Brian Frosh

The legislative session is in full swing and I wanted to update you on a vital public safety issue. Earlier this month, I introduced the Firearms Safety Act of 2010, a bill aimed mainly at reining in dealers who sell to gun traffickers.

Two editorials about the bill have appeared since I introduced it: one in the Post, the other in the Washington Times. Together, they are a tale of two cities. In one—the Post’s—the bill is an overdue, responsible effort to reduce murders in Maryland, where the homicide rate is 3rd highest in the nation and over 70 percent of the deaths involve firearms.

In the other—the Time’s city—the bill is Satan’s spawn, an infringement on fundamental American rights, the harbinger of a coming police state.

The Time’s editorial contains breath-taking factual errors about the bill itself. But the two editorials together show the extreme divergence of views about firearms in Maryland, and, almost certainly, in the whole nation. They show again why this is such a hard issue to address. Judge for yourself:
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EDITORIAL: Sensible rules for gun sales in Md.

In 2008, 493 people were murdered in Maryland, 72 percent of them with firearms. Sadly, this is not unusual. FBI studies show that the state has for years had one of the highest murder rates in the country, with guns used in the vast majority of homicides.

>>Read the rest of the Editorial

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EDITORIAL: Gun owners in cross hairs

The gun grabbers are at it again in Maryland. Next month, the state's House Judiciary Committee will initiate hearings on legislation forcing firearms enthusiasts to register with the state government before they can exercise their Second Amendment rights.

>>Read the rest of the Editorial

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I believe that we need to give law enforcement officers the necessary tools to stop illegal gun dealing and to ensure that those who purchase firearms are law-abiding citizens. I encourage Maryland citizens to debate all important pieces of legislation and I appreciate the participation by our local news outlets. As always, I will continue striving to be a voice for reasonable public-safety rules that protect all Marylanders.