[AmericanInTokyo]

Am I the only one to notice that far more shootings have been in Maryland, and yet the story is centered on VIRGINIA and how citizens are getting armed?

Over in Maryland I hear both the DEMS and REPUBS are running as anti-gunners. There are RINOS and LIBS lamenting gun rights. Wonder if their tone would change if Maryland citizens would start the same grassroots actions -- but then again, maybe easier to procure a self defense weapon in VA than MARYLAND. Interesting.....

[Eric in the Ozarks]

"Damage Inc."
Like this guy's gun shop name.

[Wolfstar]

Actually, there have been seven in Maryland, one in DC, and four in Virginia. For those looking for any pattern to these attacks, the first six incidents occurred in a tight geographic area just north of DC. The other Maryland attack occurred northeast of the district in Bowie. The one incident actually in DC was part of the first cluster which occurred in that tight area, except it was just inside the DC border. The attacks in Virginia occurred to the west and southwest of DC. No attacks have occurred directly south or southeast of the District.

[jackbill]

Over in Maryland I hear both the DEMS and REPUBS are running as anti-gunners.

Not true. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend is a gun-grabber. She has been taking advantage of the sniper situation, for political purposes. According to Deborah Orin of the New York Post, it is backfiring.

But her gun ad may have boomeranged - a new poll found voters saw it as inappropriate by a 2-1 margin - 55 to 27 percent. Among undecideds, 63 percent say it was a no-no. The race is still a statistical tie with Townsend up one point in a state Al Gore won by 17.

Her competition, Bob Ehrlich, has said that he would review gun laws to see if they have been effective, especially the "ballistics fingerprinting" of all newly purchased handguns - which has resulted in absolutely zero convictions.

Naturally, the DemocRATs and their willing accomplices at the Baltimore Sun are claiming that Ehrlich is a tool of the NRA.