This comment is loaded with irony, considering crime in Maryland is lower then ever. In some cases, historically low.
http://www.goccp.maryland.gov/msac/crime-statistics.php

How about you look at the FBI crime data for firearm-related crime, state-by-state? In which case Maryland ranks #12 for the worst rate. Combine us with DC's crime rate, and we're #3.

Maryland crime rates may be dropping, but they're dropping all over thanks to new technology and police techniques. Just because we're at new levels of low for us, doesn't make us "safe" by any sense of the word compared to the rest of the country.

Crime where I lived has gone up dramatically. I would tell anyone here, if you live in Baltimore, you know what crime is. I know what crime is. My daughter loved to go to ranges just to relax. She did not own a gun. She should have. She moved to Federal Hill, and that move killed my beautiful daughter. For every nutty liberal on here, lose a child to crime and then come and talk to me about gun ownership. She would be alive had she had a gun.

CI: State by state? It's always been that way. As I noted below, location, location, location.

You look at a national level. I look at the internal state level. The latter is the only reasonable methodology to compare against. Socioeconomics variables vary greatly from state to state.

Summary: Maryland, as a result of being in the mid-atlantic and the wealthiest state (or one of the top 3-4, year by year) in the country, will of course have more crime compared to many other states as a result of this.
However, comparatively speaking within the State, Maryland itself is about as safe - in some cases safer - from a crime standpoint as it's ever been.

Both of our facts aren't really disputable. It's all about the context. My context is comparing my own state to it's own history.

A crime-infested cesspool that decreases its crime year-to-year doesn't stop being a cesspool, no matter how you wish to compare the statistics.

Comparing state-to-state works fine, especially if you compare similar areas. You say Maryland is the way it is because of its wealth and location. New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Delaware, and Virginia are all Atlantic states that are wealthy. Yet, Maryland is higher than all but Delaware for gun-related crime. Why is that? Why is it that Virginia has looser gun laws than all of them, yet has the same amount or less crime than all but Massachusetts?

If it's not location, wealth, or gun laws, what is causing this?

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

Exactly. I've had half a dozen discussions with people I personally knew who had no idea what "semi-automatic" meant or why civilians would use an "assault weapon". Sure, two-thirds of Maryland want to ban things... but how much of that two-thirds has no education on the topic.

Accessibility is part of the equation, though. That's what you folks aren't factoring in.

Your core complaint about laws don't apply to criminals is a fair one. However, if you make accessibility more challenging, you will inherently reduce the utilization of those weapons somewhat.

If that was true, Tim, then how come some of the most restrictive states (like Maryland) have some of the worst crime rates and some of the loosest states (like Utah) have some of the least crime rates. If gun control and accessibility is the deciding factor, how do you explain those?

These criminals will have access no matter how restrictive you get. Look at alcohol during the prohibition. Drugs right now. If criminals want it, criminals will get it.

If rifles "assault weapons" were used in only used in 2011 to murder 343 people, what accessibility problems will the law effect when there are more of those rifles now than last year in the hands of people? Lowering accessibility to a product that is rarely used in crime is quite the stupid idea. Especially since they are protected under the 2nd and the Heller decision states such.

CI: Guns can cross state lines, you know.
Look at Utah - no one lives there. In the middle of nowhere, heck its a Mormon nation of largely brainwashed Joe Smith followers.
Look at Maryland - in the middle of the east coast drug corridor (NY - Miami). Of course it'll have more gun crime.

However, as I just posted in another thread here, Maryland crime rates are at some of their lowest values in a long time (as of 2011). So any claims that Maryland is a 'crime-ridden mess' isn't entirely truthful.

Also, where are these stastictics that suggest Maryland has one of the worst crime rates? Relative to what? Other states?

"heck its a Mormon nation of largely brainwashed Joe Smith followers. "

You fit into those "ignorant" shoes again Tim. Add the other pair of bigot shoes as well. Go up to an Islamist and insult Mohammad. That is where you probably draw the line eh?

Tim, just go to the FBI website. You can find rates for every state. You then just organize them in increasing order, and you can see which states are worse. Maryland is #12 for total crimes involving firearms, on a per person basis, despite its strict gun laws.

Maybe there are other factors here than whether a state is strict or not?

O'Malley is "The Scum" we were warned about in "Maryland,My,Maryland" 150 years of Federal Occupation have destroyed Maryland... I wish a POX on O'Malley & all his kind!!! Death to Tyrants... God bless the soul of the great Maryland Thespian John Wilkes Booth !

LOL, because allowing citizens to own SEMI-automatic weapons, and allowing them to have magazines of 10 bullets is 'disarming' them.

Right.

I mean, trust me, you'll be able to kill someone who invades your home quite easily with a semi-automatic weapon and 10 bullets.

Assuming you can get to your weapon (because it's in a gun safe, right?), load it (because you are supposed to keep the bullets separate from the guns, right?), and get down to 'open fire' on said invader.

Only idiots have the one firearm for home defense locked away and unloaded!

Tim, your freedom of speech should be restricted to the town square and the printing press. Your right to freedom of speech will not be infringed with such a law.

Tim, that is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Do you even know what a "semi-automatic" is? Do you realize by banning "semi-automatic" weapons, you are banning 100+ years of the most common civilian firearms on the market?

Columbia Independent - learn to read. Seriously.

Sanchez: Once again, resorting to insults, and pathetic ones at that.

here you go buddy,straight from your favorite news source:
http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/04/26/how-to-store-guns-safely-in-your-home/

Why did you mention semi-automatic weapons in the first place? What was the point of emphasizing that style of firearm?

Insults, including yours Tim are usually pathetic. that is why I save them and only use them for others who use them.

"How to store guns safely in your home"

It is not a safe home if you cannot defend it.
Your assumption that you know my favorite news makes you an ASSumer.

CI: I was pointing out how ludricrous it is to think that passing an automatic weapons ban - a fully automatic weapons ban, combined with a magazine reduction to a maximum of 10 bullets, would somehow be 'disarming' people.

The hint that this was my objective (I had hoped) would be the LOL I started the comment with. Sorry if you missed it.

