Mayor Rawlings-Blake Thanks County Executive Ulman
Staff Writer
2011-02-10
.dmvblogspot.bloggieblog.com .
The mayor of Baltimore City receive support from other elected officials outside of Baltimore City. This to aid her in her lobby efforts for gun laws for the state of Maryland.
Mayor was joined by State’s Attorneys, police officials, and higher education, faith, and community leaders to advocate on behalf of bills with tougher penalties for gun offenders.Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake was joined by Howard County Executive Ken Ulman, Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Angela Alsobrooks, Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger, Johns Hopkins University President Ron Daniels, and many others in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee in support of two pieces of legislation that would create tougher penalties for gun offenders. In addition to leaders from across the state, the Mayor was also joined by Baltimore City State’s Attorney Gregg Bernstein, City Council President Bernard “Jack” Young, Fraternal Order of Police President Robert Cherry, and Baltimore faith and community leaders.
Also providing testimony was Ms. Nicole Harris-Crest, the daughter of the late City Councilman Ken Harris. Councilman Harris was killed in on September 20, 2008, during a robbery attempt. One of the men convicted of robbery and felony murder in Ken Harris’ murder trial, Charles McGaney, had previously been charged with and convicted of illegal gun possession in Baltimore County. Mr. McGaney received a very short sentence for carrying an illegal, loaded handgun on August 5, 2008, and was back on the street less than six weeks later on September 20th when Councilman Harris was shot and killed.
“The current laws are too weak and support a culture that tolerates illegal, loaded gun possession on the streets of our city and state,” Mayor Rawlings-Blake said. “We must do more to continue our fight against violent crime and illegal guns. I am grateful for the support of County Executive Ulman, State’s Attorneys Alsobrooks and Shellenberger, and President Daniels. They understand the value of passing meaningful legislation in Maryland this year.”
“Gun crime is a regional problem, and the state's problem. We all know that criminals with guns don’t care where the border of one city or county ends and another begins,” said County Executive Ulman. “The raw crime and gun numbers in Howard County are low, but they still tell a story of the problem that Mayor Rawlings-Blake is addressing. Between 2008 and 2010, a rifle, shotgun, or other long gun was used in 21 percent of all assaults in Howard County that involved a firearm. The mayor wants criminals who use those types of weapons to face stiffer penalties, and so do I.”