Probably a dupe but for anyone who might have missed it-
Dear Supporter of the Second Amendment:
Initially I take this opportunity to thank you for your recent email whereby you expressed adamant opposition to additional Gun Control initiatives which will be introduced in the 2013 Legislative Session of the Maryland General Assembly. Since I have been literally inundated by communications such as yours, I hereby respond to same, and simultaneously set forth my sentiments on Gun Control.
By manner of introduction I am a six term Delegate to the Maryland General Assembly representing Allegany County. I am an attorney by profession and during my entire twenty three years as a member of the General Assembly I have been assigned to the House Judiciary Committee. It should be noted the Judiciary Committee is the Committee to which all House of Delegates “Gun” initiatives are assigned. On a personal note, I am lawful owner of firearms and on numerous occasions I have been honored by various Pro – Gun Organizations for my staunch, unwavering support of the Second Amendment. Further, I possess an “A+” NRA rating.
I totally share your assessment that the current Legislative Session will unfortunately serve as a giant soapbox for Anti-Second Amendment zealots to spew their Gun-Hating venom and to pursue their Gun-Prohibition agendas.
Facts, statistics and common sense will be totally ignored as certain individuals jockey before the media to get their “on air” and/or “in print” opportunity to demonize the NRA and the Second Amendment Rights which the NRA protects and promotes. Simultaneously, many of these “Bashers” of the Second Amendment will utilize their media opportunities to demean those who support the Second Amendment; inferring such individuals “are of a lesser sophistication.”
The Gun-Haters will proclaim to the media “They support the Second Amendment” and they only intend to make “reasonable and responsible changes to the gun laws.” However, these same individuals will never legitimately pursue investigation of the true causes of violence in our society, specifically, broken homes, children born out of wedlock, absence of family structure, pervasiveness of drugs, street gangs, issues of a failed Mental Health System and the promotion/ glorification of violence in movies, on television and in video games, all of which serve to desensitize youth to the actual carnage caused by violence.
Further penalizing lawful gun owners and denying Second Amendment rights to these law abiding individuals will not reduce violent crime. On the contrary, the opposite is true. If law abiding citizens are denied their Second Amendment right to own firearms, then in that event, the only people to have guns will be the criminals. As such, you may be assured I will continue to oppose, and I will continue to vote against, any and all Anti - Second Amendment, Gun Control initiatives. Finally, I submit for your review the following email, statistical information and news article which you may find of interest.
Once again, your expression of Second Amendment support is deeply appreciated and if I can be of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely yours,
Kevin Kelly, Delegate
Allegany County
kevin.kelly@house.state.md.us
From: Kevin Kelly [mailto:kevinkelly@atlanticbb.net]
Sent: Thursday, December 27, 2012 11:19 PM
To: mspsuperintendent@maryland.gov; marcus.brown@maryland.gov
Cc: bernard.foster@maryland.gov; ronald.levitan@maryland.gov; gregory.shipley@maryland.gov; marlene.jenkins@maryland.gov; jack.mccauley@maryland.gov; jerry.beason@maryland.gov; john.cook@maryland.gov; laura.herman@maryland.gov; jack.simpson@maryland.gov; thomas.williams@maryland.gov; Friedman, Dan (OAG); Busch, Michael Delegate (Laptop); Vallario, Joseph Delegate (Laptop)
Subject: Concerns pertaining to Freedom of Information "Gun Data" Requests.
Importance: High
Colonel Marcus L. Brown
Superintendent – Maryland State Police
1201 Reisterstown Road
Pikesville, MD 21208-3899
Re: Concerns pertaining to Freedom of Information “Gun Data” Requests
Dear Colonel Brown:
I briefly take this opportunity to relate specific concerns with Freedom of Information “Gun Data” requests which I anticipate will be made of MSP. First, I have provided an ABC News link regarding a highly publicized newspaper article, together with accompanying interactive map, published by a New York newspaper, The Journal News. This referenced news article / map provided the names and residence addresses of every individual who LAWFULLY owns a Handgun(s) in Westchester and Rockland Counties, New York. This Gun Data was obtained through Freedom of Information requests. To view the article /map please click on below link. Then in the article which appears please click on ”their names and addresses listed on a map.” Then scroll down map and click on purple dots.
