Vice President Says The Administration Just Doesn't Have Time

Biden says Administration Doesn't Have Time to Prosecute People Who Lie on Background Checks

As has been widely reported, an NRA representative recently met with an Obama administration-directed firearm task force led by longtime gun control supporter Vice-President Joe Biden.  It came as no surprise that the meeting had little to do with keeping our children safe and much to do with an agenda to attack the Second Amendment.  But you may be surprised to know one of the revelations that came out of the meeting.

Jim Baker, NRA-ILA's Director of Federal Affairs, represented NRA at the meeting.  As detailed in a recent Daily Caller article, Mr. Baker was given five minutes to present NRA's concerns and the approach NRA saw as being the most effective way to safeguard our children.  During those five minutes, Baker mentioned the need to vigorously prosecute existing gun laws.  He further noted the low number of prosecutions for falsifying information on Form 4473s, and the low felony prosecution rate for gun crimes in general.

In response to Mr. Baker's comments, Vice-President Biden said, "And to your point, Mr. Baker, regarding the lack of prosecutions on lying on Form 4473s, we simply don't have the time or manpower to prosecute everybody who lies on a form, that checks a wrong box, that answers a question inaccurately."  That's right:  Biden said the administration just doesn't have time to prosecute crimes (felonies punishable by up to a 10-year prison sentence) under existing laws, but is proposing a host of sweeping new laws. 

According to federal statistics cited in the Daily Caller article, in 2010, prosecutors considered just 22 cases of information falsification, and 40 additional background-check cases ended up before prosecutors for reasons related to unlawful gun possession.  Prosecutors pursued just 44 of those 62 cases, although more than 72,600 applications were denied on the basis of a background check. Overall, gun prosecutions per capita in 2011 were down 35 percent from the previous administration's peak in 2004.

"We think it is problematic when the administration takes lightly the prosecutions under existing gun laws and yet does not seem to have a problem promoting a whole host of other gun laws," said Baker.   "If we are not going to enforce the laws that are on the books, it not only engenders disrespect for the law but it makes law-abiding gun owners wonder why we are going through this exercise we are going through now."

Commenting on the administration's inability to prosecute persons who lie to obtain a firearm, NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox said,  "They don't have time to pursue people who are dangerous, who aren't supposed to get guns, and the message they have sent is literally 'Good luck, go get them elsewhere.'  You can talk all you want," Cox continued, "but until there is a will to follow through, then it is literally just going to paper over the problem and guarantee that bad people continue to have access to firearms and good people will be blamed for it."

Source:

"NO Name Calling Week"

January 21 - 26

 

 ~NO NAME CALLING WEEK ~

 

The Creation Expression Exhibit will be displayed at the Snow Hill Branch of the
Worcester County Library

CLOSED TODAY

In observance of Martin Luther King, Jr.  Day  Monday, January 21, 2013 Accomack County Public Schools will be closed.

Also, due to Hurricane Sandy, the teacher work day that was previously scheduled for January 23 has been rescheduled for Monday, January 28. There will be no school on that day, but teachers will report for work. Classes will resume on Tuesday, January 29, which will be the beginning of the second semester and the third nine weeks.

All other changes to the school calendar can be viewed on the website news releases.

Pocomoke City Hall will be closed on Monday  January 21, 2013 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Delmarva Discovery Center~ See Your Favorite Critter Up Close Today !



Bernard
The Black Rat Snake



Delmarva Discovery Center

 

TODAY

 

 OPEN  ~ 1 PM until 4 PM

 

Gary
The Box Turtle

 

Starting at 2 PM, our staff and volunteers will be taking out some of our life animal friends to talk to visitors who have come into the museum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REMEMBER TO GET YOUR TICKETS

 

 

To keep up with what's happening at the Delmarva Discovery Center go HERE

TIME MACHINE ... 1974, 1929, 1964, 1880, 1890.

(Reader-friendly viewing of newspaper archives material)

August, 1974
(Salisbury Times)

(Excerpt)

Pitch Will Be Made For New College

Frank H. Morris, former mayor of Salisbury and member of the state board of community colleges, is expected to appear before the Wicomico County Council Tuesday to emphasize the need for an occupationally-technically oriented community college on the lower Eastern Shore.

