ELECTION EVE UPDATE

(March 1, 2004)
1. CAST YOUR VOTES ON TUESDAY! Volunteers are on tap late tonight for erecting the last wave of campaign signs and drawing literature for distribution at the polls tomorrow. And we're ALL on tap to cast our votes on behalf of pro-gun candidates who can make a difference to us! Endorsed by both Tripwire and Marylanders for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership (MPFO) in key races are:

  • E.J. PIPKIN for Senate
  • RICHARD COLBURN for Congress in District 1 (chiefly eastern shore)
  • ROSCOE BARTLETT for Congress in District 6 (chiefly western MD)
  • CHUCK FLOYD for Congress in District 8 (parts of Montgomery County)

    2. SEMI-AUTO FIREARM BAN: We trust you saw the general news media's absolute fits over the weekend upon learning that swing vote Senator John Gianetti had announced his intention to vote against SB 288, the "assault weapon" ban. This put passage of the bill in doubt as the left wing doesn't have the votes to get 288 out of committee by conventional means. Stay tuned for an action item later this week: we will need to tell Senators THANK YOU for their decision, starting with Gianetti, but there is much advocacy yet between us and victory. 288 proponents put the committee vote on hold Friday intending to go the the full senate for a discharge petition by committee of the whole. What that means is you should expect a rare challenge to leadership by having 288 co-sponsors demand a vote on the Senate floor in spite of its not getting a committee vote. This was how Glendening's package advanced in 2000!

    3. 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 an AR-15 tactical carbine (what gun- banners would call an "assault weapon" ... with attitude, we might add!) for a $5 donation. Details at www.myguns.net (Look for us at the Camrod Gun Show in Pikesville on March 13-14.)

    4. "GUN DAY" IN HOUSE OF DELEGATES IS 16 MARCH. Get your phone dialing fingers warmed up and stay tuned for the list of target offices in order to sound off in advance of hearings. We got *terrific* bang in town for being organized and effective in opposition to 288 ... let's plan on doing the same for the rest of this gun control!