Letter to the Editor: A Vote for the Firearm Safety Act

Editor's note: The following letter was submitted by Patch reader, J. Elizabeth Rodriguez:

Some legislators in Annapolis want to vote against Governor O’Malley’s gun violence prevention bill.  I urge EVERY Maryland lawmaker to vote for the Firearm Safety Act of 2013.  It will prevent criminals, like the one who mugged my son, from purchasing guns.

My son was held up at gunpoint when he was going to the library to complete his English paper. Fortunately he was not hurt physically. I grew up in Brooklyn New York where I was faced with gun violence and did not want this for my children. I moved to Maryland and apparently the violence has moved here as well. 

We can end much of this violence by keeping guns out of the hands of criminals.  If this bill becomes law, legal gun purchases will require fingerprinted background checks and illegal guns will be scarce; gun owners will be required to report lost or stolen guns.

This is a historic life saving bill for me and my family; I praise Governor O’Malley and others for their leadership.