The four lower Eastern Shore counties are the only ones in the state not served by a community college.

Mr. Morris said he will ask for the council's participation in a feasibility study and also for the council's consideration of the study when complete. Dorchester and Worcester Counties have agreed to lend their support to the study.

　

　

July, 1929

(The Morning Herald- Hagerstown, Md.)

Bootlegging In Potatoes Costly

(By The Associated Press)
Salisbury, Md., July 25- A bootlegging trade in potatoes has cost farmers on the eastern shore of Virginia about ten carloads, the amount they estimated has been stolen from fields and cars, it was reported here today. In the night, they said, trucks have taken on loads of potatoes, packed and left in the fields near New Church and Onley, Va. At Onley three freight cars were opened and 240 barrels taken. The farmers believe the trucks have been carrying the stolen potatoes to Philadelphia and New York markets.

　

　

　

October, 1964 (Time Machine Archive)

 

The latest business addition to downtown Pocomoke was SILCO celebrating its' Grand Opening at Front and Market Streets near the Marva Theater. Grand Opening specials included: Ladies Shirts..$1.27, Men's Shirts..$1.48, Large Cannon Blankets..$2.77, Men's Boots with steel shank and waterproof insulation..$3.69, TV Tray Tables with sturdy collapsible stand.. regularly 94 cents for 59 cents each.

　

　

　

June, 1880

(The Herald And Torch Light- Hagerstown, Md.)

The State Teachers' Association will meet at Ocean City the 6th, 7th, and 8th of July. Tickets of membership (50 cents) for teachers, school officers and friends, may be obtained from P. A. Witmer.

These tickets are necessary to secure the advantages of reduced fare on railroads, steamboat, and at hotel. The Western Maryland Railroad will issue tickets to Baltimore and return for $2.50 from Hagerstown, good from 5th to 13th of July. The steamboat fare from Baltimore to Ocean City and return will be four dollars. The boat leaves wharf, foot of South Street, at five o'clock every evening except Saturday. The ticket by rail from Baltimore to Ocean City and return (good during the season) will be six dollars. Boarding at the Atlantic Hotel to members one dollar a day for the three days the Association is in session. Afterwards, $12.50 a week. Persons desiring to attend ought to start on Monday the fifth by the 6:10 train.

　

　

　

Memories of Accomac, 1890 John S. Wise Jr.. "Memories of Accomac, 1890" Peninsula Enterprise (Accomac, Va.: August 21, 1937)

(Introduction)

A friend recently said to me that after all, our memories remain with us and with many are all they get out of life. Certainly I cherish nothing more than my memories of old Drummondtown and Accomack County in 1890, now nearly half a century ago, when I spent a summer with my dear old cousin, Dr. John J. Wise, at his old home "Woodburn," about a mile north of Drummondtown.

I was then a lad of fourteen and full of youthful vitality and activity and interest and curiosity about all things of the Eastern Shore new to a boy who had spent most of his time in the inland country mountains.

(PART 4)

Bill R's (Ayres) didn't need any telephone. He had a voice that enabled him to talk to the town. He was a grand old character. A large handsome man with a wonderful genial and kindly disposition.

One day he told me he needed some cats to protect his barn against rats. I was then doing a lot of traveling around the country and proceeded to pick up every spare cat I could find and landed twenty-seven on him. In after years whenever he saw me he referred to the cat episode.

Henry Ayres would stop in, but being only a carpenter he didn't find it very congenial to mix in with lawyers, doctors and students. Henry lived in the little house near the drug store which I believe he built with his own labor.

He lived to be an old man. Sitting on the steps of the old Coleburn store, which was on the present open space on Main Street now opposite the drug store, he told me he worked as a carpenter building that house in 1855, and that year cast his first vote for my grandfather for Governor.

Tom Russell was a young lawyer in Drummondtown then. He was a great friend of John Blackstone and John Bundick, another local lawyer. Young Jim Fletcher, afterwards Circuit Judge, was a lawyer then.

William Parker was living in the Gibb House on the back street where Dr. John Hack Ayers afterwards lived. He had a pretty little daughter about my age. Lottie she was called. All the boys were making eyes at Lottie.