Look, I support the banning of fully-automatic weapons. As I thought noted above, I do not support the banning of semi-automatic weapons...nor do I fully support the banning of semi-automatic "assault rifles".
I also support the requirement of having magazines reduced to 10 bullets. There is no reasonable reason to have a magazine larger. If it takes more then 6-7 bullets to hunt or protect yourself, you've failed. I would not, however, support a magazine reduction lower then 10 bullets, though.

Not everything is black and white. Only the simplistic mind thinks in absolutes.

Tim, your lack of knowledge is astounding. You support a ban on fully automatic weapons? Fully automatic weapons have been effectively banned since 1934! None of the legislation proposed has anything to do with fully automatic weapons, so whether you support it or not is irrelevant.

As for magazines greater than 10, you do realize that most handguns have magazines of 12 or 15, right? And this has been a standard magazine size for decades.

Also, the average criminal can take several rounds and keep going, especially under the influence of drugs. Combine that with the accuracy of your basic citizen, and you need 10+ rounds just to have a 100% guarantee the assailant is hit and stopped. Sure, we could reduce that to 90% certainty, but do you want to feel 90% safe in your home and hope that other 10% of the time never happens?

Tim says "CI: I was pointing out how ludricrous it is to think that passing an automatic weapons ban - a fully automatic weapons ban..."

Tim, fully automatic firearms are not the firearms in debate here are they? It is semiautomatic mostly AR15 style ugly forearms with magazines that curve.

In this debate handguns play a much diminished role. It is "assault weapons" which no handgun sold in Maryland is classified is. Can you buy them? Sure if you got no job or home or children you support with one maybe 2 wives in your life. and nothing to lose. Then you can use it as it was not intended which is to cause deliberate harm to another and to break at least a dozen laws. Me? As much as you may look at me as a gun nut ignorant repube? I have far too much to lose if I used a firearm for what I know would be illegal. Count millions like that who you disparage so easily.

And Tim, in the early 1930's when the ban on military style, as the military was the driver of the most popular most used civilian arms at the time, was being debated, the Mafia and organized crime was growing. The Mafia was more and better armed than the police and that even spurred the FBI to expand dramatically and that was overseen by JE Hoover.
The Feds were more attuned to the US Constitution then and knew BANNING the sale of the "popular" firearms was unconstitutional. Thus the RESTRICTION of the sale of fully automatic to those licensed to own them.
Now they want to BAN the sale and some want the ownership and transfer and resale of those firearms. They could not ban FA but they want to ban SA rifles that were used in 323 murders in 2011. Hands feet and feet killed 726 people the same year.
FBI UCR

And today the military and domestic LE is the driver of what is "the most popular" and in the most hands still today. The AR15 style in all calibers and handguns. The main manufacturers count on military and local LE for their bread and butter.
Only in mass production and because of government contracts do we the people get a fine firearm for a good value.

First, I will take the abuse for not realizing that fully automatic weapons were already banned. Touche'.

As far as the magazine argument though, it doesn't matter what the magazine sizes are now. I see now that there are many pistols with 17 bullets - this is positively nuts. My dad owned a Smith and Wesson that held 8. If you own a gun, you should know how to use it. Unless I'm (again) mistaken, the whole focus of these gun law proposals is to reduce the probability of mass murders, right? Having a gun itself is quite the deterrent to the unsuspecting criminal.

Sanchez: We are all ignorant on some topics. This particular one just demonstrates that even I don't know everything about everything. I do enjoy learning, however, in the unusual scenarios where this isn't the case. This place is pretty good for that, especially on a local political/neighborhood level, if you can get past all the trolls on each side of the philosophical fence. Reading your last comments like this, I wonder why you don't post in this manner a bit more often.

Well, the PURPORTED focus of these gun laws is to reduce crime and prevent mass shootings. Unfortunately, there is no evidence that restricting law-abiding adults in their purchases will do anything of the sort. In contrast, there is evidence that restricting law-abiding adults from having the tools for self-defense, while simultaneously NOT fixing a justice system that is basically a revolving door for offenders, could lead to an INCREASE in crime.

Steve, do you support the "rebels" in Syria or the Government of al-Assad?
Are the "rebels" freedom fighting patriots or terrorists?

No answers forthcoming Westboro Stevie?

Isn't that what early subjects of the King called them selves when they split with the king - Patriots? We are allowed, even encouraged to rebel against bad government decisions. Read the Federalist papers. Read Ben Franklin's commentary on founding a nation.

Another low information liberal nut heard from. I bet you voted for the idiot Obama as well. Our country is being slowly destroyed and you low information nuts looking for handouts, just keep it up. Get a life.

I dunno and I really don't care. I don't live in Syria so I don't support anybody there. From what I read some of the rebel groups are Al Queda. They would be terrorists as delineated by Dubya List of Terruh Groups.

But then again, here in the United States we have domestic terrorists such as the Oaf Keepers and the Threepers.....

'Low Information" I don't watch Fox News. Only dumb people watch Fox.

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/attytood/CONFIRMED-Watching-Fox-News-makes-you-stupider.html

The government is not scared of armed people. Please. We aren't in the middle ages anymore.

The Second Amendment was written with the idea of protecting the people against the government, but that isn't realistic in the 21st century.

What is realistic is the English common law that the Amendment was based on. That is the right of the people to use firearms to defend themselves, their families, and their property.

Colin, you are right on the money and so very right. Our Liberal Govt wants to control the people. Its all about taking over and controlling the masses. If we allow that to happen, we have lost our freedoms and our country

I note this blog is full of liberal nuts. The Governmen wants your gun, and they want to control you. Its all about control with the current nut in the white house. Chavez had nothing on Obama. Control, and do as I say, not what I do. If we did that we would all play golf, never work, never pay taxes and live off everyone else. Gun Control is a means to control the people. If you wake up and someone is standing over you, or you are boating, and they board your boat (yes, they do) who you gonna call??????????????? I really don't need to hear from any liberal, low information nut to decide how to live my life. Yes, I live in Maryland, and Yes, I have forever. Stop trying to control the people. Gangs, criminals will always have guns. You will not and then what do you do?

Bobbie, the words "you are nuts" comes to mind.

