



1. Call to Action – This Saturday, March 23 in Annapolis

2. The Tide Has Turned – Momentum on Our Side

3. A Note of Appreciation for Pro 2A Lawmakers



Call to Action – This Saturday, March 23 in Annapolis:





Plan to stand in the gallery of the General Assembly this Saturday and watch your lawmakers in action. We don't need a rally - all we need is a silent presence. They need to feel us watching them. Make no mistake - our momentum is very real.



They need to be reminded that while O'Malley has no election in 2014, they enjoy no such luxury. They need to know we will be there in 2014 to educate the people on their rights and about those who protect them.



Plan to show up at 9AM to be seen by our lawmakers on the steps of the State House and again in the gallery as they conduct business on Saturday. We must demonstrate that our resolve remains strong. We will not compromise.



In the mean time, you need to call



Ask them where they stand on gun control. Be respectful and understand that those who you assume to be on the side of the governor may be quietly working to end the most draconian gun control scheme ever imagined in this state. Remember: if they all were on his side, this would be over by now. Be nice to your delegates - you never know who might be a quiet friend.





The Tide Has Turned – Momentum is on Our Side



The Washington Post today recognized what we have been saying all along: the tide has shifted and your voices have changed the landscape of this fight.



Governor O’Malley and SB 281 are on the run. Don't just take our word for it - look to the people quoted in the article who were all staunch supporters of the Governor's bill. Even they admit that a ban on the most commonly owned rifle in America won't do a thing to stop criminals or maniacs intent on doing harm. Passing more laws against the law-abiding does not stop crime. It only makes new criminals out of all of us.



Your voices are being heard. It is time to review the details of the talks held between the Governor’s office and lawmakers from all sides:



1. Everyone agrees the ban on so-called assault weapons is too much. Telescoping stocks and pistols grips do not increase lethality - they make it easier for a wide range of people to use a firearm. They let handicapped, the young and the old alike access firearms for sport or for self protection. Lawmakers are continuing to learn these important details. They are responding to your demands for your rights to be respected. They agree that banning accessibility features is simply unacceptable.



2. They have learned that licensing will not work. It is impossible for the Maryland State Police to implement the licensing system that Governor O'Malley wishes to create. They know that current backlogs create an unconstitutional denial of rights that needs immediate repair - not an increased workload. While education continues, the current proposal is to amend the law such that any person who has purchased a regulated firearm in Maryland will be exempted from future training and licensing provisions. For those not exempt, the requirement is reduced to a free four hour course that can be taken online. For now.



3. Penalties have been reduced to civil fines rather than criminal charges. Registration will be voluntary and people who do register will have an affirmative defense that they owned the firearm before any registration requirement went into effect. Transportation issues have been resolved. Mental health portions are being rewritten and simplified.



While these changes are most certainly an improvement over the initial proposal, it remains a bad bill. We need your help in opposing and ultimately defeating this bill. We have been clear that we will not compromise on our rights. We would rather have them all stolen from us than for us to surrender even one.



The Governor is not happy. He wants nothing more than to ram his original bill through the General Assembly. He is working hard to claw back from the hits to his original bill, one piece at a time. He is twisting arms to the breaking point and using every trick in the book to get his way. If the Governor had the votes to pass the bill, he would have done so by now. You have been the reason that his bill has not yet been passed. It is not the leadership of MSI or any other group. It is neither lobbyists nor catchy slogans. The single most important factor in the defense of our rights has been your voice and your presence.



It is time to stand again. We don't know when this will be voted. Nobody does. The votes simply do not exist at present. But this Saturday is an opportunity to be seen, be heard and to remind lawmakers once again that we are organized, capable and willing to act.



A Note of Appreciation for Pro 2A Lawmakers



Maryland Shall Issue® would like to extend its gratitude to the following members of the Judiciary and Health and Government Operations committees for their support as we continue the fight against SB 281. Please reach out to these Delegates and express your appreciation for their efforts:



Eric Bromwell

Nic Kipke

Susan Krebs

William Frank

Pat McDonough

Justin Ready

Michael Smigiel

Michael McDermott

John Cluster

Michael Hough

Glen Glass

Neil Parrott

Susan McComas In This Issue. We don't need a rally - all we need is a silent presence. They need to feel us watching them. Make no mistake - our momentum is very real.They need to be reminded that while O'Malley has no election in 2014, they enjoy no such luxury. They need to know we will be there in 2014 to educate the people on their rights and about those who protect them.to be seen by our lawmakers on the steps of the State House and again in the gallery as they conduct business on Saturday. We must demonstrate that our resolve remains strong. We will not compromise.In the mean time, you need to call the Speaker of the House and your Delegates Ask them where they stand on gun control. Be respectful and understand that those who you assume to be on the side of the governor may be quietly working to end the most draconian gun control scheme ever imagined in this state. Remember: if they all were on his side, this would be over by now. Be nice to your delegates - you never know who might be a quiet friend.Governor O’Malley and SB 281 are on the run. Don't just take our word for it - look to the people quoted in the article who were all staunch supporters of the Governor's bill. Even they admit that a ban on the most commonly owned rifle in America won't do a thing to stop criminals or maniacs intent on doing harm. Passing more laws against the law-abiding does not stop crime. It only makes new criminals out of all of us. Recent polling shows that voters in Maryland overwhelmingly oppose gun control . It is time to review the details of the talks held between the Governor’s office and lawmakers from all sides:1. Everyone agrees the ban on so-called assault weapons is too much. Telescoping stocks and pistols grips do not increase lethality - they make it easier for a wide range of people to use a firearm. They let handicapped, the young and the old alike access firearms for sport or for self protection. Lawmakers are continuing to learn these important details. They are responding to your demands for your rights to be respected. They agree that banning accessibility features is simply unacceptable.2. They have learned that licensing will not work. It is impossible for the Maryland State Police to implement the licensing system that Governor O'Malley wishes to create. They know that current backlogs create an unconstitutional denial of rights that needs immediate repair - not an increased workload. While education continues, the current proposal is to amend the law such that any person who has purchased a regulated firearm in Maryland will be exempted from future training and licensing provisions. For those not exempt, the requirement is reduced to a free four hour course that can be taken online. For now.3. Penalties have been reduced to civil fines rather than criminal charges. Registration will be voluntary and people who do register will have an affirmative defense that they owned the firearm before any registration requirement went into effect. Transportation issues have been resolved. Mental health portions are being rewritten and simplified.While these changes are most certainly an improvement over the initial proposal, it remains a bad bill. We need your help in opposing and ultimately defeating this bill. We have been clear that we will not compromise on our rights. We would rather have them all stolen from us than for us to surrender even one.The Governor is not happy. He wants nothing more than to ram his original bill through the General Assembly. He is working hard to claw back from the hits to his original bill, one piece at a time. He is twisting arms to the breaking point and using every trick in the book to get his way. If the Governor had the votes to pass the bill, he would have done so by now.have been the reason that his bill has not yet been passed. It is not the leadership of MSI or any other group. It is neither lobbyists nor catchy slogans. The single most important factor in the defense of our rights has beenvoice andpresence.It is time to stand again. We don't know when this will be voted. Nobody does. The votes simply do not exist at present. But this Saturday is an opportunity to be seen, be heard and to remind lawmakers once again that we are organized, capable and willing to act.Maryland Shall Issue® would like to extend its gratitude to the following members of the Judiciary and Health and Government Operations committees for their support as we continue the fight against SB 281. Please reach out to these Delegates and express your appreciation for their efforts: