1. SEMI-AUTO FIREARM BAN: It was a busy week of battles over what proponents claimed are "assault weapons" but which we know would be a ban on nearly all semi-auto firearms. The Tuesday hearing on SB 288 was long and heated, but most staff of key senators will remember this as the week that office life as they knew it changed, as gun owners - you! - poured on the calls and letters as never before. One confirmed to me today she logged over 1000 phone calls on this bill, while the next office over logged over 800 - all opposed to new gun control. That's an outstanding effort which really gave us something to work with in town - THANK YOU!

SB 288 was considered by the key committee at a work session on Thursday, but then put on hold before any voting. It remains active and will return for the committee to consider next week. Should it advance from the committee, we'll have immediate action items for you as we will need to reach a broader set of Senators who will consider it shortly afterwards. Stay tuned!

2. HOUSE VERSION OF SEMI-AUTO BAN LAUNCHED TODAY: HB 1298 went in the hopper today, a companion bill to SB 288 above (meaning the same text as the Senate version.) This bill has nearly 70 co-sponsors - just short of a bare majority needed to pass it from the full House. That's bad! The bill goes to the House Judiciary Committee for consideration. No hearing is yet scheduled for it but we will advise when it is time to sound off to its committee members, just as we did for the Senate side. Stay tuned!

3. HEARINGS SCHEDULED ON OTHER GUN BILLS IN SENATE: They're spread about on dates in March - full details shortly at www.myguns.net

4. MPFO'S LATEST FUND RAISER IS DEDICATED TO POLITICAL PAY BACK: Marylanders for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership (MPFO) has launched a fund raiser with all proceeds dedicated to the ouster of any legislator who promoted the assault weapon bans in Annapolis. We have a lot of payback to deliver, so we have a lot of raffle tickets to sell! Win a tactical carbine (what the gun- banners would call an "assault weapon" ... with attitude, we might add!) for a $5 donation. Details at www.myguns.net

5. PRIMARY DRAWS NEAR - MAKE SURE YOU'RE THERE FOR OUR FRIENDS! Congressman Roscoe Bartlett is one of our best friends in Washington and very deserving of your maximum support. His constituents in Western Maryland should make every effort to ensure he heads back to Washington! Call 240 446 0077 to get more information about how YOU can help - not least of which to post a sign for Roscoe in your yard or volunteer to help him at the polls on March 2.