Dr. J. H. Ayres was a young doctor and was usually at the noon gathering.
FOOTNOTE: LOOK FOR MORE PORTIONS OF THIS ARTICLE ON FUTURE TIME MACHINE POSTINGS. 　
　
Do you have a local memory to share with PPE readers.. such as a big snow storm, a favorite school teacher, a local happening, something of interest your parents or grandparents told you about? It can be just a line or two, or more if you wish. Send to tkforppe@yahoo.com and watch for it on a future TIME MACHINE posting!

Control Burn - Saturday Jaunary 12, 2013

CONTROL BURN

CLARKE AVENUE/WILLOW STREET

Lawson's Night Club

 

Fire departments participating with Pocomoke City

Volunteer Fire Company were: 

 Princess Anne, New Church, Stockton, Snow Hill,

Girdletree and Greenbackville

 

 

    

 

There was an almost unheard crack and the one chimney in the building gave way and as it landed into the fire the remainder of the building collapsed, as if in slow motion, to the ground without making hardly a sound.  Smoke from the evening along with dirt and dust rolled out forming the largest dark cloud I had ever seen.

 

Another chapter closed.

January 15, 2013 (Below)

ALL photos jmmb

What's New At The Delmarva Discovery Center

CREATE YOUR OWN COMIC!
Presented by JBL Comics
February 23 from 10 am until 12 noon.Learn to create your own comic book
Create story, lay out pages, draw, ink & letter
For children & adults interested in creating
comics, graphic novels or sequential art

FREE with paid admission
All supplies will be provided









Locals Appreciation ALL YEAR LONG!!!!

The First Weekend of Every Month
 50% off Admission for Locals!
(Sussex, Worcester, Wicomico, Somerset and Accomack Counties)

Field Notes By Delegate Mike McDermott

Observations and Reflections

 on Legislative Activities

Week 2 Jan. 14-18, 2013

Monday Evening Meeting of the Commercial Waterman’s Caucus: I joined Delegate Jay Jacobs (R-Kent) and several other members (primarily from the Eastern Shore) for the first meeting of the Commercial Waterman’s Caucus. Approximately 45 Watermen attended representing all area...s of the state. We heard a presentation from representatives for the watermen, including Gibby Dean addressing the “Fair Share” plan published by the Dept. of Natural Resources. While the watermen number around 5800, they are dwarfed in number by recreational fishing interests. The Fair Share is designed to distribute the costs associated with enforcement and administration by the DNR evenly between those two groups based on the catch ratios, etc. I was encouraged to see the turnout and I hope the bi-weekly meetings will be productive insuring that the commercial watermen have a voice in Annapolis.

Tuesday Judiciary Committee Hearing: We heard a presentation from the Maryland Access to Justice Commission regarding compensation for plaintiffs in civil litigation who are indigent. They particularly addressed issues surrounding the Maryland Constitution’s Declaration of Rights and their desire to see fee shifting for plaintiffs who are successful in bringing action. Link to Hearing

Wednesday Morning Session: My bill, HB-106 which would repeal last year’s SB-236 Septic Bill, was on First Reader today. A hearing is pending before the House Environmental Matters Committee. Another one of my bills, HB-104, which would provide a grace period to Maryland businesses for minor violations of regulatory codes, was also on First Reader and assigned to Economic Matters for a hearing. HB-104 insures that on a first offense, there is no fine assessed if the corrections are made in a timely manner. The bill has good bi-partisan support .

Wednesday Judiciary Committee Hearing:
Briefing on Maryland’s False Health Care Claims Act-We heard from the office of the Attorney General concerning the use and application of the False Claims Act passed in 2010. Under the act, the Attorney General has expanded his staff to address these false claims to a total of 31 with 7of those positions being attorneys (current budget requests another 9 personnel). To date, the unit has settled the following in claims/recovery: 2011-$3.7 million; 2012-$1.2 million; 2013-$12 million to date. The unit is not cheap to operate and costs millions in tax dollars. The presenters pointed out that up to 75% of the funding is paid by federal grant funds. No one could say how long the grant may last. The damage to our system is substantial, but the cost to operate and facilitate fraud collection is not cheap. It seems clear the act passed by the General Assembly is not really increasing our collection of fraud cases (most are settled with the federal government which we would receive regardless of the act), however the potential is real to make a dent in fraudulent cases filed in Maryland. We need to do a lot more to make it worth our expenses even though we should always pursue fraud when it comes to our attention.) Link to Hearing

Wednesday Afternoon-My office launched “A Minute with Mike” video clips. They are a one-minute presentation on a contemporary issue facing the Maryland. My first topic was the 2nd Ammendment. See “A Minute with Mike”.

