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Baltimore Sun Group
rallies pro-gun voters By David Nitkin June 27, 2004 Maryland gun owners must unite as a potent political force to fend off left-wing attacks on their constitutional rights, a conservative state lawmaker says. That's why Sen. Alex X. Mooney of Frederick has helped form the Second Amendment Coalition, a pro-gun organization nicknamed the 2AM coalition, that aims to register gun owners to vote. Yesterday, the group launched a weekend voter registration drive at the Silverado Gun Show at the Frederick Fair Grounds. Many gun owners distance themselves from politicians, and want little to do with government, Mooney said, explaining the need for the effort. "Some of them view government as something to be avoided," said Mooney, a Republican. "Government is not their thing." In a news release announcing the creation of the 2AM coalition, the senator said gun owners need to be aware that "every day liberal politicians are working in Annapolis and in Washington to take away their Constitutional right to own a gun." Conservative politicians often label Maryland gun laws as some of the most restrictive in the nation, and gun issues lead to divisive debates in Annapolis that pit rural and exurban lawmakers against liberal Democrats from the Washington suburbs and Baltimore. Last year, Maryland became the first state to require that all handguns sold here be equipped with integrated trigger locks. The mandate was part of a package of gun bills pushed through the General Assembly by Gov. Parris N. Glendening in 2000, and which contributed to the defeat of former House Speaker Casper R. Taylor Jr. Taylor lost his 2002 re-election bid in his conservative Allegany County-based district after opponents attacked his support of the gun bills. "Beretta, which is [located] in the president of the Senate's district, can't sell their own guns in Maryland because they don't make integrated safety locks," Mooney said. Beretta USA Corp. operates a plant in Accokeek, in Prince George's County, that has turned out tens of thousands of 9 mm handguns for the U.S. military. During this year's legislative session, Democratic lawmakers attempted to pass a state ban on assault-style weapons to replace a federal prohibition set to expire. The effort failed by a single vote in a Senate committee. Second Amendment rights in Maryland are being eroded "bit by bit, cut by cut, piece by piece," said Bob Culver, an engineer from Montgomery County who is co-founder of the 2AM group. "It is the ancient Chinese death by a thousand cuts." But Del. Neil F. Quinter, a Howard County Democrat and sponsor of the assault-weapons ban, said he does not believe gun rights are being eroded in Maryland or nationally. "They've never even brought a Second Amendment lawsuit against the federal assault-weapons ban," he said. Quinter said he sees little need for pro-gun forces to beef up their strength. Gun-rights supporters swamped him with e-mails attacking his bill, he said, in volumes disproportionate to their numbers in his district. "There isn't much more room for growth. They are already a vocal and active and extreme minority," he said. "One of the struggles is animating the silent majority who support reasonable gun safety, because right now the fervor is entirely on the other side." Critical of Maryland gun laws during his campaign, Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. has attempted to avoid the divisive issue since his election. Aides to the governor privately cheered when the assault-weapons bill died, because the governor would not have to decide whether to sign or veto it. Henry Fawell, an Ehrlich spokesman, said the governor had no comment on Mooney's effort. Copyright © 2004, The Baltimore Sun |
