The sign outside the House Economic Matters Committee says reporters must get permission to film or tape committee proceedings.
But an attorney assigned to the Maryland General Assembly said the "poorly worded" sign, which was not outside the other five House committee meeting rooms, reflects a legal limitation and is not an attempt to circumvent the state Open Meetings Act.
"It's legal but poorly worded," said Dan Friedman, a lawyer in the Maryland Attorney General's office who is assigned as counsel to the Maryland House and Senate.
State law requires that committees hold open public meetings and allow the public to photograph, record or video the proceedings as long as the methods are unobtrusive. The state Open Meetings Act does not distinguish between the public and the news media and grants reporters no special privileges.
Friedman said members of the press, particularly photographers and television cameras, are given access to areas of the hearing room that are off limits to the general public. The sign was meant to make that process more orderly and allow committee staff the opportunity to plan for such coverage.
"This is a reasonable time, place, and manner restriction and not an illegal prior restraint," Friedman said.
I pointed out that the sign could have a chilling effect on the public who might wish to record or photograph a meeting they attend.
In 2006, Deborah Belcher was ordered by a Maryland State Police trooper to stop recording the voting session of the House Judiciary Committee as it took up the issue of a constitutional amendment that would have limited the definition of marriage to men and women. Belcher is the sister of Del. Don Dwyer.
The Open Meetings Compliance Board later found that the committee had the right to have a policy regarding the recording of meetings, but that preventing Belcher from videotaping the hearing violated the state Open Meetings Act.
It appears this issue will have a faster resolution.
Friedman said late Thursday afternoon that the poorly worded sign would be replaced in the next day or two with a more accurately worded one.
Also, as long as it is legal, it wouldn't matter if he was firing an assault weapon. It's like Reagan saying smaller government is a necessity, while simultaneously adding 16,000 positions in the Federal Government.
http://www.offthegridnews.com/2013/02/04/why-you-want-a-curio-and-relic-license/
That was the main reason police carried them and still do. http://survivalcache.com/survival-shotgun-6-reasons-you-need-one/ Let's not forget the Ted Bundy. Tim Micveigh, or John Gacy were effective killing machines and did not use a gun.
With distance, the shotgun, a CQB weapon (Close Quarters Battle), is a powerful tool matching even 9mm Sub-Machine guns in projectile-rates fired. However. with distance comes decreased accuracy. Additionally, shotguns are 'less lethal' than assault rifles, whose known advantage is deeper bullet penetration and more damage to victims and especially difficult to repair exit damage on victims. Try getting shot in the leg with a shotgun pellet vs. an AK-47 FMJ round. The 2" hole in the back of your leg would probably make you reconsider your stance. Why is a weapon that does this much damage even allowed to be in a civilian's hands?
"My new boots, with 6.25 inch heels - already used to hurt and humiliate one (un)lucky man. Do you like them? Would you like to lick them clean?" That's just not right Old Man......
This is what I comment on You Tube. http://www.youtube.com/all_comments?v=qVGB05ALVrs I'll forward his comments to see if he went too far this time. Hacking is a crime both at the state and federal level. Public figure or not (I am not an elected official) he printed false information.
Keep it clean and on topic, please.
Also, in regards to your comment on shotguns being used by police. They are used by police for Close quarters only. Their use is not because of their power and spray at a distance - instead it is for power in an up close firefight with an offender - think "stopping power". An assault weapon with a high-cap mag is a comparable weapon in no way except that it is also used by law enforcement following the North Hollywood BoA robbery - which precipitated the necessity for law enforcement officers to be more heavily armed as a result of their being severely outgunned by citizens who are able to legally obtain military grade weapons and use them for illegal purposes.
With all that firepower the 2 perpetrators were the only fatalities.
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=FLc0DBR30IHcnWO2Z3MBXjdg
We are all dying to know if you went and if you didn't why since you stated a few times you were going. Were you lying again Steve? If you were lying about going to NO we should know so we can add that to what we read from you and realize we cannot beLIEve anything you type. If you are willing to lie about something like going on a private jet to NO and hang in the French Quarter for a few days, than nothing you type is to be believed is it?
All I was pointing out is that this precipitated a sea change in law enforcement outfitting, and a shotgun is a known less-lethal option for mid-quarter combat.
Go Ravens!
Didn't your friends find it odd that you were on this site more than with them having a good time? You were posting from early Friday through the evening and then through Saturday all day. And you expect us to believe you?
He may hold the mortgage on your house or he may be the guy who bags your groceries. I think that there are some posters here who are just plain naive and trying to catch up in a digital world.
"I am aware that the guns were "illegally modified"" You stated they were bought legally! Now you say you knew they weren't? Huh? The ONLY people able to purchase "military grade" (a new term in this debate) firearms are those who hold a Federal Class 3 license. No one else can "legally". "Military grade"? What is that? If the Congress and the President in 1932 thought they could outright BAN the sale of full automatic "military grade" firearms, why did they not ban the sale? they knew it would violate the Constitution therefore they created a license scheme. Just as they will not ban the sale of semi automatic firearms.
There is no evidence they were purchases legally! None!