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Slavery: Don't Apologize If You Don't Mean It, Says Maryland Shall Issue

longwatch

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http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/03-18-2007/0004548192

Slavery: Don't Apologize If You Don't Mean It, Says Maryland Shall Issue
[align=left] [/align] LIBERTYTOWN, Md., March 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Maryland Shall
Issue, Inc. notes that although apologies are nice, actions speak louder
than words.
During the period of slavery, CITIZENS were required to have, and to
carry weapons for the protection of themselves and their community whenever
they traveled away from home, but SLAVES could only carry weapons if they
had a license to do so.
In 1749 Andrew Fletcher wrote, "Arms are the only true badges of
liberty. The possession of arms is the distinction between a freeman and a
slave. He who has nothing, and belongs to another, must be defended by him,
and needs no arms: but he who thinks he is his own master, and has anything
he may call his own, ought to have arms to defend himself and what he
possesses, or else he lives precariously and at discretion."
Before the Civil War most slave states restricted concealed carry of
weapons, but only one non-slave state restricted it. As freedmen moved
north, the northern states passed laws against concealed carry, which could
be selectively enforced. Maryland passed laws against concealed carry first
briefly in 1866, and then somewhat less restrictively in 1904.
Open carry of firearms was always legal for the citizens of Maryland --
until 1972 when a law was passed prohibiting open carry, but allowing
concealed carry with a permit to be issued at the discretion of the
Maryland State Police.
Why was open carry suddenly prohibited after 300 years? Why was the
concealed carry permit process made discretionary instead of clearly
defined and open? This was a direct result of fears from the Baltimore Race
Riots of 1968. The law was racist in origin and needs to be rescinded.
By selectively disarming only victims, the law restricting carry of
weapons resulted in a dramatic increase in crime. The rate of violent crime
in Maryland in 2005 was more than 400% what it was in 1960 when open carry
was legal.
Don't just apologize. Stop treating us like slaves. Inalienable rights
to life, liberty and happiness mean nothing without the means to protect
them. Senate Bills 761 and 762 will restore our rights as citizens to
defend ourselves. These bills will be heard on Wednesday the 21st of March
in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee and they deserve your support.


************* DO NOT ALTER ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE ! **************
SOURCE Maryland Shall Issue

http://www.marylandshallissue.org
 

Gray Peterson

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Why was open carry suddenly prohibited after 300 years? Why was the
concealed carry permit process made discretionary instead of clearly
defined and open? This was a direct result of fears from the Baltimore Race
Riots of 1968. The law was racist in origin and needs to be rescinded.
By selectively disarming only victims, the law restricting carry of
weapons resulted in a dramatic increase in crime. The rate of violent crime
in Maryland in 2005 was more than 400% what it was in 1960 when open carry
was legal.

Disingenious. As much as I respect what Maryland Shall-Issue is trying to do, it ignores the fact that open carry is in fact legal in Maryland if you have a license. I have read through the bills and it doesn't change this at all.
 

longwatch

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While there seems to be nothing in Md law to prevent a permit holder from OCing, I wouldn't go calling MSI disingenuous just yet. As discretionary as the permitting process is there I wouldn't be surprised if they warn permit holders not to do OC or would try to yank a permit if they did. I suspect something like that is why we have never heard of any open carry in Maryland.
 

cloudcroft

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Yeah, I agree.

Someone just try to go about OC-ing in MD -- if it's true one can OC with a license -- and see what happens...and probably would happen time after time.

The subtle/not-so-subtle imtimidation MD cops would likely display would probably result in gettingthe person OC-ing to stop, license/legal or not, just to avoid the unpleasant encounters with LEOs, and that would mean there really isn't any right toOC in MD regardless of the law.

After all -- and as we know -- a right unexercised is a right denied.

-- John D.
 

VAopencarry

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I doubt OC is even on anybody's radar in MD, permit holders or the State Police. If only we could get a permit holder to try it!! They would be arrested. Then they would have to figure out what to charge you with, probably go with 'disturbing the peace'. Any judge worth a crap would toss it out but that's luck of the draw.Then the following year the legislature would put a kabosh on it. In western MD, you might get away with it.
 

Citizen

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It might be better to organize for and accomplish "shall issue"and pre-emption.

Once there is a strong presence then, start filling in all the holeshere and there.

I suspect "shall issue" and pre-emption would get more mileage for 2A rights and would bea better labor investment for activists.

Just my thoughts at thishour of the night. Willing to entertain polite counter- proposals, but I get cranky at night.
 

VAopencarry

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Unfortunately I wasn't a gun nut when I lived in Maryland. I do know that if what you are trying isn't working you need to try something different. My personal opinion on the MD Shall Issue organization is they need a different approach. Especially their Q&A for 'skeptics. You won't convert many people being hostile and a smart ass. How's it go... You catch more fly's with honey..... JMO

http://www.marylandshallissue.org/skeptics.html
 

Citizen

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With so many states having gone to "shall issue" there must be a wealth of experience and wisdom available.

Can anybody on this board act put them in touch with genuinelyeffective coaches in other states?
 
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