Posted by Phil Lee (149.32.89.229) on September 14, 2000 at 18:12:
In Reply to: Re: Exchange between Mr. Giff Nickol and Senator Ferguson on SB211 posted by Phil Lee on September 14, 2000 at 18:08:
-----Original Message----- Date: Wednesday, March 29, 2000 7:02 AM I feel like a vietnam veteran who is in a war I'm not allowed to win, then when I get home I take abuse from the protestors who were never on the battlefield. Call me. Thank you. Senator Tim Ferguson
From: Giff Nickol
To: fergutr@cct.infi.net
Date: Wednesday, March 29, 2000 12:19 PM
Subject: Re: Smart Guns
Senator, if I read your last message correctly, you are comparing yourself to a Vietnam veteran and me to a war protester who refused to fight. Frankly, such an analogy is both extremely insulting, and inaccurate as well.
As a private citizen, I have devoted many hours to defending the 2nd Amendment. This year alone, I have traveled to Annapolis on a number of occasions to lobby and testify, taking vacation time from my job to do so; I have spent dozens of hours on the phone and on-line rallying the troops and contacting legislators; and I have written letters to newspapers and elected officials arguing our case. Considering that I have a family I love, a home to maintain, and a full-time career, I think I have done all that any private citizen can be reasonably expected to do. Frankly, sir, you have no reason to insult me as having "never been on the battlefield," and I respectfully suggest that you owe me an apology.
I and the other folks on your list will note that you have failed to address any of the points I made in my last e-mail to you, which is included in this message. You initiated contact with me and others via e-mail on Sunday night, to boast about having "beaten" the Governor on this issue. You claimed that requiring guns to have integral mechanical locks, rather than electronic locks, constituted some sort of victory for us, and you specifically stated that the safety lever on semi-automatic pistols would comply with the law. I pointed out to you that many semi-automatic pistols, and just about all revolvers, lack manual safeties, and would not comply with the law. I also pointed out that any law requiring a design change in firearms will prompt gun makers simply to stop selling here, rather than re-design their entire product line for our small state. Given that fact -- which was asserted by a number of witnesses in both committee hearings -- the amended version of SB211 is no better than the original. Considering that SB211, as amended, will virtually end handgun sales in Maryland, I asked you to explain just how it is that we "beat" the Governor.
You may continue to insult me or accuse me of "beating up" on you (I have, of course, done no such thing) but the fact remains that you have failed to address the issues I raised in response to your initial e-mail.
-----Original Message-----
From: Timothy R. Ferguson
To: Giff Nickol
Subject: Re: Smart Guns
Giff,
Call me in Annapolis at 301-858-3704 or 410-841-3704 and we'll talk about it. I have never hurt the Second Amendment and will contend with anyone who says I have.