I find the publication of such information extremely disturbing and frankly, quite frightening. If a criminal wants to break into a dwelling to steal “Legal Handguns” this published, interactive map will provide the culprit the exact residence address to Burglarize. Additionally, it is most distressing that Lawful Handgun Owners are being treated like Registered Sex Offenders. Aren’t these Lawful Handgun Owners entitled to a Right of Privacy? What specifically is to gained by the publication of this information? Finally, would MSP be required to provide such information if a similar Freedom of Information request was made of MSP?
Second, In the 1993 Legislative Session, during a time of heated gun control debate, the Baltimore Business Journal prominently published in its April 2-8, 1993 (Anti-Second Amendment) edition, under the Banner Headline of “Officials Carrying Handguns” the names of State legislators who possessed permits to carry handguns and the caliber of the Handguns they so carried. I recall this vividly since I was so listed. Interestingly, I have never possessed a concealed carry permit. As I further recall, most of the Legislators so identified did not possess concealed carry permits. The article should have been titled “Legislators Who legally Own Handguns.” After the incorrectly identified Legislators expressed outrage to Colonel Larry W. Tolliver, then Superintendent of the Maryland State Police, and to representatives of the Baltimore Business Journal the publication printed a “Correction” in the form of a “Letter To The Editor” from Colonel Tolliver. This correction was published on page 47 of the April 16-22, 1993 edition of the Baltimore Business Journal.
Hopefully, if contacted by the media or by others, The Maryland State Police will be mindful of the above presented issues and concerns when responding to Freedom Of Information “Gun Data” Requests.
With kindest regards, I remain
Very truly yours,
Kevin Kelly, Delegate
Allegany County
District Office:
201 Washington Street
Cumberland, MD 21502
301-777-9000
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blo...addresses-215214269--abc-news-topstories.html
FROM: “THE FBI CRIME REPORTS” – “Assault Rifles” included in “Rifles” category
MARYLAND,
MURDER BY: “RIFLES” vs. “HANDS, FEET and FISTS”
2011 2 17
2010 3 19
2009 2 18
2008 4 28
2007 9 23
2006 5 25
2005 4 18
2004 2 30
Total 31 178
IN MARYLAND, “HANDS, FEET AND FISTS” HAVE ACCOUNTED FOR 5.74 TIMES MORE MURDERS THAN “RIFLES” DURING THE PAST EIGHT YEARS.
SOURCE: FBI UNIFORM CRIME REPORTS: TABLE 20
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/ucr
baltimoresun.com
Demographics of 2012 Baltimore homicides
By Justin Fenton, The Baltimore Sun
1:54 PM EST, December 31, 2012
Each year, the Baltimore Police homicide section compiles statistics on city killings. Here's how some of the data break down:
Murders: 216
Clearance rate (cases closed by arrest or administratively): 47.6 percent
Victims injured in prior years who died this year: 7
Cases from prior years closed this year (which counts toward this year's clearance rate, per FBI guidelines): 28
Cause:
Arson: 1
Blunt force: 7 (3.6%)
Handgun: 180 (83%)
Knife/sharp object: 20 (10.2%)
Shotgun/rifle: 2
Strangle/suffocation: 2
Vehicle: 1
Other: 3
Gender:
Male: 195 (90.3%)
Female: 21 (9.7%)
Race:
Asian: 1
Black: 204 (94.4%)
Hispanic: 1
White: 10 (4.6%)
Age groups:
Juvenile: 11 (5%)
Adult: 205 (95%)
35 and over: 72 (33.3%)
25-34: 68 (31.5%)
24 and under: 76 (35%)
Motives:
Argument: 14
Arson: 1
Child abuse: 6
Dispute over money: 2
Domestic: 3
Drugs: 3
Neighborhood (dispute?): 1
Retaliation: 3
Robbery: 10
Other: 10
Unknown: 162
(Known) suspects with criminal records: 79.1 percent
Suspects with drug arrests: 61.6 percent
Suspects on parole and probation at time of killing: 23.3 percent
Suspects arrested for prior gun crimes: 45.3 percent
Victims with criminal records: 82.3 percent
Victims with drug arrests: 68.4 percent
Victims on parole and probation at time of death: 24.2 percent
Victims arrested for prior gun crimes: 37.7 percent
Copyright © 2012, The Baltimore Sun
In 2000 Bill Clinton Wanted Cops in Schools Because of Columbine
Progressives and the Liberal Media are bashing the NRA and it's CEO Wayne LaPierre for the suggestion made in his speech today that trained armed guards be placed in every school in the country. Many critics point to the fact that Columbine High School had an armed guard during it's horrible tragedy (but the guard was having a cigarette at the time).