Thursday Judiciary Committee Bill Hearings:
HB-10 Would prohibit a convicted Sex Offender from being awarded custody of a child by a court without good cause and clear and convincing evidence as determined by the court. This is one of those bills that tends to codify what the courts in Maryland are already practicing, but it may be necessary to insure that the approach is uniform.
 
HB-22 Deals with access and confidentiality to Birth and Adoptive Records as they relate to search, contact, and reunion services. The bill would open up the records of adoptees and it would eliminate the right of a biological parent or an adoptee to file a Veto Disclosure. We heard some emotional testimony, primarily from adoptees. There were several reasons provided for maintaining the current law and keeping the Veto Disclosures option in place. Link to Hearings

Thursday Afternoon: I met with the Coastal Association of Realtors representatives along with Delegate Charles Otto. They reviewed several legislative initiatives which give them great pause. We all agreed that much of the legislation passed in recent years has been a real detriment to development across Maryland and particularly on the shore.

Friday Eastern Shore Delegation Meeting: The delegation met Secretary Summers of the Maryland Department of the Environment and also heard from Thomas W. Beauduy, Susquehanna River Basin Commission and the Marine Trades Association of Maryland. You can click here for Minutes for the Eastern Shore Delegation Meeting.

Friday Morning Governor’s Press Conference: Gov. O’Malley spelled out his Gun Control agenda this morning in the Signing Room around 10 AM. Clearly, we will be having strong discussions about the 2nd Ammendment in Maryland. I hope we can cut through the rhetoric, identify any shortcomings, and move forward with intellectual honesty. I must tell you that I am not hopeful in this regard. The Progressives want a gun grab from law abiding folks that will not solve any problems or prevent future tragedy. and they are willing to play on emotions so they can declare, “problem solved”.
Friday Morning Session: I had two distinct pleasures this morning. First, my son, 1st LT Nate McDermott (Army, 82nd Airborne Division) came up through a snow storm to be on the floor of the House. It was his first trip to Annapolis since my election. Speaker Busch was very kind and after introducing my son, he invited him up to the Speaker’s Dias for a photo opportunity. I went up as well and the members were very generous with their appreciation for Nate’s service to our country. My second pleasure this morning was offering this morning’s prayer. I utilized General George Washington’s “Earnest Prayer” which he offered to the First Continental Congress as he disbanded the successful Continental Army following the Revolution. This was a very proud moment for me as a father and a member of the House.

Specials ~ Riverside Grill

Saturday  January 19, 2013

 

 -Crab & Corn Chowder w/ 1/2 chicken salad sandwich or side salad 6.99
 -NC Pulled Pork BBQ sandwich w/ cole slaw and hush puppies 6.99
 -Neptune Wrap (lump crab and shrimp salad) w/ fries 8.99
 -Ale Batter Fried Shrimp Basket w/ FF 8.99*
 -Tropical Salad w/ chilled shrimp 8.99

 

 

 

 

 *Take another $1 off shrimp baskets all day

 

$2.50 Bloody Marys and Mimosas all day

 

 @ 5 pm: $4 dollar burgers

 

 @ 8 pm:

 

$3.50 Stoli drinks

 $3 Corona, Corona light, and Red Stripe

 

Earl Weaver- Orioles Manager Died Friday

Earl Weaver, the Hall of Fame Manager for the Baltimore Orioles died Friday night while on a Caribbean Cruise sponsored by the Baltimore Orioles.  He was 82.

One of the greatest managers- if not the greatest- in the history of baseball, especially in the history of Orioles baseball.