The government is not "scared of the people." What part of their weapons are bigger than any you or your hatriots could possibly own don't you understand? The big, bad government has sonic, large ballistic, biological, chemical, and all manner of other weapons that your motley assemblage of hand-fired weapons could ever compete with.

And yeah, you should be able to have such weapons as you might reasonably need to defend yourself. If you know how to use your weapon then 10 rounds should be enough unless you're being invaded by a mob.

The strange thing is that I nor any of my friends or family, and I would be willing to bet anyone reading this that supports gun rights was questioned in that poll. You see you can sway a poll to reflect any way that you want by asking like minded people. By what I witnessed in Annapolis on multiple days was that the supporters of gun rights FAR EXCEEDED the numbers opposed to them.

Why? because it disagrees with your point of view therefore it has to be wrong?

That's pretty freakin' narcissistic.

Kettle meet pot!

Robert, you wouldn't mean like the Romney polls that Karl Rove was believing, do you?

I imagine all of us are educated. That does not give you street smarts or make you smart. Book smarts is very different than understanding our Govternment. our constitution, and our bill of rights. I bet hardly anyone on here ever took political science classes or learned about how the Government is suppose to work, or even understands what being A democratic means, or what a Republican stands for. I ask people that are democratic, and they cannot tell me. Its all about free stuff and the Govt telling them what to do, typical low information voters.

Bobbie, you apparently have not passed basic English, let alone know what any of us have studied or have degrees in. You said, "even understands what being A democratic means". Please go look up the definition of ignorance and look for you picture.

FIFA we get his point you grammar nazi.

It's unproveable but is a quote attributed to him. However here are some other quotes that can be proven. Not surprised you find it funny to laugh at others constitutional rights. That's the liberal way and it's not funny. They dismiss the Constitution as toilet paper.

o free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms. The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government"

-- Thomas Jefferson, 1 Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

"Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look upon the act of depriving a whole nation of arms, as the blackest."

-- Mahatma Gandhi

"One of the ordinary modes, by which tyrants accomplish their purposes without resistance, is, by disarming the people, and making it an offense to keep arms."

-- Constitutional scholar Joseph Story, 1840

"When I held the gun in my hand I felt a tremendous surge of power, and suddenly I knew how GOD must feel when he holds a gun."
~ Homer Simpson

Same feeling liberals get when they take over state and local governments and ignore the public. Good point.

Now I understand. I just had to do the research.

"Every Communist must grasp the truth: Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun." Mao Zedong

Tyranny comes in several shades.

"Guns are an abomination,"

~Richard Nixon

"Steve is a troll."
Everyone.

“There’s no reason why on the street today a citizen should be carrying loaded weapons.”

~Ronald Reagan

Actually he did, but not in the exact words.

http://wafflesatnoon.com/2012/12/16/to-conquer-a-nation-first-disarm-its-citizens-is-this-quote-from-hitler/

All good words and sound nice, but I suspect you are a person that believes you have mastered it all and have all the answers. A typical liberal low information voter. I bet you voted for Obama and belives all the BS he shoves at the public.
A kool aid drinker for sure.

Bobbie, sheeple-talk, kool-aid talk, libbie-talk is not welcomed here. The talk here is more venal, nasty and original. You need to find a different network to watch.

You need a mentor, too. I suggest B.O, Seepie, and the venerated JoeBlob.

You show promise though. You already really suck.

Advice from an economic illiterate 1ke who stated that no one is paying for the debt because it is Federal money? May as well ask Bobby Brown how to treat women.

Did you dissociate for a moment? Forget that you ...http://bit.ly/YujDMh

Almost every mass murderer was "law abiding" right up until the time they pulled the trigger.

The phrase "law abiding" has to be the most overused phrase ever. It's like the NRA has directed the Gunbots to try and work into every other sentence they speak/post.

Almost every drunk driver was "law abiding" right up until the time they drank and drove so no one should own a car because of the possibility they will drive drunk.

Steve wants to disallow firearm ownership to all because of what MAY happen. What a great idea.

So in your incoherent mind JoeBlob we should do away with DUI laws because the "Drunks are going to drink and drive anyway."

So in your incoherent mind Steve/Jack we should do away with firearms because some insane person will shoot someone.
Only form the mind of Westboro Steve!

Don't blow your nose JoeBlob I think your brain is melting.

Now THAT comment Westboro Steve is the height of your intellectual ability!

Those "law-abiding citizens" are the ones reselling the guns, OBVIOUSLY. Hence the OBVIOUS need for legislation. Obvious for anyone who thinks beyond the truly low-IQ "criminals don't follow laws!" argument.

Law-abiding citizens who are listed in a federal and state database as owning an assault weapon are not going to sell that weapon to a criminal. If they did, the criminal killed someone with the weapon, and the police ran the serial number on the weapon, they would arrest the original owner for illegally selling the weapon. To legally transfer ownership of a weapon, the purchaser has to take the weapon to a licensed dealer that runs the same background check on the new owner. Try doing some research before opening your mouth.

Idiocy is in heavy supply to jagoff. Making absurd accusations with blanket statements is just stupid.

You are just playing the NRA silly Buggers game. Adam Lanza's mother's AR wasn't registered. You are trying to conflate Assault Weapon with Fully Auto.

Steve: All of the new articles I read said that Adam Lanzas mothers weapons were registered. Where did you read that they weren't? One woman made poor choices in her life, by teaching her mentally unstable son how to shoot her guns, and by not keeping the guns locked up so no one but herself could access them. One persons bad choices should not set a precedent for the rest of the country. There will always be a few who make poor choices in life, which lead to loss of life, and all of the laws in the world cannot prevent that. If you believe otherwise, we should ban everyone from obtaining a drivers license, and ban alcohol, since a few people have driven while drunk. Oh wait, people would still drive and would brew their own alcohol.....

That NRA talking point analogy is dumb. If you take that analogy to it's conclusion then that would be like eliminating all DUI laws because "drunks are going to drink and drive anyway." So why do we need laws against drunk driving law?

TrueBlueGT, Westboro Steve denies everything his tiny mind cannot comprehend.
He has denied so many truths and facts i lost count. He would deny water is wet if someone not him claimed so.

That's ridiculous. Gun ownership isn't banned in Chicago.

