Governor Vetoes Gun Safety Bill

Phil Lee of MCSM Respons
Letter To The Editor Washington Times

Governor Glendening has vetoed Maryland's 2001 Gun Safety bill for training to reduce deaths and injuries to children; he and the majority Democratic legislature prevented the passage of a tax break for the purchase of Gun Safes last year and again this year to increase child safety; his administration has failed to implement firearm safety classes required in SB211 passed last year with his strong support. In fact, no money has been allocated to the safety training required by SB211 and such classes were to have already started under that law.

The 2001 Gun Safety bill was supported by the pro-gun NRA and the anti-gun MAHA. Anti-gun Sen. Barbara Hoffman has said that only loopy liberals and gun nuts would oppose the bill. The governor is neither a loopy liberal nor a gun-nut. He is a super-opportunist in the mold of former President Clinton.

The governor must think that Marylanders will not see through his two-faced treatment of gun safety. So far he has been right. As a consequence, we have elected and re-elected people who thump their chest like Tarzan but really perform like Cheeta. That is why Maryland has the highest rate of robbery of any state in the union and has held that dubious distinction throughout the Glendening administration.

Governor Glendening's has little interest in gun safety performance only for the favorable publicity given him by a naive press. Unfortunately, the same can be said for many of the legislators who support the governor's actions.

It is time for a wholesale change in Maryland.

Sincerely,

Philip F. Lee
Silver Spring, MD