Posted by Ed Patrick (63.44.198.128) on October 15, 2000 at 23:26:
Bad legislation, such as SB 211, was passed in 2000 under the
pretense of fighting crime. While there was much hoopla and
attention given such measures as mandatory sentences for gun
offenders under EXISTING LAW (e.g., Project Exile), there was
at least one bill, HB 384, that took the grand prize for
stupidity beneath the capacity of your typical elected legislator.
Under current Maryland law, any drug trafficker convicted for
a second offense of drug trafficking on school property who
is also found to be in possession of a MACHINEGUN or SILENCER
is subject to a mandatory FIVE YEAR prison sentence. There
were NINE Maryland legislators who sponsored this bill to help
remove the stigma of machinegun-toting drug traffickers from
the playgrounds of Maryland's schools. Delegate Adrienne Jones
was one of those legislators. Fortunately, HB 384 was
withdrawn. While legislators are known to look out for the
welfare of their constituents, we wonder just how many of
Maryland's machinegun-toting, schoolyard drug traffickers have
been unduly inconvenienced by the current Maryland law. Jones
was also a sponsor on HB 279, the House companion bill to SB 211,
which actually purported to INCREASE mandatory penalties for gun
use by predatory criminals.
Go figure.