You talk about idiotic comments then you make exactly that. How has banning drugs worked for stopping criminal accessibility? How did banning alcohol work during the prohibition?

If you stop citizens from legally purchasing guns, you won't stop the flow of guns. The black market will still be used. Straw purchases from across the border will still be used. You will little to reduce the crime rate and will likely increase it as you disarm the public.

And yours are at the top of the list jagoff. King of Stupid!

Thankfully what idiots like jagoff think is irrelevant to the civil rights we enjoy.
He seems to abuse his freedom of speech with every inane comment he makes.

Baltimore city is known for there illegal guns. No they dont get them from home owners, unless they steal them. Many come from out of state and have the serial number removed. If they are caught they might get a night in jail, if a up scale citizen is caught. They can never own a gun again, plus I don't think the up scale citizen knows anything about the black market.

You do know the difference between civilian firearms labeled "assault weapons" and military firearms, right?

His best line was "just a garden variety slap in the face" while talking about domestic violence to a bunch of women.

Or promoting the Oscar Pistorius Self De fence Course of "just fire a couple blasts through he door."

We civilians cannot own military style weapons unless we purchase a Class3 Federal license.

No, and I really don't care to.

I think the VP was trying to make a point.

"We civilians cannot own military style weapons unless we purchase a Class3 Federal license."

That's not true. You can go online and buy a Barrett .50 calibre setup identical to the military model. There are lots of civillian models identical to the military models.

The VPs statement was that he knows jack about guns. Which you just turn around and echoed, showing the same about you.

Get a clue and come back when you know something.

Semantics. The 50cal Barret is never used in crimes in the US and who can afford $3500 to $10,000 and $3 a round?

Semantics. In your entire blathering pablum here you say "assault weapons" are AR 15 types and now it is a firearm not used by most civilians in any manner

The 50cal Barret is never used in crimes in the US, except for some of the Sinola drug terrorists who got them form Eric Hoolder, and who can afford $3500 to $10,000 and $3 a round?
I do know they are a blast to shoot but only a few times a day!

"I think the VP was trying to make a point."

You take what Crazy Uncle Joe says as advice? Do you go outside on your second floor bedroom deck, you know we all have them, and "fire off 2 blasts into the air" from your 2 round double barrel 12 ga shotgun? Or "just fire 2 blasts through the door"?
Even his son the AG of Delaware had to make a call to dad to keep him and those like you who take his advice, from going to jail. In jail you don;t just get "a garden variety slap in the face".

And all that in the last 30 days. If ANY Republican said those things they would be banished from civilization.

Hey, Columbia Independent - You don't know jack about what I know about guns.

You presume that someone must be fluent in firearm technology to discuss whether there should be more restrictive gun laws - how about you find a clue and then come back.

Joe, my Sanchez fool - Joe Biden is crazy like a fox. He knows what he is saying.

As for your Republican comment - CPAC has started, and they refused to invite Chris Christie, one of the best chances they have to win the White House. Last year, before Lyin' Ryan was part of the Biggest Loser Ticket he said that whatever party won the election would be able to advance their agenda. He just introduced his budget, and it is basically the same one from last year, and he said he wouldn't change it because he can't compromise his values. I guess his comment from last year is only valid if he won.

The GOP is in shambles, so don't try to make a point out of who they would ban from civilization.

I got a real chuckle out of Ted Cruz today trying to go all 2nd amendment in Diane Feinstein's committee meeting. She bitch-slapped him down in no time flat. That boy has some learning to do.

The fact you think "assault weapons" are solely for the military proves you know jack all.

And if you're going to dictate why a firearm should be banned, you better be sure you know the full story on the technology. Otherwise, you're just like any other "witch hunt", calling for bans based on hearsay and ignorance.

Columbia Independent. Obviously you don't.

I don't what?

Columbia Independent - "hearsay and ignorance" - You mean like the 26 people killed in 5 minutes in Newtown?

First, you might want to get your times straight. Lanza's shooting spree was between 10 and 15 minutes.

Second, what does that have to do with military weapons? It doesn't take an "assault weapon" to kill a bunch of people fast. Virginia Tech? Handguns. Fort Hood? Handgun. Northern Illinois University? Shotgun and Handguns.

Your so-called "military weapons" are used in a small portion of mass shootings. If they didn't exist, the nutjobs performing these acts would just have used something else and been just as efficient.

CI- it has nothing to do with it of course. Liberals operate out of emotion rather than reason "never let a good crisis go to waste"

CI - you should try reading the latest news before you blab your pie-hole. There is a post below about this - the latest info from the Hartford Courant dated March 13. I'll duplicate the post here - just in case you have trouble working the scroll keys:

Adam Lanza fired 152 rounds in less than 5 minutes with his AR-15 and he had hundreds of rounds with him when he died.

http://articles.courant.com/2013-03-13/news/hc-newtown-lanza-mass-murderers-20130313_1_adam-lanza-nancy-lanza-lanza-s-newtown

I think, in actuality, it was 151 rounds from the AR-15, and one from a pistol that he used to do himself in.

I'll accept your apology whenever you're ready to give it. (note the correct use of grammar)

And that post is countered below. Not to mention, 1 bullet every 2 seconds is slow; you can fire a pistol faster than that. How many times did he reload during that time?

I'll accept your apology for wasting time and air whenever you're ready to give it. (Note the correct use of a separate sentence in parentheses.)

Honeygo Gal, if Biden had something intelligent it would have been a first.

Is that a serious answer? You really believe they're exactly the same?

Nice "unbiased" source there.

Refute their facts then. You can't.

Steve says "Refute their facts then. You can't."
THAT is as rich as it gets Steve! You always scorn ANY source who you simply disagree with and you NEVER NEVER dispute the facts, even when asked numerous times, but here you are doing a 180? You have not one moral civil bone in your body and blow whatever way it makes you sound less like a confined special needs boy.

I went through the study and couldn't refute anything in it. Maybe JoeBlob you can read it too. I am sure you can find somebody to help you with the big words.

The entire thing is an opinion piece, starting with the discussion of the term militarization. Who determines what that is? Who says that is what's going on? Who says that's a bad thing?

