longwatch
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http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/03-18-2007/0004548192
Slavery: Don't Apologize If You Don't Mean It, Says Maryland Shall Issue
[align=left] [/align] LIBERTYTOWN, Md., March 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Maryland Shall
Issue, Inc. notes that although apologies are nice, actions speak louder
than words.
During the period of slavery, CITIZENS were required to have, and to
carry weapons for the protection of themselves and their community whenever
they traveled away from home, but SLAVES could only carry weapons if they
had a license to do so.
In 1749 Andrew Fletcher wrote, "Arms are the only true badges of
liberty. The possession of arms is the distinction between a freeman and a
slave. He who has nothing, and belongs to another, must be defended by him,
and needs no arms: but he who thinks he is his own master, and has anything
he may call his own, ought to have arms to defend himself and what he
possesses, or else he lives precariously and at discretion."
Before the Civil War most slave states restricted concealed carry of
weapons, but only one non-slave state restricted it. As freedmen moved
north, the northern states passed laws against concealed carry, which could
be selectively enforced. Maryland passed laws against concealed carry first
briefly in 1866, and then somewhat less restrictively in 1904.
Open carry of firearms was always legal for the citizens of Maryland --
until 1972 when a law was passed prohibiting open carry, but allowing
concealed carry with a permit to be issued at the discretion of the
Maryland State Police.
Why was open carry suddenly prohibited after 300 years? Why was the
concealed carry permit process made discretionary instead of clearly
defined and open? This was a direct result of fears from the Baltimore Race
Riots of 1968. The law was racist in origin and needs to be rescinded.
By selectively disarming only victims, the law restricting carry of
weapons resulted in a dramatic increase in crime. The rate of violent crime
in Maryland in 2005 was more than 400% what it was in 1960 when open carry
was legal.
Don't just apologize. Stop treating us like slaves. Inalienable rights
to life, liberty and happiness mean nothing without the means to protect
them. Senate Bills 761 and 762 will restore our rights as citizens to
defend ourselves. These bills will be heard on Wednesday the 21st of March
in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee and they deserve your support.
************* DO NOT ALTER ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE ! **************
SOURCE Maryland Shall Issue
http://www.marylandshallissue.org
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/03-18-2007/0004548192
Slavery: Don't Apologize If You Don't Mean It, Says Maryland Shall Issue
[align=left] [/align] LIBERTYTOWN, Md., March 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Maryland Shall
Issue, Inc. notes that although apologies are nice, actions speak louder
than words.
During the period of slavery, CITIZENS were required to have, and to
carry weapons for the protection of themselves and their community whenever
they traveled away from home, but SLAVES could only carry weapons if they
had a license to do so.
In 1749 Andrew Fletcher wrote, "Arms are the only true badges of
liberty. The possession of arms is the distinction between a freeman and a
slave. He who has nothing, and belongs to another, must be defended by him,
and needs no arms: but he who thinks he is his own master, and has anything
he may call his own, ought to have arms to defend himself and what he
possesses, or else he lives precariously and at discretion."
Before the Civil War most slave states restricted concealed carry of
weapons, but only one non-slave state restricted it. As freedmen moved
north, the northern states passed laws against concealed carry, which could
be selectively enforced. Maryland passed laws against concealed carry first
briefly in 1866, and then somewhat less restrictively in 1904.
Open carry of firearms was always legal for the citizens of Maryland --
until 1972 when a law was passed prohibiting open carry, but allowing
concealed carry with a permit to be issued at the discretion of the
Maryland State Police.
Why was open carry suddenly prohibited after 300 years? Why was the
concealed carry permit process made discretionary instead of clearly
defined and open? This was a direct result of fears from the Baltimore Race
Riots of 1968. The law was racist in origin and needs to be rescinded.
By selectively disarming only victims, the law restricting carry of
weapons resulted in a dramatic increase in crime. The rate of violent crime
in Maryland in 2005 was more than 400% what it was in 1960 when open carry
was legal.
Don't just apologize. Stop treating us like slaves. Inalienable rights
to life, liberty and happiness mean nothing without the means to protect
them. Senate Bills 761 and 762 will restore our rights as citizens to
defend ourselves. These bills will be heard on Wednesday the 21st of March
in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee and they deserve your support.
************* DO NOT ALTER ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE ! **************
SOURCE Maryland Shall Issue
http://www.marylandshallissue.org