(AUGUST 2007 UPDATE) The ink was barely dry on last month's mid-term report when Dutch Ruppersberger of MD's 2 nd Congressional District rose to argue for repeal of the Tiahrt amendment. At issue is whether FBI records of lawful gun purchases would remain private, or be given over to agenda-driven gun grabbers to make public. Of the proposal to gut our privacy, Ruppersberger said This handcuffs the cops, not the criminals, overlooking the fact that police groups actually support the Tiahrt provision. In this debate Ruppersberger went out of his way to publicly side with Rhode Island's Pat Kennedy and the rest of the Brady bunch. In spite of Ruppersberger's effort, the attempt failed.
These hardly feel like mid-term reports, of course. With Maryland's primary moved up to February 12 th , it seems like we're barely done with the last federal elections when it is time for the next. (Actually, it is!) So far, Al Wynn is the Congressional incumbent who faces the most credible primary challenger, not that his opponent would likely be any better on our issue. Still, at this time we do not foresee any change in the Congressional delegation in 2008.
(June 2007) Last year we had an uncharacteristic (if minor) shuffling of representation in Congress. How are they doing so far?
Congressman Wayne Gilchrest has represented his Maryland District 1 since 1991, generally with a history of anti-gun votes. A closer look at recent history, however, shows he supported the Protection of Lawful Commerce Act (PLCA, or protecting firearm manufacturers) and cast procedural votes our way on issues affecting hunting. If this foretells a trend, even if a slow one, then it is a welcome one, and we should both encourage and embrace it.
In District 2, Dutch Ruppersberger voted against PLCA, but otherwise seems to have kept a low profile. Freshly elected John Sarbanes in District 3 is not yet on record with key votes, but seems to posture against gun ownership in comments, so we won't hold out much hope of an conversion in the near future. In 4, Al Wynn remains generally anti-gun, but is credible in pointing out he represents his district on this. Historically he's thrown us the occasional bone, but lately he's sucking wind trying to stay ahead of a credible challenger from the left! Next year's Dem primary election could be interesting. In 5, fast-taxing-big-spending-gun-grabbing Sten Hoyer continues to look unbeatable, and is loving life as House Majority Leader. District 6 is home to our good friend Roscoe Bartlett , who remains a true friend of both his constituents and the Constitution thankfully, this fact doesn't change! At the other end of the political spectrum is District 7's Elijah Cummings , who remains a domestic enemy of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. And finanly in District 8, Chris Van Hollen shows no sign of changing his gun-grabbing ways, but does show he is smart leadership material by throttling back on the rhetoric of late. Apparently he did get the memo, that gun control doesn't elect Democrats it only unelects them, and destablizes races.
In the Senate, you've already read (pg 1) about Senator Barbara Mikulski 's latest gun-grabbing antics. No change in her position! Ben Cardin , freshly elevated from the House, has no vote to place him on record in the Senate, but his long history as an anti-gunner shows no sign of changing, and in the 2006 cycle he placed ninth in the Senate for donations received from anti-gun political action committees. We know which way we'd bet he'll go next gun vote.