What a loss for all of us Oriole's fans. 

RIP Earl Weaver.

Firery Orioles Manager Earl Weaver Dead at 82

TIME MACHINE ... This Sunday's Preview.

1974.. A community college for the lower Eastern Shore?; 1929.. A bootlegging problem, but not liquor; 1964.. Pocomoke City's newest downtown business; 1880.. Travel plans to Ocean City for state teachers announced; and Part 4 of Memories Of Accomac, 1890.

Although you may not find these items in a history book, they are a part of our local history and you can read more about it this Sunday right here at The Pocomoke Public Eye!

　 Do you have a local memory to share with PPE readers.. such as a big snow storm, a favorite school teacher, a local happening, something of interest your parents or grandparents told you about? It can be just a line or two, or more if you wish. Send to tkforppe@yahoo.com and watch for it on a future TIME MACHINE posting!

Episode 3 /From Why Do We Kill?

"Why Do We Kill" Episode 3: Five Women Who Died from Why Do We Kill? on Vimeo.

Taken from Episode 3:

"When is one life, worth more than another?

That's the question Baltimore faced as the bodies of strangled women were found strewn across the city during the summer of 2008. In roughly four months, five women died, all strangled, all victims discarded in back alley's and side streets of West Baltimore. Among the victims, Nicole Sesker, the daughter of Baltimore's former top cop, Leonard Hamm.

The killings spurred speculation that a serial killer was targeting prostitutes, and shortly after the last victim was found, a man was arrested who had indeed strangled two women and nearly killed another. But what happened after the arrest, and how the cases were handled, revealed just how treacherous life is for the city's poorest, and most vulnerable."


To read more about this case and why people kill in Baltimore and beyond go to:  amazon.com/Why-Do-Kill-Pathology-Baltimore/dp/1463534809/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1348073885&sr=1-1

"We keep making the same mistakes, because we don't understand.  We don't understand why the women remain, why they won't abandon a lost generation and mere memories of a better past."
                                                  - Kelvin D. Sewell -

jmmb
Thanks Tom

SUICIDE DURING TRAFFIC STOP IN MONTGOMEY COUNTY

(ROCKVILLE, MD) – State Police are investigating the death of a man who shot himself this afternoon after being stopped by a trooper in Montgomery County for a traffic violation.

The identity of the man is unknown at this time. Troopers are attempting to positively identify the driver of a 1997 Ford Focus. Emergency medical personnel from Montgomery County Fire Department pronounced him dead at the scene. His body will be transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for an autopsy.

Shortly after 4:00 p.m., a Maryland state trooper from the Rockville Barrack was patrolling on northbound Interstate 270 prior to Montrose Road when the driver of a 1997 Ford Focus was observed operating the vehicle without a seat belt. The trooper initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle. The driver stopped the vehicle on the right shoulder without incident. As the trooper exited his vehicle, he heard a gun shot. The trooper returned to his vehicle and immediately notified the barrack and requested back up. The trooper gave verbal commands to the driver but he did not respond.

Once back up arrived on the scene, the troopers gave verbal commands for the driver to exit the vehicle. When he did not, the troopers approached the car. They found driver unresponsive and saw what appeared to be a gunshot wound to his upper torso. Troopers saw a handgun near the center console of the car. EMS personnel were summoned to the scene and emergency care was provided, but driver was deceased.

The Maryland State Police Homicide Unit has been notified and will be conducting the investigation. Investigators from the Rockville Barracks along with State Police crime scene technicians continue to process the scene. The body will be transported to the Office of the Medical Examiners in Baltimore for an autopsy. The victim’s name will not be released until he is positively identified and family is notified. He may not be positively identified until after the autopsy is completed.

Submitted:
Md. State Police

Worcester County Sheriff's Office Arrest Report

Worcester County Sheriff's Office

On January 16, 2013 members of the Worcester County Criminal Enforcement Team executed a search and seizure warrant on West Street, Berlin, Maryland. This search and seizure warrant was in reference to an ongoing Marijuana and Heroin distribution investigation. Entry to this residence was made by the Berlin Police Department SWAT Team at which time Joseph Tyler Shanahan (Age 25) was taken into custody without incident. A search of this residence revealed 987 grams of Marijuana, 99 individually wrapped bags of Heroin, and $1,510.00 United States Currency.

