Insider Politics Blog

The New Game In Town

Sen. Jim Brochin says trend of school shootings is driven by people who want to "kill as many as we can."

Recent mass shootings around the country are being driven by people intent on killing as many as possible in order to set a record, according to state Sen. Jim Brochin. "There's a new game in town and it's: 'Let's go to a school and kill as many people as we can and beat the record,'" Brochin said, speaking of high capacity ammunition magazines and the mindset of shooters in incidents such as shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT. There was also a shooting at Perry Hall High School on the first day of school. The senator made the comments on the C4 Show on WBAL 1090 AM during a discussion of gun control legislation recently passed by the Maryland General Assembly. Brochin, who represents the 42nd District, voted in favor …

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Poll: Majority of Marylanders Want Stricter Gun Laws

A survey by Goucher College finds support on issues from banning assault-style weapons and ammunition magazines holding more than 10 rounds to fingerprinting and prohibitions on owning weapons for persons who are involuntarily committed.

From bans on assault-style weapons and high capacity ammunition magazines to fingerprinting anyone purchasing a gun, a new poll finds that a majority of Marylanders want stricter state gun laws. Eighty-two percent of those surveyed in a poll conducted by the Sarah T. Hughes Field Politics Center at Goucher College believe those purchasing a gun should be fingerprinted. The poll also found: Last month the Maryland Senate approved sweeping changes to gun laws that requires a license for all handgun purchases, bans of sales of assault-style weapons and ammunition magazines holding more than 10 rounds, requires fingerprinting for new gun purchases, and prohibits anyone involuntarily committed involuntarily for mental health reasons or who …

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icetrout

2:31 am on Saturday, March 30, 2013

Been wondering why Archbishop Lori hasn't excommunicated Scum O'Malley & his baby murderers...   more ›

Legislators Take Aim at Gun Legislation

Hundreds head to Annapolis to testify for and against a package of bills that would tighten gun regulations in Maryland.

Gun control supporters and opponents descended on a hearing room in Annapolis to debate a package of bills that is likely to be as divisive as any issue during the 90-day General Assembly session. Gov. Martin O'Malley said his legislation was driven by the shootings in Newtown, CT. and more than 500 shooting deaths in Maryland last year. "We are still losing too many of our citizens to gun violence," O'Malley said. "There's no such thing in our state as a spare American." Hundreds gathered outside the State House Wednesday morning, hours before O'Malley was to testify, to rally against the proposed laws. A line of people waiting to testify stretched outside the Senate office building. More than 500 people signed up to testify even though …

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Chris W

6:11 am on Friday, March 8, 2013

Once again Steve is right and everyone else is wrong.   more ›

Pro-Gun Protesters Rally Outside Maryland State House

Hundreds gather on the day Gov. Martin O'Malley testifies in favor of gun legislation he proposed earlier this year.

By Rashee Raj Kumar Capital News Service Hundreds of gun rights advocates rallied outside the State House Wednesday in opposition to new gun control measures proposed by Gov. Martin O’Malley. As O’Malley testified in favor of new gun restrictions before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, protesters outside said his proposals to ban assault weapons, limit magazine sizes and strengthen licensing measures would erode their rights. Jay Hanlon, a retiree from Silver Spring, held a sign arguing that the Second Amendment protected gun ownership, including assault weapons, as a check against “Domestic Enemies.” “That’s the weapon we need to defend ourselves against a government gone bad—against our oppressors,” said Hanlon, 65. Kerry …

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Adrian Reast

10:53 am on Sunday, March 31, 2013

How can a union thug call anyone a nut case Steve? Its delusional thinking and at least under the new gun laws people like Steve would be banned from owning guns. Adrian Reast   more ›

Metal Detecting Wands See Light Duty In County Schools

Nearly six dozen metal detecting wands bought in October have been used just three times.

Metal detecting wands purchased after a school shooting in Perry Hall have been used just three times since October and have not caught any students carrying weapons in Baltimore County public schools. County police used the wands in searches of students at Kenwood High, Sparrows Point High and the Western School of Technology since the purchase and implementation of the equipment in October. No weapons were recovered in any of the searches, according to Elise Armacost, a police department spokeswoman. "We don't have a lot of weapons in Baltimore County schools," Armacost said. "It's not surprising that we didn't recover any." County police were issued the wands in October. Officers use them only in the case of a suspicious circumstance, …

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Kamenetz, Johnson Call For Tougher Gun Laws

Gun Club official asks elected leaders to "refrain from publicly exploiting this heartbreaking tragedy until after the victims had been returned to their families and loved ones."

UPDATED (3:30 p.m.)—Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz and Police Chief Jim Johnson Monday called for tougher gun laws in the wake of a shooting at a Connecticut elementary school that left 26 dead, including 20 children. "Such a discussion is not an assault on the Second Amendment," Kamenetz said. "This is an assault on assault weapons. The founding fathers granted Americans the right to bear arms but like other rights in the Constitution, that right is not absolute, and it is subject to reasonable limits." But a representative of the Associated Gun Clubs of Baltimore said it is too early to discuss stricter gun laws. Kamenetz Monday read from an open letter he said he was sending to state and federal officials. [A copy of the …

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Mark Underwood

4:50 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013

For lack of a better phrase, no. How about Coup D'Etat? Whether or not it is possible and how it would be possible currently is irrelevant. I'm stating what the amendment says/means. Which, by the way, has not been repealed and can be as easily as the first. Good luck on that and the rest of the first ten amendments. Having and needing a ready army is the point of what I was saying so we agree on…   more ›