Cecil County gun owners testify against ban bill
By:Cheryl Mattix , Cmattix@cecilwhig.com 02/11/2004
ANNAPOLIS - A group of Cecil County gun owners joined the outcry of opposition to a bill to prohibit assault weapon sales in Maryland at a Senate hearing Tuesday.
Buddy Cather of Rising Sun and Norris McMullen of Port Deposit teach Firearm's Safety and Hunter Education three times a year at American Legion Post 194 in Rising Sun. They are both gun owners and hunters who each own a gun that would be banned if the bill is passed.
"Almost any hunter has a gun that would be banned by this law," said McMullen. "The wording of the bill is too broad."
The gun safety class the two men teach is sponsored by the Department of Natural Resources and is open to anyone of any age. The class is free, but participants are welcome to make a donation to the men for their time and expertise.
"No form of gun control in Maryland so far has decreased the crime rate," Cather said, pointing to previous legislation.
Wendy Donahoo of Rising Sun is vice-president of the Central Region of the Maryland Sportsmen's Association. She testified on behalf of the sportsmen who she says put a lot of money back into the state economy every year.
"Our members are shooters who belong to clubs that have high-power rifle and military rifle shoots," she said. "They use many of the firearms listed in this bill."
Donahoo pointed out that many of the members are also collectors. "Would we be forbidden to sell any part of our collection if this becomes law?" she asked.
The Cecil County group agrees with many of their counterparts from across the state in saying the bill unfairly targets certain groups of taxpaying Maryland citizens.
Charles Taylor of Earleville brought his 11-year-old sons Robert and Jordan to witness the legislative process. "They are going to write a paper about what they learned by this experience," he said.
Both boys and their father enjoy hunting. Taylor is in the process of opening a gun shop on his farm property in Earleville.
Sen. Nancy Jacobs (R-Cecil/Harford) is a member of the Judicial Proceedings Committee that listened to nearly five hours of proponents and opponents of the assault weapons ban Tuesday.
Jacobs, who is opposed to the bill, says her committee is split on it with Sen. John A. Giannetti Jr. (D-Anne Arundel/Prince George's) is the likely swing vote. Jacobs expects Giannetti to offer some amendments in committee. "I don't think we'll be voting on this anytime too soon," Jacobs said.
The bill has to get out of committee to be able to be debated on the Senate floor, but committee chairman Sen. Brian Frosh, (D-Montgomery) is expected to do everything he can to get it out of committee.
Most of the proponents argued that the bill will save lives, while the opponents claim it is an infringement on law abiding citizens that won't solve the problem.
"A lot of the people who are for this bill don't know the difference between a clip and a magazine," Jacobs said.
Opponents say the bill will have a lot of unintended consequences.
©Cecil Whig 2004
Reader Opinions
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Name: Bob Riggio
Date: Feb, 12 2004
They have no clue what they trying to ban. This will have no affect on crime if they pass it. Criminals do not buy guns LEGALLY. Alcohol kills alot of people every year also , Why not ban acohol or certain types? The vehicles that the drunks drive to maim and kill people every year. Why not ban those type of cars? It is pittiful that the one who wish to ban the weapon play on the sympathy's of other by using the so called D.C. sniper case as a legitiment reason. Those two deserve the ultimate punishment for the HORRIFIC thing they did , but they used a STOLEN weapon. It was not even bought by them. In Maryland the weapons that they are trying to ban cannot be bought without it being registered like a handgun. Just another step by the elite Democrats to ban guns in Maryland all together , but what do they care. They have police guarding them all the time because they are public officials. We don't have that luxury, beside's it is my 2nd ammendment right to own a weapon. I don't mind regulation to a point but banning is WRONG!Start Enforcing what we have and keep them in jail for violating it, bring in PROJECT EXILE!
Name: Michael Milbourne
Date: Feb, 12 2004
Why in the world doesn't our "great leaders" in Annopolis get it through their heads to enforce the current laws on the books. We don't need further legislation against gun, and myself as well as several associates will vote against any member of the Senate of House that introduces any further gun control...