 Joseph Shanahan was subsequently transported to the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office for processing at which time he was charged with following offenses:

 

1        Possession of Marijuana

2.      Possession of Heroin

3.      Possession with the intent to distribute Marijuana

4.      Possession with the intent to distribute Heroin

5.      Possession with the intent to distribute Marijuana in a school zone

6.      Possession with the intent to distribute Heroin in a school zone

7.      Possession of drug paraphernalia

 Joseph Shanahan was subsequently committed to the Worcester County Jail on a $250,000.00 bond.

 

The Worcester County Criminal Enforcement Team was assisted by the Ocean City Police Department Narcotics Unit, Berlin Police Department SWAT and Canine, Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division, Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office, and the Maryland State Police Berlin Barrack during the execution of this search and seizure warrant.

 

On January 9, 2013 at approximately 0912 hours a Deputy of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office arrested 34 year old Larry Murice Obrien of Berlin, MD on 3 Worcester County Circuit Court Warrants for failing to appear for court on 12/12/2012 for paternity cases.  Obrien was held at the Worcester County Jail on $3000.00 bond.

 

On January 9, 2013 at approximately 1032 hours a Deputy of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office arrested 27 year old Rodrigo Alves Valadao of Salisbury, MD on a Fugitive Warrant through Delaware on the charges of Forgery and Bad check uttering.  Valadao was held at the Worcester County Jail on no bond.

 

 

On January 10, 2013 at approximately 1029 hours a Deputy of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office arrested 28 year old Christopher George Ashley of Berlin, MD on a District Court Arrest Warrant through Worcester County on the charges of Theft less than $1,000.00 (2 counts) Conspiracy Theft less than $1000.00 (2 counts), Theft Scheme $10,000.00-100,000.00, and Forgery of private documents (2 counts).  Ashley was released on personal recognizance. 

 

On January 11, 2013 at approximately 1446 hours a Deputy of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office arrested 28 year old Rachel Katherine Oettel Of Lewes, DE on a District Court Arrest Warrant through Worcester County on the charges of Burglary 1^st Degree, Theft less than $1,000.00,Theft $1,000.00-10,000.00.  Oettel was held at the Worcester County Jail on $7500.00 bond.

 

 On January 12, 2013 at approximately 0859 hours a Deputy of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office arrested 47 year old Rone Bouvier Tindley of Delmar, MD on Libertytown road in the area of Nine Pin Branch road.  Tindley was charged with DUI related offenses and later released on citation. 

 

On January 16, 2013 at approximately1405 hours a Deputy of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office arrested 27 year old David Lee Clark of Dover, DE on a District Court Bench Warrant through Worcester County for failure to appear for court on September 28, 2012 on the charges of Driving on suspended/revoked license privileges, Driving without a license, Driving while Impaired by CDS, and possession of marihuana.  Clark was released on personal recognizance.

 

 

Lt. Edward C. Schreier
Worcester County Sheriff's Office
 

 

Riverside Grill Specials

FRIDAY SPECIALS

JANUARY 18, 2013

 

-Cream of Crab Soup w/ ½ ham sandwich or side salad 6.99
 -Buffalo Shrimp Wedge Salad 8.99
 -Fried Oyster & Shrimp Basket 11.99 (7 of each w/ fries)
 -Fried Rockfish Sandwich w/ fries 9.99

 

 Happy Hour 4-7

 

w/ $1 off all appetizers

 

 @ 8 pm:

 

 $3.50 Captain Morgan and Sailor Jerry Drinks

 $1.50 Bud lt, Coors lt, and Yuengling drafts

 

The 23 Executive Orders On Gun Safety Signed Today By The President

Rick Ungar, Contributor
President Obama has signed 23 executive orders designed to address the problem of gun violence in America.

 The following are the items addressed:

Gun Violence Reduction Executive Actions:

1. Issue a Presidential Memorandum to require federal agencies to make relevant data available to the federal background check system.

2. Address unnecessary legal barriers, particularly relating to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, that may prevent states from making information available to the background check system.