From the get go, this article wants to demonize firearm ownership by suggesting that we're turning civilian gun owners into a bunch of paramilitary anti-government nutjobs. By doing that, it can insinuate that the reasons for high crime rates and mass shootings are because of these people.

There is no fact to refute, because it is opinion.

Bloomberg huh? I wonder how that drink size law is working out in New York for them?

Center for Disease Control.

Steve and his large field of straw men he sets up!
Eric S did not state 'automobile' did he Westboro Steve?
YOU did as the only stat you could find that was anywhere near a talking point you have.

Westboro Steve, since you are the expert on all things, do the CDC and FBI UCR stats match?

We're not dealing with "what-ifs" & "what might be". Stick to today's facts.

" and the other half is so afraid the first half is going to take away their guns away."

Just not so! There is no fear in anything. The only "fear" is that which those who use the line insist is in the debate and on one side only. The FEAR with all due respect, in in those who FEAR the hundreds of millions of us who have never used our firearms for any illegal use, THAT is where the fear lies.

Those of us who believe America cannot be "fundamentally transformed" in less than a lifetime. No one will take our rights or our firearms.

That "2.1 million guns used annually in self defense" statistic was debunked years ago.

Come on Steve, words are cheap, man up and prove what you say. We all know that you are unable to prove your delusional fabrications.

Replace Marylanders with people in general, and you nailed the problem.

hehehe - so true

Judging by the stupidity I see from people like you two, I'm not sure your should be allowed to do more than shovel pig crap, let alone vote or even breed.

Trust me, they are armed to the teeth and self-righteously in charge of life and death.

I think you hit on a career choice, given a healthy subsidy and your sister.

CI you elitist!

Says CI "I'm not sure your should be allowed to do more than shovel pig crap, let alone vote or even breed."

You're not sure my 'what' should be allowed...

You think I should know all the details of 'advanced sporting rifles', but you can't type at a 4th-grade level. Sounds like you should be the one with the shovel...

Have a nice day!

And you're attacking a misspelling ("you" instead of "your"), proves you have nothing to say to rebut the fact you know jack about firearms and aren't qualified to talk about them.

I don't have to know ANYTHING about firearms to know that I don't want to be killed by one that some wacko bought at a gun show or out of the trunk of a car.

And the latest proposed legislation will stop wackos from purchasing guns at gun shows or out of the trunk of a car, how?

Ummm, universal background checks? Gun trafficking laws?

Nothing is foolproof, but you have to start somewhere.

Gun trafficking is already illegal.

Universal background check? It's called NICS and it's already done for any purchase from an FFL. The only way to bypass that is to perform a person-to-person transfer, and Maryland doesn't allow p2p purchases for restricted firearms, including handguns or "assault weapons".

So, again, how does this legislation stop these things that are already restricted?

Your post is well-reasoned and perceptive. Watch what happens now.

Hit it, JoeBlob. Go ahead, Seepy. Slap B.O. awake and bring him to task.

Thanks for posting, Eric S!

Don't we all? Just not reality. Now start hatin'!

Under the 2nd Amendment, can I get a neutron bomb? I mean, are you infringing upon my rights?

I didn't think so.

Funny, according to this he started at approximately 9:35 a.m.

http://bostinno.com/2012/12/17/sandy-hook-shooting-the-attack-adam-lanza-and-nancy-lanza/#ss__274709_274062_0__ss

And according to this, at 9:49 a.m., someone reported the last shots were fired three minutes prior.

http://nhregister.com/articles/2012/12/14/news/doc50cc0897adc1a203744261.txt?viewmode=2

That's a pretty big gap from 9:35 to 9:46 to suggest everyone was killed within 5 minutes. Especially seeing as he went room to room.

Also, the same website has an article that says he wasn't even using the full magazine capacity, instead reloading after as little as 15 rounds were shot.

http://articles.courant.com/2013-01-06/news/hc-sandyhook-lanza-earplugs-20130106_1_adam-lanza-nancy-lanza-yogananda-street

So, how would this have stopped him if he'd just brought a pistol? He could have done the same thing with that weapon, just like the Virginia Tech massacre.

Yeah, I've been on the internet for years, and agree with a lot of that. I think what I've noticed is worse is that the general troll-dom and anger of the internet has spilled over into other media and essentially seems like it's taken over rational discussion. It's hard to have reasonable voting go on when, well, it's really hard to get educated.

I don't know if I'd go that far. I imagine some of it's astroturfing, and some of it truly is people who think for whatever reason they don't have a voice (even though their opinions dominate talk radio and at least one major news station) finding an outlet that covers their local needs.

And I'd frankly say that if you check out the Gothamist world (DCist, Gothamist, SFist, etc.) it's an urban version of the same tactics in many cases, with different politics. Some of that happens here too, just a little less often (the political specifics, not the tactics).

"If increased regulation of guns prevents homicides, suicides, or accidental deaths, how can that be bad?"

Except, it doesn't always do that. Some regulation, sure, like the National Firearms Act of 1934 and the Gun Control Act of 1968, both common sense legislation.

But the Federal Assault Weapons Ban of 1994? The government itself recognizes it did NOTHING and was based on no legitimate reason. This current legislation? Same thing. A bunch of hoopla to make the stupid masses feel safer, when in reality things are no better (and might even be worse).

How naive can you be? The 1994 law was allowed to expire by Republicans (then the majority party) that wanted to snuggle up to the NRA - it had nothing to do with the effectiveness of the law. You should try watching something other than Faux News once in a while.

And after the expiration, did crime suddenly explode? Did we turn into some dystopian future where everyone is running around shooting each other up with "assault weapons"? It's been almost 9 years since it ended, and the only dystopia I see involves our economy.

And I never watch FoxNews. It's not even worth it for the laugh factor. How about you stop presuming someone who doesn't agree with you is some raging Teabagger?

Gee, CI, I was just trying out one of your own tactics on you...

CI loves Breitbart and Daily Caller I bet.

Oh, FIFA, you can't accuse CI of something because even if it is true it will be denied.

Suffice it to say that right-wingnuts believe what they are told.

You didn't answer the question, HH. What was the result of the NAWB on crime, including during and after it expired?

