses imprecise terminology such as "copycat" and "assault" weapons that any zealous prosecutor could reasonably use to describe nearly any semiautomatic pistol ever manufactured. Furthermore, your new handgun licensing requirements do not permit my family members (who are not legally MD residents) to use our existing guns -- or to put things in that pesky Constitutional terminology, military spouses and family members can no longer bear arms in the "Free State" of Maryland because they are not eligible to receive a pistol license in your state. Nor are they eligible for concealed carry permits.
Regrettably, I staunchly refuse to jeopardize my family's safety or my position as a Lieutenant Colonel in the USAF on the basis of an ill-conceived law that introduces the very real threat that accidental and unintentional disregard will result in the unknowing commission of serious felonies. For instance, the misuse of "assault" and "copycat" weapons are now considered serious criminal offenses. What happens if my wife (non-MD resident) transports a grandfathered 12 round magazine to the local shooting range? What happens if I shoot a home invader using your undefined "restricted firearms ammunition?" Am I now a felon? I have no desire to find out.
I hope that you and your staff will take the time to reflect upon the consequences of your legislation. Do your policies encourage the right people to call Maryland home? Do your policies encourage middle-class families to purchase homes in PG County? Lets be brutally honest. Your policies actively discourage a lot of well-educated, stable,Constitution-loving, and financially secure people from calling Maryland home. Now I know why most of my peers at Andrews AFB choose to call Virginia their home.
Sincerely,
Justin A. Riddle, Lt Col, USAF
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Dear Governor,
I am an active duty USAF officer in the process of relocating to Andrews AFB MD. I wanted to express my thanks for your crystal-clear policies that helped my family determine that it's in our best academic, social, financial, and safety interests to relocate to Virginia.
First item: I've been around the world, feverishly working to restore order in weak and failing states such as Kosovo, Bosnia, Somalia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Sadly, Prince George's County's inability to govern and provide essential safety or educational services ranks right alongside the likes of Somalia and Afghanistan. But I'm willing to concede that you are already keenly aware of PG County's woes and I won't bore you with additional details.
Second item: gun control. I applaud you for the inclusion of mental health checks and stronger background checks. But the rest of SB 211 contains so many ill-worded sections that I honestly cannot determine whether or not my family's weapons are consistent with your laws. I don't own a single military-style semiautomatic rifle. But unfortunately for me and many others, SB 211 uses imprecise terminology such as "copycat" and "assault" weapons that any zealous prosecutor could reasonably use to describe nearly any semiautomatic pistol ever manufactured. Furthermore, your new handgun licensing requirements do not permit my family members (who are not legally MD residents) to use our existing guns -- or to put things in that pesky Constitutional terminology, military spouses and family members can no longer bear arms in the "Free State" of Maryland because they are not eligible to receive a pistol license in your state. Nor are they eligible for concealed carry permits.
Regrettably, I staunchly refuse to jeopardize my family's safety or my position as a Lieutenant Colonel in the USAF on the basis of an ill-conceived law that introduces the very real threat that accidental and unintentional disregard will result in the unknowing commission of serious felonies. For instance, the misuse of "assault" and "copycat" weapons are now considered serious criminal offenses. What happens if my wife (non-MD resident) transports a grandfathered 12 round magazine to the local shooting range? What happens if I shoot a home invader using your undefined "restricted firearms ammunition?" Am I now a felon? I have no desire to find out.
I hope that you and your staff will take the time to reflect upon the consequences of your legislation. Do your policies encourage the right people to call Maryland home? Do your policies encourage middle-class families to purchase homes in PG County? Lets be brutally honest. Your policies actively discourage a lot of well-educated, stable,Constitution-loving, and financially secure people from calling Maryland home. Now I know why most of my peers at Andrews AFB choose to call Virginia their home.
Sincerely,
Justin A. Riddle, Lt Col, USAF