3. Improve incentives for states to share information with the background check system.

4. Direct the Attorney General to review categories of individuals prohibited from having a gun to make sure dangerous people are not slipping through the cracks.

5. Propose rulemaking to give law enforcement the ability to run a full background check on an individual before returning a seized gun.

6. Publish a letter from ATF to federally licensed gun dealers providing guidance on how to run background checks for private sellers.

7. Launch a national safe and responsible gun ownership campaign.

8. Review safety standards for gun locks and gun safes (Consumer Product Safety Commission).

9. Issue a Presidential Memorandum to require federal law enforcement to trace guns recovered in criminal investigations.

10. Release a DOJ report analyzing information on lost and stolen guns and make it widely available to law enforcement.

11. Nominate an ATF director.

12. Provide law enforcement, first responders, and school officials with proper training for active shooter situations.

13. Maximize enforcement efforts to prevent gun violence and prosecute gun crime.

14. Issue a Presidential Memorandum directing the Centers for Disease Control to research the causes and prevention of gun violence.

15. Direct the Attorney General to issue a report on the availability and most effective use of new gun safety technologies and challenge the private sector to develop innovative technologies.

16. Clarify that the Affordable Care Act does not prohibit doctors asking their patients about guns in their homes.

17. Release a letter to health care providers clarifying that no federal law prohibits them from reporting threats of violence to law enforcement authorities.

18. Provide incentives for schools to hire school resource officers.

19. Develop model emergency response plans for schools, houses of worship and institutions of higher education.

20. Release a letter to state health officials clarifying the scope of mental health services that Medicaid plans must cover.

21. Finalize regulations clarifying essential health benefits and parity requirements within ACA exchanges.

22. Commit to finalizing mental health parity regulations.

23. Launch a national dialogue led by Secretaries Sebelius and Duncan on mental health.

It does not appear that any of the executive orders would have any impact on the guns people currently own-or would like to purchase- and that all proposals regarding limiting the availability of assault weapons or large ammunition magazines will be proposed for Congressional action. As such, any potential effort to create a constitutional crisis—or the leveling of charges that the White House has overstepped its executive authority—would hold no validity.

Source:

Compromise Met On Pit Bull Issue

By Michael Dresser,
The Baltimore Sun

Senate, House Reach Compromise On Pit Bull Issue

Key members of the Maryland Senate and House have reached a compromise on how to undo a Court of Appeals ruling last year that labeled pit bulls as an inherently dangerous breed.

Identical bills have been introduced in both chambers to deal with the issue of who is liable when a dog bites a person, reflecting an agreement that eluded lawmakers during a special session last August.

Sen. Brian Frosh, chairman of the Judicial Proceedings Committee, said the legislation would apply to all dogs, not just pit bulls, overruling the court's breed-specific decision. It would also eliminate what is known to some as the "one bite" doctrine under which a dog owner can be excused from liability if the pet has not bitten somebody else previously.

"The burden is shifted from the victim to know the propensity of the dog to bite or be dangerous," said Frosh, a Montgomery County Democrat. "It's fair to victims, it's fair to landlords, it's fair to pet owners."

Frosh and his House counterpart, Judiciary Committee Chairman Joseph F. Vallario Jr., promised quick action on the emergency bill, which would take effect upon its signature by the governor if passed by a supermajority in both houses. Vallario, a Prince George's County Democrat, said his panel will hold a hearing Jan. 31.

One of the concerns raised by the court decision is that it held landlords liable for injuries caused when a tenant's pit bull bit somebody. Animal advocates have expressed concerns that landlords would require tenants to give up their pets in order to keep their housing.

The bill returns the law on pit bulls to where it stood before the court decision, making it more difficult to win a case against a landlord. A plaintiff would have to show that the landlord -- or housing or condominium association -- knew or should have know that the dog was dangerous.

At the same time, the measure would make it easier for victims to prove a case against an owner in all dog attack cases, regardless of breed, than it was before the court decision.

Frosh said the issues that divided the Senate and House last year were worked out in talks between himself and Del. Luiz R. S. Simmons, a Montgomery County Democrat who sits on the committee that will handle the legislation in the House.