As for the further comments from the peanut gallery, you have to love how in one thread (where I'm an advocate for Later Start Times) I'm accused of being a Liberal, but in this thread (where I'm an advocate for Gun Ownership) I'm accused of being a Right-Wingnut. Which is it, since you all know so much about me?

(Also, what are Breitbart and Daily Caller?)

I wonder if he regrets owning his gun? Was his 2nd amendment rights worth the life of his 10 month old son? For the people who own guns for protection, who protects the innocent from you? I'm sure it's worth it.

Is the stupidity of one man not practicing proper gun safety worth more than every single safe gun owner who has never shot anyone?

On person's stupidity should not label the rest of us. If we're going to make judgments based on that, the human race should just go extinct.

CI says - "If we're going to make judgments based on that, the human race should just go extinct."

A few more Adam Lanzas and James Holmes, and you may see it happen...

This is the kind of thing I'm talking about. Really? Politicizing a tragedy like this is pure and simple trolling.

I hate to feed this, but I'd note that you should consider how you'd feel someone countered your comment with a story about a gun control activist's kid getting killed during a breakin, and noting that the family got what they deserved for not owning a gun.

It's bullshit and any reasonable adult should know better.

I believe this is Mary Ellen Brady under a different screen name.

Tree branches fall and kill people. Your point?

But it's just not "one man" it happens over and over daily. They want to be able to carry guns in public. How would you like to be eating dinner near this guy and his wife?

http://www.kansascity.com/2013/03/06/4104612/man-charged-in-accidental-shooting.html

How many people carry legally in public? How many times has someone, carrying legal in public, caused an accidental death?

Provide for me those numbers and we'll see if it's a likelihood we should be more concerned about.

If they want one, why not? I don't have the money or time for a breed like that, but it's a free country. Or, at least it's supposed to be.

That's a load of Donkey Crap Right Gunner. Even the NRA debunked it.

http://www.nraila.org/news-issues/articles/2012/federal-law-enforcement-agencies-buy-ammunition.aspx?s=DHS+purchase&ps=

This is just one of many instances where a armed law abiding citizen stops a violent crime before anyone is injured or killed. Normally these instances do not make news as they are not politically correct (pro gun). It is highly unusual that a story such as this made it to the main stream news. Although it can be argued that the Huffington Post is not as main stream as one of the larger networks heavily influenced by the government. These larger main stream news outlets would not report on a common law abiding citizen stopping a violent crime without anyone being injured or killed because that citizen was armed and took action. Doing so would send the message "we the people can and will protect ourselves better and more efficiently then the government could ever protect us". This message is the polar opposite of what the current "politically correct" message is (Stand down,do not take action, call 911 and let the government protect you). Needless to say doing so would have ended in the woman's beating or worse, and the criminal would have escaped to assault someone else in the future.

"Man mistakes Pregnant Wife for Intruder. Shoots her twice"

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/latestnews/928771-8/official-finds-no-criminal-intent-in-pregnant-wifes

Two can play that game Steve.
http://www.examiner.com/article/media-blackout-oregon-mall-shooter-was-stopped-by-an-armed-citizen

Standard NRA Propaganda. He says in Chicago they are killing each other - what about the girl who went to the Inauguration and got in the way of a bullet one week later?

"Colion Noir" is a phony set up by the NRA. That's not even his real name.

http://thehowlersden2010.blogspot.com/2013/03/colion-noir-and-nras-scam.html?showComment=1362813431996

He speaks the truth you democrats don't want to hear. He speaks of inner city homicides that goes untold. In 2012 Baltimore had 217, DC had 88, Chicago had 512, Detroit had 344, New York had 414, Oakland had 104 and St. Louis had 113 murders but feel to death ears. Now fast forward to Sandy Hook and we have a epidemic of gun killings.

He's a fraud perpetuated by the NRA. He's lived a privileged life. He's no urban Gangsta. He's never even lived in a inner city. He's like the NRA's version of Herman Cain.

Who cares of his back ground. His message is clear all you anti gunners did not give two craps about gun murders happening in the inner city but once it hit little kids at a school you went nuts and now going to exploit their deaths for your greater good.

And so what if he is Steve. If that is true how is it any different than the constant flow of Hollywood celebrities and liberal elitists advocating for one progressive liberal cause after another as if they are part of the 99% when they are more accurately part of the 0.1% ... the message is still the same, Liberals do not care to fight against inner city gun related violence killing thousands of minority kids every year but as soon as a few dozen white kids are shot they are out in force demanding new gun control laws while still ignoring the real problem.

So I guess what you are saying is people living a privileged life cannot express a conservative view point or want to actually uphold the US Constitution but it is just fine and dandy for them to say what they want if it supports your progressive liberal agenda.

No, this guys and actor. He even has a fake name. He pretends like he is some hip urban youth when he has never even lived in the city. He's fake. He playing to the "I Can't Be a Racist. I had a Black Kid in My 7th Grade Gym Class" crowd.

Tragic as it may be (and it is), inner city gun violence doesn't get the attention of the general population the same way 20 6-year-olds and their teachers do. If that's what it takes...

...Meanwhile, gun nutters go all 2nd amendment on those that seize the opportunity to close some gaps in the law that you can drive a Mack truck through.

JustaBill, don't think for a minute there is some enclave of big city conservatives who give a flying duck about the Second Amendment, the Constitution or anything else your white self is interested in or using as a rationale for gunning. If the average big city resident really thought that government could swim upstream against sentiment preying upon pathological fear of Black people, armed to the teeth and marketing death-in-a-holster, he or she would swear off ever touching one.

As it is misguided people, honestly thinking they can control semi-automatic evil, try like hell to keep predators at bay. Many learn the hard way that guns do not do the trick.

Bill, your struggles have nothing--zero- in common with theirs.

So are most actors that makes millions off of their killing movies then put out propaganda against guns.

Don't you get it? It's phony. It's just another example of the NRA thinking that people (especially it's members) are really stupid.

1ke, Not only do you assume far too much for a person who does not even know who I am, where I grew up, where I live, how much or how little money I earn, much less the color of my skin. The only thing you do know about me is that my political and philosophical ideology is often completely opposite of your own, so you just attempt to attack or discredit me because you seem to be unable to provide a logical response.

