Posted by Phil Lee (216.250.238.37) on July 24, 2001 at 16:50:
SB 211 Signing Ceremony
Transcript of Remarks by Senate President Miller, Speaker Taylor, and Lt. Gov. Townsend
[Indicates approximate time from start of recording in minutes and seconds]
Ceremony begins with Ruffles and Flourishes and Hail to the Chief as President Clinton enters with the Governor and Lt. Governor.
(Applause and cheers)
Miller: [1:20]
Mr. President, Governor, Lt. Governor, distinguished guests, members of Congress, elected officials all, lets us first welcome the President of the United States to these historic chambers of the House and the Senate. This is the third time the President of the United States has been in this very historic building. The first time was in 1992, the Second was in 1997 and again today as we sign this very historic bill into law. We’re very honored that so many people have come together today to welcome the President and participate in this ceremony.
Last Saturday I had the occasion to listen to the President of the United States’ radio address and he talked about the Congress of the United States and he talked about how they weren’t moving forward on health care and talked about how they weren’t moving forward in terms of education and he talked about how they weren’t moving forward on gun control. He talked about gun shows.
Folks, in terms of health care, Mr. President, last night we passed a bill which guaranteed free health care to every child under the age of 19 in the State of Maryland. In terms of education, we mandated a 5% salary increase for every teacher in the state of Maryland, last night. We Mandated intervention for at-risk children in terms of education. And in terms of gun control, we’re witness today to a landmark legislation where the first state in the nation to not just to propose but to pass mandatory interlocks for handguns in the United States of America.
I’m going to say it takes a Senate, it takes a House, and it takes a governor, but it takes a national agenda and you, Mr. President, with your national agenda have moved the States forward on these issues and we’re so very proud of you and of all that you’ve done for us here in these United States of America.
We have great leaders here in the state of Maryland. Leader on the state level, leaders on the local level, but in the senate we have many, many people here, but in the House of Delegates we have a person here that voted for this bill.
You know in urban areas it can be easier to vote for gun control, but in rural areas it can be a little bit tougher, but you can still vote for gun control. But in places like western Maryland, like Southern Maryland, like the eastern shore, there are some people who stand out and the person I’m going to introduce is the leader of the House of Delegates, the Speaker of the House of Delegates, without whose help this gun control bill could not have been made possible, Casper Taylor. Casper Come on up here.
(Applause – President Clinton applauds enthusiastically)
Taylor: [5:35]
Thank you …, Thank you …,Thank you …,Thank you …,
Thank you very much. Mr. President, my fellow Marylanders, history is again being made in this historic building today. Just a few steps from where you sit, Mr. President, the very first American to hold the office you now hold, changed the course of history for our great country and for the world by resigning his commission in the Continental Army thus insuring the continuation of our new democracy. Today, we are honored to have you here to witness history again in the oldest state house in America in continued use. And we are here to celebrate what we have done here in the last 91 days.
I believe we have used it to fulfill one of the most important responsibilities that we as elected officials and that is to insure the physical safety of our citizens. The legislation that we will sign today does this in two very different ways. First, it provides through the advancement of modern technology for the physical safety of those who come into contact with firearms. The locking devices we require with this legislation will protect the physical safety of our citizens, particularly our children, from inadvertent injury and needless deaths.
Second, Mr. President, this legislation will take those who would violate our laws regarding firearms and put them behind bars. Away from our communities where we suffer so much gun violence. This legislation advances to the greatest extent possible our efforts at law enforcement by making incarceration of those who break our laws using firearms a certainty. This legislation fulfills the promise we all have made to our citizens that they will be physically safe in our communities.
There could be no one in Maryland better able to follow these remarks than the Maryland official who has presided over one of the most dramatic drops in crime in Maryland. Her efforts at creating effective community strategies for fighting crime is well known nationally. And ladies and gentlemen it is my pleasure to introduce the Lieutenant Governor of the State of Maryland, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend.
(Applause)
Townsend: [9:00]
Thank you …, Thank you Speaker …,Thank you [Kelly?]
Thank you Speaker Taylor. In 1996 was our first gun bill and again now you and President Miller have shown tremendous vision and leadership. You have helped build consensus where few thought possible. And thank you Mr. President for joining with us today. You’ve reminded America of the good that politics and government can accomplish. This bill today, this law, was driven forward by the renewed confidence and commitment that your leadership has re-ignited across our nation. There is now a growing national understanding of what can and must be done to stop gun violence and it began with you. From passage of the Brady Bill and Crime Bill in 1994 to the settlement with Smith & Wesson last month, you have set a course toward smarter strategies which have cut crime in many places to levels not seen since the 1960’s. This is an extraordinary legacy, a historic legacy, and I’m deeply grateful for your leadership. Thank you.
(Applause)
[10:50]
The responsible gun safety act of 2000 is a significant victory for our children, our communities and our country. It says we will not be held hostage by special interests or reckless, out-of-touch ideologs.
It is just plain wrong for it to be easier to fire a gun than to open a bottle of Aspirin. That we can have both stronger safety laws and stronger enforcement tools that target people who use guns to commit crimes. And it says, despite the barrage of 30-second TV attack ads, the people of Maryland know that it is easier to child proof your gun than to bullet proof your child.
(Applause)
[11:50]
Over the past few years we have cut gun related violent crime in Maryland by 28%. We’ve done this by working together with the general assembly, with law enforcement, and with the citizens of our state. The bill the governor signs into law today will help to save even more lives. As my father Robert Kennedy said in 1967, we have a responsibility to the victims of crime and violence. It is a responsibility to think not only of our own convenience, but of the tragedy of sudden death. It is a responsibility to put away childish things. To make the possession and use of firearms a matter undertaken only by serious people who will use them with the restraint and maturity that their dangerous nature deserve and demands.
For too ling we have dealt with these deadly weapons as if they are harmless toys. Governor Glendening, President Clinton, on behalf of every family that has suffered a loss due to gun violence and on behalf of those families who will never suffer that loss because of the bill we sign today, thank you.
(Applause)
[13:28]
It is now my great honor to introduce the man whose vision and courage led us to this victory. Maryland has been fortunate that in times of tough fights, we’ve had a fighter in the state house. Governor Glendening has never backed down from a challenge. He battled the tobacco companies and the gambling industry. In 1996 he stood up to the gun lobby and we passed one of the toughest anti-gun-violence laws in the nation. This year he stood up to the NRA again and he has set the bar even higher. He has never flinched. And thanks to his courage, the people of Maryland are safer, healthier and more prosperous. It is my proud honor and privilege to introduce my partner Governor Parris Glendening.
(Applause)
Glendening: [14:35]
Thank you …,