Governor O'Malley has been standing up to the NRA who is seeking to block gun control legislation that he has proposed in Maryland. A post on the official website for the Office of the Governor stated today:
The majority of Marylanders, including many responsible gun owners, support common sense legislation to prevent gun violence. But the PR wing of the NRA, lobbyists for gun manufacturers, and others who want to block any and all gun safety ideas would have you to believe otherwise. For weeks, they’ve been spreading falsehoods and using scare tactics to mislead Marylanders.
They may be shouting louder, but Marylanders know better.
http://www.governor.maryland.gov/...
This was after there was a large turnout of supporters of gun rights at a rally in Annapolis and at a Senate Committee hearing on Governor O'Malley's bill that same day.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
In his testimony on Wednesday, Governor O'Malley stated:
“We choose to take on gun violence this session because every life is precious, every life is needed,” he said. “Is there not something more that we could, and that we should, be doing?”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
Governor O'Malley also sent an e-mail to hunters letting them know that his proposed legislation contained exceptions for hunting rifles and would not interfere with their right to hunt. In that e-mail Governor O'Malley stated:
I also want to take this opportunity to address you directly about the proposal we recently introduced to reduce gun violence. Our goal is to enact common sense proposals to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous criminals, and to try to reduce the risk of a mass shooting like the one that occurred in Newtown.
Let me be clear: We are committed to protecting hunters and their traditions. That’s why we specifically carved out shotguns and rifles from the licensing requirements of our bill.
This bill will NOT impact your ability to introduce a young hunter to the sport and the conservation stewardship ethic borne of that experience.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
The legislation proposed by Governor O'Malley includes
an assault-weapons ban and new licensing requirements that would require gun purchasers to submit to digital fingerprinting. His bill would also seek to enhance school security and expand the number of categories of mental-health problems that can preclude state residents from owning guns.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
After years of seeing elected officials back down from passing gun control legislation due to the opposition of the NRA, I am glad to see Governor O'Malley standing up to the NRA.