echo3mike Posted April 3, 2004 Share Posted April 3, 2004 Senate committee rejects assault weapons billLegislation to ban sale of semiautomatic guns dies with 6-5 vote By Michael Dresser Sun Staff Originally published April 2, 2004, 1:21 PM EST A Senate committee killed a proposal to ban assault weapons today, ending all possibility that the General Assembly will put a gun control bill on Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich's desk this year. The 6-5 vote against the bill in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee came as no surprise because Sen. John A. Giannetti Jr., who represented the swing vote on the panel, announced his intent to vote no weeks ago. The Prince George's Democrat delivered on his promise today, joining the committee's three Republicans and two conservative Democrats in opposing the bill sponsored by Sen. Robert J. Garagiola. Before defeating the bill, the committee rejected an attempt by Garagiola to amend the bill to narrow the ban to a list of 19 semiautomatic weapons covered by the current federal ban, which expires in September. The Montgomery County Democrat argued that Maryland should at least continue a ban on such currently prohibited weapons as Israel's Uzi and Russia's AK-47. "If we don't support this amendment today, this is really our last opportunity," Garagiola said. But Giannetti said Ehrlich had told him he would veto the bill even with the amendment. Early in the legislative session, Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller had stated his intention to put such legislation on the governor's desk to force him to decide whether to cast a potentially unpopular veto. Voting for the bill were Garagiola, committee Chairman Brian E. Frosh and Sens. Jennie Forehand of Montgomery County, Ralph Hughes of Baltimore and Leo Green of Prince George's County. All are Democrats. Voting no were Giannetti, Democratic Sens. Philip C. Jimeno of Anne Arundel County and James Brochin of Baltimore County, and Republican Sens. Alex X. Mooney of Frederick County, Nancy Jacobs of Harford County and Larry E. Haines of Carroll County. Copyright © 2004, The Baltimore Sun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duane Thomas Posted April 3, 2004 Share Posted April 3, 2004 Yee-HAH!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Schwab Posted April 3, 2004 Share Posted April 3, 2004 Whew, close call.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AGlock36 Posted April 7, 2004 Share Posted April 7, 2004 Pardon my language but about damn time. WOOHOO. Paul Franklin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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