Simmons said the House and Senate divided last year over the question of whether to apply a "strict liability" standard under which the dog owner would in many cases be automatically responsible for any injury caused by the pet. He said the Senate agreed to drop strict liability under the compromise, which provides that an owner could still call in witnesses to testify that the dog had not previously shown any signs of aggression.

A strict liability standard would have had unintended consequences, Simmons said. "It would have caused insurance policies for homeowners to spike in ways that couldn't be predicted," he said.

Owners would still retain all the previous common law defenses that existed before the decision, including trespassing and provocation, Simmons said.

The compromise was endorsed by representatives of landlords and animal advocates.

"Something needed to be done because we've been the bad guys since the ruling," said Michael Gisriel, a lobbyist for the Maryland Multi-Family Housing Association.

Tami Santelli, Maryland director of the Humane Society  said the compromise addresses the organization's concerns that the decision was forcing Marylanders to choose between their dogs and their homes.

"Shelters are seeing more pit bulls come in," she said. "It's been harder to adopt pit bulls out."

Source:

Change Maryland Releases New Figures on County-Level Employment

*see technical note following release

Annapolis - Change Maryland released new figures today on county employment levels following the release of the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program on January 8.

Under the program, Maryland's 24 jurisdictions can be measured on employment levels over time periods. By comparing the annual year-end average against other years, the data shows multiple-year trends for each jurisdiction.

The largest population centers of Prince George's, Baltimore County, and Baltimore City have lost the most jobs, in total numbers, from 2007 to 2011. These jurisdictions, on average, experienced employment level declines ranging from 16,000 to 17,000 each. Just two counties – St. Mary's and Howard – gained jobs during that time.

“Coming out of the recession, we're just not posting strong gains consistently, across the state,” said Change Maryland Communications and Policy Director Jim Pettit. “And we're finding that our largest jurisdictions are pulling employment levels down, and we need to see an opposite trend in order to restore economic performance statewide."

In percentage terms, St. Mary's and Howard led the state in job growth with gains of over 6% and nearly 3%, respectively. In percentage terms, eastern shore counties Kent, Cecil and Talbot led in declines with employment levels dropping on average just over 9%. 

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Background:
County Employment Annual.pdf (161.5 KB)
attachment: county employment annual
county-by-county analysis, p.1
county rankings, p.19

*Technical note: On January 15, Change Maryland issued the press release, “Sharp Divergence in Maryland Counties' Job Growth, Economic Performance.” That release uses a different baseline to calculate employment levels, which caused wider fluctuations in some jurisdiction's ranking, particularly Worcester county. Unlike state-level employment data, county-level data is not seasonally-adjusted. BLS, in county-level tables and in its technical documentation, does not disclose this. Change Maryland made further inquiries to BLS. BLS recommends comparing annual averages to help account for preliminary data and monthly fluctuations. 2012 data is preliminary; 2011 is not. Therefore, this release analyzes years 2007 to 2011, comparing the average employment levels for those years.

DDC & Brian Garrett Receive Award

CONGRATULATIONS!

Brian and the Delmarva Discovery Center

 

Photo/City of Pocomoke

Congratulations to Brian Garrett and the Delmarva Discovery Center for the 2012 Heritage Tourism Event Award they received today (Wednesday) from the Lower Eastern Shore Heritage Council (LESHC) for the Winter Watermen's Festival they held again this year! Well-deserved. (Apologies for the funny photo! Bad lighting, bad angle and little time!)

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Don't forget the next upcoming event at the
 Delmarva Discovery Center

 

Pocomoke Couple Receives Legacy Award

 

CONGRATULATIONS

 

(Photo/City of Pocomoke)

Congratulations to Jim and Sudie Gatling for being awarded the Lower Eastern Shore Heritage Council (LESHC) 2012 LEGACY AWARD for their 17+ years of work to restore, refurbish and maintain the Sturgis One Room School Museum! They, too, received their award today (Wednesday) at LESHC's 8th Annual Meeting. They were thanked for their exemplary leadership and inspirational dedication.

 (Apologies for the poor photo quality!)

 

 

Photo/BW

Sturgis One Room School Museum in Pocomoke City, Maryland