Gov. O’Malley says NRA is ‘drowning out’ support for gun control in Maryland

Washington Post ^ | Feb 11, 2013 | Aaron C. Davis,

[EXCH54FE]

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley took a swipe at the National Rifle Association on Friday, publishing a blog post on O’Malley’s state Web site titled “The NRA: Drowning out Marylanders.”

The governor’s move comes two days after gun-rights advocates swamped the first bill hearing on O’Malley’s proposed gun-control legislation in the wake of the December mass shooting in Newtown, Conn.

Over 700 people, the vast majority opposed to O’Malley’s plan, signed up to testify outside the Annapolis hearing room on Wednesday. Another 300 signed petitions against the bill at a rally outside the State House.

O’Malley has proposed an assault-weapons ban and new licensing rules that would require gun purchasers to submit to digital fingerprinting. His bill would also seek to enhance school security and expand the number of categories of mental-health problems that can preclude state residents from owning guns.

On Friday, the blog post written by Zoe Pagonis, a staffer in the governor’s office, suggested that the show of force on Wednesday was misleading.

“The majority of Marylanders, including many responsible gun owners, support common sense legislation to prevent gun violence,” Pagonis wrote. “But the PR wing of the NRA, lobbyists for gun manufacturers, and others who want to block any and all gun safety ideas would have you to believe otherwise. For weeks, they’ve been spreading falsehoods and using scare tactics to mislead Marylanders.”

[bmwcyle]

It sounds like the gov has a fight on his hands.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Another description of democracy.

:D

[Dick Bachert]

Advise when this clown’s gun grab proposals go down for the third time.

[Oberon]

Heck yeah! That’s what we pay the NRA to do, after all!

[E. Pluribus Unum]

“The majority of Marylanders, including many responsible gun owners, support common sense legislation to prevent gun violence,” Pagonis wrote.

"Common sense" is the last refuge of congenital liars who have none.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

You can say that again.

[jboot]

Surprise, surprise. It looks like the gun control slam dunk is not a sure thing after all. At the grassroots gun-owning Marylanders are really, really motivated. I think a lot of formerly indifferent people have had the scales removed from their eyes.

[ScottinVA]

Apparently O’Malley thought he and the dems up there could just ram more gun regulations through unopposed.

A funny thing happened on the way to the celebration party...

[cripplecreek]

The voices would be the same even without the NRA. The left just points to the NRA because it saves them from explaining a direct attack on the voters.

[Cboldt]

I wonder if Zoe believs what she wrote, or if the governor is putting words in her mouth.

[Erik Latranyi]

When O’Malley surrounds himself with union leaders, he is embracing working families everywhere.

When O’Malley is opposed by the NRA, they are “drowning out” the voices of the people.

He is just another hypocritical, anti-speech liberal.

[momtothree]

PING....

[sickoflibs]

RE :”Over 700 people, the vast majority opposed to O’Malley’s plan, signed up to testify outside the Annapolis hearing room on Wednesday. Another 300 signed petitions against the bill at a rally outside the State House.
O’Malley has proposed an assault-weapons ban and new licensing rules that would require gun purchasers to submit to digital fingerprinting. His bill would also seek to enhance school security and expand the number of categories of mental-health problems that can preclude state residents from owning guns.
On Friday, the blog post written by Zoe Pagonis, a staffer in the governor’s office, suggested that the show of force on Wednesday was misleading.
“The majority of Marylanders, including many responsible gun owners, support common sense legislation to prevent gun violence,” Pagonis wrote. “But the PR wing of the NRA, lobbyists for gun manufacturers, and others who want to block any and all gun safety ideas would have you to believe otherwise. For weeks, they’ve been spreading falsehoods and using scare tactics to mislead Marylanders.”

Has O Malley been stopped on anything since taking office? We might as well have a dictatorship here.

I will give the NRA credit, they sent me a card warning about this calling to action.

[GeronL]

I guess all those people who signed up to speak aren’t real people?

[SECURE AMERICA]

Gov. O’Malley says NRA is ‘drowning out’ support for gun control in Maryland

Sorry Gov but it is AMERICAN CITIZENS that believe in the US Constitution that are drowning out any more restrictions on our rights... So KMA...........

[grobdriver]

The left just points to the NRA because it saves them from explaining a direct attack on the voters.

The NRA needs to counter this with ads from bygone years that illustrate that the NRA is not some corporation with a hand full of board members going along with some central figure CEO... the growth and power of the NRA is We, The People.

Bring back the ads of well known people, of crowds, all saying with one voice,
I AM THE NRA!

[RedMDer]

Freepers, your Contributions make every difference!
Please keep ‘em coming! Thank you all very much!

[Sir Napsalot]

So, the same guy complained about Occupy?
PinkCo?
Greenies?
Lesbians/Gays?

..... tools!

[cripplecreek]

I agree that the NRA needs to remind people that they are made up of millions of actual individuals.

The crap about conservatives being led by some shadowy group is played out.