SigMatt
Active Member
All,
Been a MD Shooters member for a while but been quiet but coming up for air with events over the past two weeks. Especially supposed proposals upcoming that would truly ban AR-15s, AK pattern rifles and anything else black and scary, limit magazines downward to half of the current limit and ban possession of said rifles within the state.
I will be in Annapolis to protest and testify against such overreach since I am local down the road in Edgewater.
What I can't figure out is the rationale except for two possible reasons:
1) To be seen "doing something".
2) To finally get back in a purely punitive fashion against pesky gun owners in Maryland.
The problem is, how would a possession ban be legal? Doesn't that fall under "ex post facto"?
On #2, I make that argument on the following basis:
1) "Assault weapons" are already highly regulated in Maryland.
2) There is a mandatory registration for all "assault weapons" already in this state. Owners are registered with the Maryland State Police as part of that process.
3) There is already an 8 day waiting period for purchase of any "assault weapon" in this state performed by the State Police.
4) There is mandatory safety training required before the transfer of any "assault weapon" to any Maryland resident.
5) There is already a "high capacity magazine" ban in place that is limited to 20 rounds or less, passed in part due to the "dangers" of greater capacity.
6) There is already an "assault pistol" ban in place in Maryland.
7) A mental health background check is performed as part of the background check as part of the process to be "not disapproved" for the ownership of an "assault weapon".
8) The Judiciary Committee cannot demonstrate in the state of Maryland in the past years where these firearms have been used predominantly in any Maryland mass shootings or crimes. Even the Maryland State Police has testified this hasn't been the case.
Adding guns to regulated list is one thing. Shrinking magazine capacity to 10 and grandfathering in the existing possession under a rework of the existing law by changing "20" to "10" would be seen as worthless, punitive, frustrating but ultimately status quo. We'll just buy 20 rounders in Virginia like we do 30s and life goes on.
But a possession ban? How many felons in Maryland would that create? And to what end? Because they could. Do these politicians in Annapolis have no respect at all for the rights of peaceful citizens in this state and feel perfectly justified in running roughshod over them, their individual rights and their property rights because they engage in an activity they find distasteful but perfectly legal? Where does it stop? What more do they want?!?
I'm angry. At the utter lack of respect these people have for those who elect them. They are supposed to represent. Not enact their preferred policy choices and biases. And we've seen in hearing after hearing where those who don't like gun owners just get up and walk out.
For the first time, I truly fear for what lies at the other end of this process should they succeed this time. I think they may push to pass such things in the House "just because" and to hell with the thousands of us that would show up. We're just residents and constituents, nobody important and it doesn't appear to matter anyway. They just keep getting re-elected.
If it does happen, what do we do then? Do we meekly turn our guns in to the state or move them out of state? Continue to be grateful they might let us keep a Garand and a 8 round enbloc? Or become potential criminals or forced to make a choice on keeping our valuable property, which represents hours of our lives we don't get back? All at the say-so of a bunch of suits in Annapolis who have no respect at all for anyone who lives here.
I need to get this out here. I need to know there are others like me. I am trying to channel my anger, my rage, at how a monster in a senseless event is being used for a naked power grab the likes of which I think none of us has ever seen.
Matt
Edgewater, MD
Been a MD Shooters member for a while but been quiet but coming up for air with events over the past two weeks. Especially supposed proposals upcoming that would truly ban AR-15s, AK pattern rifles and anything else black and scary, limit magazines downward to half of the current limit and ban possession of said rifles within the state.
I will be in Annapolis to protest and testify against such overreach since I am local down the road in Edgewater.
What I can't figure out is the rationale except for two possible reasons:
1) To be seen "doing something".
2) To finally get back in a purely punitive fashion against pesky gun owners in Maryland.
The problem is, how would a possession ban be legal? Doesn't that fall under "ex post facto"?
On #2, I make that argument on the following basis:
1) "Assault weapons" are already highly regulated in Maryland.
2) There is a mandatory registration for all "assault weapons" already in this state. Owners are registered with the Maryland State Police as part of that process.
3) There is already an 8 day waiting period for purchase of any "assault weapon" in this state performed by the State Police.
4) There is mandatory safety training required before the transfer of any "assault weapon" to any Maryland resident.
5) There is already a "high capacity magazine" ban in place that is limited to 20 rounds or less, passed in part due to the "dangers" of greater capacity.
6) There is already an "assault pistol" ban in place in Maryland.
7) A mental health background check is performed as part of the background check as part of the process to be "not disapproved" for the ownership of an "assault weapon".
8) The Judiciary Committee cannot demonstrate in the state of Maryland in the past years where these firearms have been used predominantly in any Maryland mass shootings or crimes. Even the Maryland State Police has testified this hasn't been the case.
Adding guns to regulated list is one thing. Shrinking magazine capacity to 10 and grandfathering in the existing possession under a rework of the existing law by changing "20" to "10" would be seen as worthless, punitive, frustrating but ultimately status quo. We'll just buy 20 rounders in Virginia like we do 30s and life goes on.
But a possession ban? How many felons in Maryland would that create? And to what end? Because they could. Do these politicians in Annapolis have no respect at all for the rights of peaceful citizens in this state and feel perfectly justified in running roughshod over them, their individual rights and their property rights because they engage in an activity they find distasteful but perfectly legal? Where does it stop? What more do they want?!?
I'm angry. At the utter lack of respect these people have for those who elect them. They are supposed to represent. Not enact their preferred policy choices and biases. And we've seen in hearing after hearing where those who don't like gun owners just get up and walk out.
For the first time, I truly fear for what lies at the other end of this process should they succeed this time. I think they may push to pass such things in the House "just because" and to hell with the thousands of us that would show up. We're just residents and constituents, nobody important and it doesn't appear to matter anyway. They just keep getting re-elected.
If it does happen, what do we do then? Do we meekly turn our guns in to the state or move them out of state? Continue to be grateful they might let us keep a Garand and a 8 round enbloc? Or become potential criminals or forced to make a choice on keeping our valuable property, which represents hours of our lives we don't get back? All at the say-so of a bunch of suits in Annapolis who have no respect at all for anyone who lives here.
I need to get this out here. I need to know there are others like me. I am trying to channel my anger, my rage, at how a monster in a senseless event is being used for a naked power grab the likes of which I think none of us has ever seen.
Matt
Edgewater, MD