Perhaps these critics should have done a touch of research before they spoke, In April 2000 as part of his commemoration of the first anniversary of deaths at Columbine High School in his weekly radio speech President Clinton announced $120 million in grants, much of it for a program to place armed police officers in schools.
As the Associated Press reported at the time:
"In our national struggle against youth violence we must not fail our children; our future depends on it," the president said in his weekly radio address.
Parents, teens, teachers, youth workers and others will discuss research that indicates the preteen years set patterns for behavior and success in adulthood. Other subjects will include the risks, challenges and anxieties faced by young people today and what can be done to avoid dangerous or risky behavior.
"We need to talk about safety and security in every house in America," Clinton said.
Republican critics said the federal government is a clumsy middleman in trying to cope with problems that should be addressed locally. They cast doubt on whether the teen conference would accomplish anything, accused Clinton of ignoring media violence and said he should support stiff jail sentences for anyone carrying a firearm in a violent or drug-related crime.
Clinton announced $40 million in grants for 23 school districts that he said have found successful, comprehensive approaches to help troubled young people.
"These districts are bringing school nurses and counselors together to respond to warning signs like depression or bullying," Clinton said. "They are improving classroom security and expanding after-school and mentoring programs."
Clinton also unveiled the $60-million fifth round of funding for "COPS in School," a Justice Department program that helps pay the costs of placing police officers in schools to help make them safer for students and teachers. The money will be used to provide 452 officers in schools in more than 220 communities.
"Already, it has placed 2,200 officers in more than 1,000 communities across our nation, where they are heightening school safety as well as coaching sports and acting as mentors and mediators for kids in need," Clinton said.
SHHHHH! Please don't tell the liberals that Clinton supported a program very similar to the one presented by NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre today...It might cause their heads to explode...or even worse It might make them to think instead of politicizing.
Dear Supporter of the Second Amendment:
Initially I take this opportunity to thank you for your recent email whereby you expressed adamant opposition to additional Gun Control initiatives which will be introduced in the 2013 Legislative Session of the Maryland General Assembly. Since I have been literally inundated by communications such as yours, I hereby respond to same, and simultaneously set forth my sentiments on Gun Control.
By manner of introduction I am a six term Delegate to the Maryland General Assembly representing Allegany County. I am an attorney by profession and during my entire twenty three years as a member of the General Assembly I have been assigned to the House Judiciary Committee. It should be noted the Judiciary Committee is the Committee to which all House of Delegates “Gun” initiatives are assigned. On a personal note, I am lawful owner of firearms and on numerous occasions I have been honored by various Pro – Gun Organizations for my staunch, unwavering support of the Second Amendment. Further, I possess an “A+” NRA rating.
I totally share your assessment that the current Legislative Session will unfortunately serve as a giant soapbox for Anti-Second Amendment zealots to spew their Gun-Hating venom and to pursue their Gun-Prohibition agendas.
Facts, statistics and common sense will be totally ignored as certain individuals jockey before the media to get their “on air” and/or “in print” opportunity to demonize the NRA and the Second Amendment Rights which the NRA protects and promotes. Simultaneously, many of these “Bashers” of the Second Amendment will utilize their media opportunities to demean those who support the Second Amendment; inferring such individuals “are of a lesser sophistication.”
The Gun-Haters will proclaim to the media “They support the Second Amendment” and they only intend to make “reasonable and responsible changes to the gun laws.” However, these same individuals will never legitimately pursue investigation of the true causes of violence in our society, specifically, broken homes, children born out of wedlock, absence of family structure, pervasiveness of drugs, street gangs, issues of a failed Mental Health System and the promotion/ glorification of violence in movies, on television and in video games, all of which serve to desensitize youth to the actual carnage caused by violence.