Steve, did it ever cross your mind that perhaps they used an actor to protect the identity of the real person the PSAs are based on and even if they are not based on a real person, WHO CARES? The last time I checked PSAs and advertisements are almost always filmed with actors.

For the record, I have never seen these PSAs and quite frankly I don't really care one way or another because I do not need a PSA or advertisement to guide my decision making on issues.

Russell Simmons handed Mr Fake-o "Noir" his arse.

http://globalgrind.com/news/nra-black-people-aint-nobody-got-time-russell-simmons-blog

Russell Simmons. What a role model for the young blacks.
"An Open Letter to the 100 Percent By Russell Simmons
The oldest trick in the book of dirty political tactics and smear campaigns is to attack the supporters of a group by using misdirection, and even lying about someone's motives. This is happening to me for my support of the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement and its related offshoots around the country. Quite honestly, I wear it as a badge of honor. It means the movement is hitting a nerve, and that some in power are scared.
I've been a supporter of OWS since its inception because I BELIEVE it is fighting for the core values of empowerment -- the very idea which serves as a pillar for each of my businesses."

https://www.rushcard.com/index3.aspx

"The Florida Attorney General’s Office has issued subpoenas against five prepaid debit card companies claiming they may be forcing consumers to pay hidden fees each time they make a purchase.

Subpeonas were issued against five prepaid card companies including the makers of the RushCard, a company owned by Def Jam co-founder and hip hop mogul Russell Simmons. The investigation, which is being overseen by Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi through the Economic Crimes Division, will determine if some of these companies misrepresented their products by promising to improve credit scores."
http://www.clutchmagonline.com/2011/06/phat-fraud-russell-simmons-prepaid-credit-card-investigated-for-hidden-fees/

I am happy Steve you attended Hugo Chavez' funeral and met, if you haven't already, the Hollywierdo's like Penn, Jessie Jack$on, Congressmen Democrats Meeks and Delahunt,
etc. Yu da man.

Occupy crimes:
Arson

Occupy Fort Collins – Member arrested, $10 million in damage
Occupy Portland - Member arrested for throwing Molotov Cocktail
Occupy Seattle – Suspicious fire at Bank of America 2.7 miles from camp
Occupy Portland – Three men arrested with homemade grenades

Assault/Threats

Occupy SF – 12 assaults in 24 hours
Occupy LA – 4 assaults including two with knives
Occupy Philly – Man punches woman in the face
Occupy LA – Two assaults including setting someone on fire
Occupy Berkeley – Police respond to three assault calls per night
Occupy Wall Street – Three men threaten the life of a sexual assault victim
Occupy Lawrence – Punch thrown
Occupy Orlando – Knife fight sends man to hospital
Occupy Portland – Multiple assaults within a 24 hr. period
Occupy Toledo – Man assaults police officer after arrest
Occupy San Diego – Woman assaults cameraman
Occupy Victoria – Man dumps urine on city worker
Occupy Vancouver – Two police officers bitten during near riot
Occupy Oakland – Death threats
Occupy Austin – Man in Joker make-up arrested for brandishing knife
Occupy Oakland – Man sets his dog on reporter
Occupy Oakland – Man pulls a knife in camp
Occupy Wall Street – Photographer assaulted

Drugs/Dealing

Occupy Boston – Two drug busts in a week
Occupy Boston – Another drug arrest
Occupy Boston – Heroin dealers busted were living with 6 year old boy directly behind welcome tent
Occupy Portland – First hand account “Drugs. Selling…Heroin. Meth.”
Occupy Portland – Video of open drug use in the camp
Occupy Portland – “I get high“

Fraud

National Lawyer’s Guild member Ari Douglas pretends to be run over by a police scooter

Illness/Death

Occupy Santa Cruz – Ringworm outbreak
Occupy Atlanta – TB outbreak
Occupy Wall Street – Zuccotti lung outbreak
Occupy New Orleans – Man discovered in tent had been dead 2 days
Occupy Portland – Body lice outbreak

Murder

Occupy Oakland – Fatal shooting

Public disturbance

Occupy Dallas – Protesters block bank entrance, 23 arrested
Occupy Vancouver – Mob with bullhorn enters bank
Occupy Wall Street – Protesters block bank entrance, four arrested
Occupier takes a bathroom break in the street
Occupy Vancouver – Occupiers disrupt debate, threaten riot when asked to leave
Occupy Long Beach – Group disrupts city council meeting
Occupy Boston – Three arrested for occupying Burger King
Occupy Oakland – Yelling and nonsense at Burger King
Occupy DC – Group storms AFP event, traps attendees inside

Rape/Sexual Assault

Occupy Philly – Man arrested for alleged rape
Occupy Wall Street – Two sexual assaults unreported to police
Occupy Wall Street – Man arrested for sexual assault, suspect in rape
Occupy Dallas – Sex offender allegedly rapes 14 year old
Occupy Ottawa – Sexual assaults go unreported to police
Occupy Lawrence – Sexual assault reported
Occupy Toronto – Foot sniffer arrested
Occupy Seattle – Man exposes himself to young girls
Occupy Portland – Sexual assault
Occupy Wall Street – Drunk gropes women in Zuccotti Park
Occupy Cleveland – Rape reported after an overnight stay
Occupy Glasgow – Possible gang rape
Occupy Baltimore – Multiple reports of harassment
Occupy Chicago – Man arrested for child porn
Occupy LA – Man charged with exposing himself to a child

Sedition

Occupy DC – Let’s have a coup by taking over the military
Ted Rall wants occupiers to choose the path of violence
Occupy DC – Mike Malloy incites crowd to cheer for President Bush’s execution

Suicide/Overdose

Occupy Burlington – Man kills himself with handgun
Occupy Salt Lake City – Man found dead with syringe in his tent
Occupy Vancouver – Young woman dies of cocaine and heroine overdose
Occupy OKC – Young man with history of drug abuse found dead

Theft

Occupy Portland – Theft is ongoing
Occupy Boston – Store owner suffers 4 break-ins since camp began

Copypasta has the desired effect.

