According to mrc.org, gun control advocates are getting eight times as much press coverage as supporters of the second amendment. Case in point: while the rather tiny march organized by the optimistically named One Million Moms for Gun Control was covered by CNN, despite barely filling a sidewalk, the massive turnout in Annapolis yesterday in support of gun rights went largely unnoticed. Well, by everyone except the Washington Times that is . . .
Hundreds of gun-rights supporters who gathered Wednesday in Annapolis are now lined up to testify against a proposal by Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley that would ban assault weapons and require residents to obtain a license before purchasing handguns.
The Second Amendment advocates held a morning rally outside the State House to show their disapproval in advance of this afternoon’s Senate hearing on the legislation.
The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee hearing began at 1 p.m. and was expected to stretch to at least 9 p.m., as more than 400 people were signed up to testify as of 3 p.m. Senate staff members said hundreds more were lined up outside the Senate legislative building, hoping to submit testimony.
“We have come to a point where hysteria is ruling the debate,” Tom Morris Jr., a gun-rights advocate and former correspondent for the TV series “America’s Most Wanted,” told the committee. “There’s so much in [the bill] that’s detached from reality.”
This has been happening all across the country. Meetings have been swarmed by people arguing to protect their right to keep and bear arms from government infringement, from the Newtown meetings to local rallies at state capitols. And while its effect on the politicians has yet to be seen, there’s no doubt that it’s damned impressive to watch.
In fact, it’s up for debate whether these hearings will have any impact on the legislative agenda whatsoever. Call me cynical, but I see these as exercises in confirmation bias. In the minds of the pols, if tons of gun control advocates come out then obviously the population is clamoring for more restrictions and more gun control is the right thing to do. But if tons of gun rights “nut jobs” turn up, then obviously they’re trying to bully the politicians into promoting murder. Heads you win, tails I lose.
This isn’t just conjecture, either. One gun rights supporter stated to the committee “ignore this crowd at your future political peril,” to which Brian E. Frosh (judicial committee chairman) stated under his breath “I’ll take my chances.”
One of our readers, Kilroy Collins (whose photos adorn this post) made it out to the Maryland rally and snapped some pictures to share with us. He had this to say about the rally:
After driving in circles due to the President also visiting Annapolis today, I got to Lawyers Square around 11:20am. There were approximately 1,500-2,500 people there, sporadically cheering the pro-gun speakers. Many people had signs, and there was a homemade billboard truck driving laps around the block. People were circulating petitions and handing out pro-gun stickers. I didn’t see any counter-protestors outside, and only saw 4 inside the Senate building.
At the Senate building, I got in line to hand in written testimony and sign up for oral testimony. The line went from the street, through the courtyard, along the halls, and upstairs to the hearing room. Rumor was that there were hundreds of people already signed up to testify. At 1300, I gave up on registering to speak, and went into an overflow room to hear the Judicial Committee session. It was standing room only, with people overflowing into the halls.
Governor O’Malley spoke in support of the bill, followed by the Lt. Governor, and various other government representatives. They were followed by various pro-gun associations and industry groups, including Beretta USA, NRA-ILA, and NSSF. The session was then organized into hour blocks of alternating viewpoints, despite the vast majority of attendees being against the bill. The senate building actually had to be closed because there were too many people waiting to get in. Tables were set up outside and people continued to sign up to speak.
As I’m writing this, the testimony is ongoing, with enough people signed up to keep testimony going for a few days.
Democracy in action is a beautiful thing.
Good to hear the commentary from SGT Lunsford. However, I’m guessing since it was on Farrow’s show it was only seen by about a dozen people, and half of them muted it when they heard the SGT making pro-gun comments.
Hey I agree with those of you who use the stupidity of democrats as a justification that this is real. But if you read the whole thing, you realize it has to be a troll. The snark is just to perfect.
It took two months to list 4 guns? And they still got one name wrong. There’s a confidence-builder for you.
Frosh is an arrogant a$$. It would not shock me at all if his reported statement’s are true. I am from his district and already plan to do everything I can to get him voted from office… though I will admit its an uphill battle given the liberal district his is in.
I always wondered if it is arrogance or stupidity… while Frosh sits in the capitol guarded by those with (what he would call) assault weapons, he authoritatively proclaims that they have no use for defensive purposes.
What? No rails? Where aim I gonn but my foregrip and light? I’ll wait for the tactical version.
Should have been a black, 150z hammer….
They could have named it the “SC-15” (straight claw 15oz) – AND they should put a handle shroud (you know, that shoulder thing that goes up) on it
My experience is they don’t listen to individuals but listen to numbers. Not to say there aren’t those that will go one way or the other no mater what but those “fence sitters” who are more motivated by how the issue will effect them getting re-elected then anything else are the ones we have the greatest change with. If these members see themselves losing if they vote for the bill you will see the bills changed or plan off killed. That is how bills like this have been killed or greatly watered down in MD in the past. We just have to keep up the pressure.
Thanks
Robert
I await for the court cases. Its tough for the liberal media to bury those, Randy
I look forward to the first recipeint of a shot from the splooge gun to promptly sue HM.gov for a flagrent abuse of their human rights.
I am doing what I think is prudent—no more rounds used until this BS stops. Gotta conserve.
I need a plinking hammer, something to use to teach my neice how to hammer. Preferably with some pink furniture.
These other two must have deserved it. The police are highly trained. In fact, police and military are the only groups that should have access to firearms. This is just another biased example of people twisting the facts to fit their agenda.
Can’t we report honestly in this country?
Cops pulled over a totally innocent person because they were driving a car that matched the description of a suspected criminal. The car probably looked just like 10,000 similar cars in the metro LA area. Upon pulling the car over, the cops probably did a felony stop and started screaming unintelligible commands at a terrified driver. When the driver did what Cop #1 said (but the opposite of what Cop #2 said) or when the driver was standing in the open with his / her hands above his / her head, a cop randomly fired at the person and nearly murdered them.
Yet another isolated incident of a cop killing / nearly killing an innocent person.
No, I’m not gonna read crazy mans manifesto. Wonder what sort of banned guns he’s using on his little quest to clear his name by covering it in blood?
I am wondering if companies (specifically manufacturers) start pulling out, if this is really the time to do it. With demand greatly overwhelming supply, if a company like Remington (a previous article suggests they arent keeping up at all) were to pack its bags now and slow manufacturing further, I see more harm than good
Silly people, don’t you realize it’s do as I say, not as I do?