Further penalizing lawful gun owners and denying Second Amendment rights to these law abiding individuals will not reduce violent crime. On the contrary, the opposite is true. If law abiding citizens are denied their Second Amendment right to own firearms, then in that event, the only people to have guns will be the criminals. As such, you may be assured I will continue to oppose, and I will continue to vote against, any and all Anti - Second Amendment, Gun Control initiatives. Finally, I submit for your review the following email, statistical information and news article which you may find of interest.
Once again, your expression of Second Amendment support is deeply appreciated and if I can be of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely yours,
Kevin Kelly, Delegate
Allegany County
kevin.kelly@house.state.md.us
From: Kevin Kelly [mailto:kevinkelly@atlanticbb.net]
Sent: Thursday, December 27, 2012 11:19 PM
To: mspsuperintendent@maryland.gov; marcus.brown@maryland.gov
Cc: bernard.foster@maryland.gov; ronald.levitan@maryland.gov; gregory.shipley@maryland.gov; marlene.jenkins@maryland.gov; jack.mccauley@maryland.gov; jerry.beason@maryland.gov; john.cook@maryland.gov; laura.herman@maryland.gov; jack.simpson@maryland.gov; thomas.williams@maryland.gov; Friedman, Dan (OAG); Busch, Michael Delegate (Laptop); Vallario, Joseph Delegate (Laptop)
Subject: Concerns pertaining to Freedom of Information "Gun Data" Requests.
Importance: High
Colonel Marcus L. Brown
Superintendent – Maryland State Police
1201 Reisterstown Road
Pikesville, MD 21208-3899
Re: Concerns pertaining to Freedom of Information “Gun Data” Requests
Dear Colonel Brown:
I briefly take this opportunity to relate specific concerns with Freedom of Information “Gun Data” requests which I anticipate will be made of MSP. First, I have provided an ABC News link regarding a highly publicized newspaper article, together with accompanying interactive map, published by a New York newspaper, The Journal News. This referenced news article / map provided the names and residence addresses of every individual who LAWFULLY owns a Handgun(s) in Westchester and Rockland Counties, New York. This Gun Data was obtained through Freedom of Information requests. To view the article /map please click on below link. Then in the article which appears please click on ”their names and addresses listed on a map.” Then scroll down map and click on purple dots.
I find the publication of such information extremely disturbing and frankly, quite frightening. If a criminal wants to break into a dwelling to steal “Legal Handguns” this published, interactive map will provide the culprit the exact residence address to Burglarize. Additionally, it is most distressing that Lawful Handgun Owners are being treated like Registered Sex Offenders. Aren’t these Lawful Handgun Owners entitled to a Right of Privacy? What specifically is to gained by the publication of this information? Finally, would MSP be required to provide such information if a similar Freedom of Information request was made of MSP?
Second, In the 1993 Legislative Session, during a time of heated gun control debate, the Baltimore Business Journal prominently published in its April 2-8, 1993 (Anti-Second Amendment) edition, under the Banner Headline of “Officials Carrying Handguns” the names of State legislators who possessed permits to carry handguns and the caliber of the Handguns they so carried. I recall this vividly since I was so listed. Interestingly, I have never possessed a concealed carry permit. As I further recall, most of the Legislators so identified did not possess concealed carry permits. The article should have been titled “Legislators Who legally Own Handguns.” After the incorrectly identified Legislators expressed outrage to Colonel Larry W. Tolliver, then Superintendent of the Maryland State Police, and to representatives of the Baltimore Business Journal the publication printed a “Correction” in the form of a “Letter To The Editor” from Colonel Tolliver. This correction was published on page 47 of the April 16-22, 1993 edition of the Baltimore Business Journal.
Hopefully, if contacted by the media or by others, The Maryland State Police will be mindful of the above presented issues and concerns when responding to Freedom Of Information “Gun Data” Requests.
With kindest regards, I remain
Very truly yours,
Kevin Kelly, Delegate
Allegany County
District Office:
201 Washington Street
Cumberland, MD 21502
301-777-9000
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blo...addresses-215214269--abc-news-topstories.html
FROM: “THE FBI CRIME REPORTS” – “Assault Rifles” included in “Rifles” category
MARYLAND,
MURDER BY: “RIFLES” vs. “HANDS, FEET and FISTS”
2011 2 17
2010 3 19
2009 2 18
2008 4 28
2007 9 23
2006 5 25
2005 4 18
2004 2 30
Total 31 178
IN MARYLAND, “HANDS, FEET AND FISTS” HAVE ACCOUNTED FOR 5.74 TIMES MORE MURDERS THAN “RIFLES” DURING THE PAST EIGHT YEARS.
SOURCE: FBI UNIFORM CRIME REPORTS: TABLE 20
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/ucr
baltimoresun.com
Demographics of 2012 Baltimore homicides
By Justin Fenton, The Baltimore Sun
1:54 PM EST, December 31, 2012
Each year, the Baltimore Police homicide section compiles statistics on city killings. Here's how some of the data break down:
Murders: 216
Clearance rate (cases closed by arrest or administratively): 47.6 percent
Victims injured in prior years who died this year: 7
Cases from prior years closed this year (which counts toward this year's clearance rate, per FBI guidelines): 28
Cause:
Arson: 1
Blunt force: 7 (3.6%)
Handgun: 180 (83%)
Knife/sharp object: 20 (10.2%)
Shotgun/rifle: 2
Strangle/suffocation: 2
Vehicle: 1
Other: 3
Gender:
Male: 195 (90.3%)
Female: 21 (9.7%)
Race:
Asian: 1
Black: 204 (94.4%)
Hispanic: 1
White: 10 (4.6%)
Age groups:
Juvenile: 11 (5%)
Adult: 205 (95%)
35 and over: 72 (33.3%)
25-34: 68 (31.5%)
24 and under: 76 (35%)
Motives:
Argument: 14
Arson: 1
Child abuse: 6
Dispute over money: 2
Domestic: 3
Drugs: 3
Neighborhood (dispute?): 1
Retaliation: 3
Robbery: 10
Other: 10
Unknown: 162
(Known) suspects with criminal records: 79.1 percent
Suspects with drug arrests: 61.6 percent
Suspects on parole and probation at time of killing: 23.3 percent
Suspects arrested for prior gun crimes: 45.3 percent
Victims with criminal records: 82.3 percent
Victims with drug arrests: 68.4 percent
Victims on parole and probation at time of death: 24.2 percent
Victims arrested for prior gun crimes: 37.7 percent
Copyright © 2012, The Baltimore Sun
In 2000 Bill Clinton Wanted Cops in Schools Because of Columbine
Progressives and the Liberal Media are bashing the NRA and it's CEO Wayne LaPierre for the suggestion made in his speech today that trained armed guards be placed in every school in the country. Many critics point to the fact that Columbine High School had an armed guard during it's horrible tragedy (but the guard was having a cigarette at the time).
Perhaps these critics should have done a touch of research before they spoke, In April 2000 as part of his commemoration of the first anniversary of deaths at Columbine High School in his weekly radio speech President Clinton announced $120 million in grants, much of it for a program to place armed police officers in schools.
As the Associated Press reported at the time:
"In our national struggle against youth violence we must not fail our children; our future depends on it," the president said in his weekly radio address.
Parents, teens, teachers, youth workers and others will discuss research that indicates the preteen years set patterns for behavior and success in adulthood. Other subjects will include the risks, challenges and anxieties faced by young people today and what can be done to avoid dangerous or risky behavior.
"We need to talk about safety and security in every house in America," Clinton said.
Republican critics said the federal government is a clumsy middleman in trying to cope with problems that should be addressed locally. They cast doubt on whether the teen conference would accomplish anything, accused Clinton of ignoring media violence and said he should support stiff jail sentences for anyone carrying a firearm in a violent or drug-related crime.
Clinton announced $40 million in grants for 23 school districts that he said have found successful, comprehensive approaches to help troubled young people.
"These districts are bringing school nurses and counselors together to respond to warning signs like depression or bullying," Clinton said. "They are improving classroom security and expanding after-school and mentoring programs."
Clinton also unveiled the $60-million fifth round of funding for "COPS in School," a Justice Department program that helps pay the costs of placing police officers in schools to help make them safer for students and teachers. The money will be used to provide 452 officers in schools in more than 220 communities.
"Already, it has placed 2,200 officers in more than 1,000 communities across our nation, where they are heightening school safety as well as coaching sports and acting as mentors and mediators for kids in need," Clinton said.
SHHHHH! Please don't tell the liberals that Clinton supported a program very similar to the one presented by NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre today...It might cause their heads to explode...or even worse It might make them to think instead of politicizing.