Oh almost forgot!
Vandalism

Occupy Eureka – Protesters use local bank as a toilet
Occupy Portland – Two banks vandalized, promises of more to come
Occupy Oakland – Bank windows broken, Whole Foods vandalized, broken windows
Occupy Boston – Banks vandalized with anarchist, OWS graffiti
Occupy Portland – Spike in vandalism near camp
Occupy SF: ATMs being smeared with feces
Occupy Santa Fe: Banks vandalized with OWS-themed graffiti
Occupy San Diego – Vendors cart vandalized with bodily fluids
Occupy graffiti found on PA governor’s mansion

"I am happy Steve you attended Hugo Chavez' funeral and met, if you haven't already, the Hollywierdo's like Penn, Jessie Jack$on, Congressmen Democrats Meeks and Delahunt,
etc. Yu da man."

What the heck does that have to do with gun control in MD?

"It's just another example of the NRA thinking that people (especially it's members) are really stupid."

How many members does the NRA have Steve? How many firearm owners who support their God given rights are there Steve? With those numbers how many firearm owners as a percentage do the NRA represent? Does the NAASCP represent all blacks?

The phony part of this whole debate is that you and these left wingers did not care about guns and the control of guns until 20 white kids got shot. Don't worry about the thousands of inner city blacks killing each other every year. So you and the left are the real phonies of the world.

Thats not true. Newtown was just the breaking point. Democrats have tried for years to stem the senseless violence in America's cities.
The Neocon's answer....... More guns. It's insanity.

"He's a fraud perpetuated by the NRA" babbles Stanker Steve. And you're a fraud perpetuated by Mom's basement, Stank. Are you ever going to get tired of being afraid and venture out of there?

Steve let me tell you something, the only thing the democrats have been trying to do in the inner cities for the last 50 years is create hopelessness, despair and dependency. And I must say they've done a very good job of it. As for neocons, you obviously don't understand the term as it is primarily used nowadays to describe an activist foreign policy and has nothing to do with gun control. I don't subscribe to it, nor be most libertarian conservatives.

Ah Ike the guilt ridden white guy. So the constitution and 2nd amendment are only for white people? Sounds like some serious racism on your part.

Actually, amark, in the City as we know it, the struggle to survive and keep a family together, housed and fed is most important. The issues here are drawing room conversations of the kind that Massa Jefferson, Massa. Madison, White lobbyists and rich hobbyists have.

The same folks that put up such a fuss over $4.30 per person per day for food think nothing of dropping $800 on a firearm.

Racist or not? That is about how you live your life, not about political nuances on some web forum. White boy.

And Ike as I said earlier in this thread the folks on the political left have made that situation in the cities the way it is over many years by creating a culture of govt dependency and endless cycle of poverty. But of course you are unable to recognize that.

Of course, amark, White man history starts at about when? 1960? Damn, that was fifty some whole years ago.

Who are you and what have you done with the real FIFA?

JAB, I am the real FIFA, how can I prove it to you?

Now JAB so that you know it is me, how does one prevent that "legal" gun from becoming "illegal", that is the question, isn't it?

"how does one prevent that "legal" gun from becoming "illegal", that is the question, isn't it?"

How does one prevent a legal drink and a legal drive from becoming a drunk drive?

You asked Joe, probably not selling them more drinks you think?

That's all you have for an answer? You assume that that someone is in a bar. What if they were at a party or even drinking at home? Is there a deeper answer?

"how does one prevent that "legal" gun from becoming "illegal", that is the question, isn't it?"

By not using it in an illegal way or to cause harm to any innocents. As hundreds of millions of Americans have been doing for generations.

As I read your answer again FIFA, I see where we differ. See my answer to your question?
I lay responsibility on the person with the firearm. You lay the responsibility on a bar tender.
That is the main difference in the left right philosophy. Self responsibility and others responsibility for your own actions.

FIFA, you gave one of your deepest insights in that answer.

What are you babbling on about? Russell Simmons hasn't had anybody killed.

Can''t read eh Jack? Russell Simmons is involved in the rap music industry and many have been killed so he has some responsibility just as you state the NRA has responsibility for firearm deaths.

LOL

"Rap music doesn't kill people. People kill people"

You show yourself to be without moral base Steve with every post. You pick a side that suits you at the time. You will post anything even if you do not believe it.

Police search for Range Rover after shooting, fiery crash on Las Vegas Strip.
Cherry, an aspiring rapper known as Kenny Clutch, was driving his Maserati on Thursday when someone in the Range Rover fired several shots at his car as it headed north on Las Vegas Boulevard.

The Maserati continued into the intersection of the boulevard and Flamingo Road and collided with a taxi, which caught fire, killing cab driver Michael Boldon, 62, CNN affiliate KVVU said.

I have no idea what you are talking about Leslie and I doubt you do either, but how about you live your life the way you want and let other people live theirs as they want and not infringe upon their right? That is freedom to me.

Leslie, are you afraid and paranoid enough that someone will come into your home that you LOCK THE DOORS at night? Are you afraid of a fire in your home and so you have smoke detectors? Do you fear CO2 sickness and have a CO2 detector?
When you drive through not the best neighborhoods do you lock your car doors?

If you answered yes than you are a paranoid fearful person following your logic.

If Leslie is new to Patch, JoeBlob, she will not recognize that recycled trope. Hey, she might even think you are brilliant (nudge nudge)

If Leslie is new to Patch, 1ke the Ass, she will now know how much of an ass you are.

Law Enforcement Leaders Demand Background Checks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GomGKmgCZYI&feature=youtu.be

Good try Westboro Steve but these people link to are ALL appointed and the Sheriffs are ELECTED! Appointed cops do as they are told. The elected do what the voters who voted for them want.

Westboro Steve is an immoral idiot.

...and most of those Sheriffs rule over one stoplight towns. Let me know when some the Police Chief of Denver joins them.

You have no clue who those sheriffs are Westboro Steve and you have no idea how big of a town they were elected in do you?
Of course you don't. You would lie for any reason to be of any significance. You immoral man.

Sheriff Alvin West Hudspeth County, Texas pop. 3,497 Yee Haw!

Sheriff Darby Harrington Wibeaux County Montana pop. 589

Keep going Westboro Steve. Keep digging your hole ever deeper.

Ah, yes, pass the Parmesan. I prefer mine al dente.

Thanks Other Tim! HUGE thanks!