You know, I can remember when former Governor, Bob Ehrlich, was running for Governor the first time, the time that he won, the time I was still in his employ, that he and a few others from the campaign were in contact with the National Rifle Association (NRA) – in an effort to get the NRA to LOWER its rating of Ehrlich’s time in Congress from an “A” to a “B.”
I don’t recall who it was that Bob and his chosen spoke with at the time, but I do know that the NRA obliged Ehrlich’s request. The reason that the soon-to-be one term Governor made the request is because Bob didn’t want to be going after that office against liberal firebrand and dumbass, Democrat Kathleen Kennedy Townsend as an “A” rated NRA supporter. The reason he didn’t want THAT was because at that time the NRA was viewed none too favorably in Maryland, and Ehrlich figured that an “A” rating from them would likely sink his chances at attaining the Governorship.
Whatever, as most of you are aware, Mr. Ehrlich defeated Lt. Governor Townsend in the race for the top spot, so all’s well that ends well, I guess. Right? Political subterfuge works in many ways, that’s for damned sure.
I was reminded of that little tale of mild deception last week by this Bryan Sears story in The Daily Record. The story deals with current MD GOP Governor, Larry Hogan, and Hogan’s take on guns and gun issues, particularly “concealed-carry permits.” :
At one point in the story, Hogan says that he supports the 2nd Amendment and wants to “make it tougher” for criminals and nut cases to get guns.
As concerns concealed-carry permits, Hogan also said, “We have to deal within the law,” “But we’re trying to do what we can. I think people will find it’s getting a little easier,”
“Hogan added that “95 percent of people who apply” for concealed-carry permits submitted to the Maryland State Police are approved.”
“Most people are able to get a concealed-carry permit,” Hogan said. “I’m not able the change the laws that we have are some of the toughest in the country and it hasn’t stopped 330 murders in the city.”
The interesting thing to me is how 2nd Amendment leaders view Mr. Hogan’s claim that it’s “getting a little easier.” Sears writes:
“Dan Blasberg, president of Maryland Shall Issue, an organization that supports expanded carry laws in Maryland, said he’s skeptical of the figure and has heard it before.”
“That 95 percent number has been used over the past six years,” Blasberg said. “I don’t know that we’ve seen a change.”
“Blasberg said his members report that state police frequently contact applicants to inform them that they will not meet the “good and substantial reason” standard within the law and offer to return the application and the $75 processing fee.”
“They tell them they don’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of getting approved, and they send back the check and application,” Blasberg said, adding that he believes those returned applications don’t figure into the statistic Hogan cited. “You’re not denied, you’re not approved but you’re also not counted.”
The thing is, even IF it is getting “a little easier” – which seems far from being settled science – I simply don’t think that’s good enough. The 2nd Amendment couldn’t be any clearer, what with that “shall not be infringed” part dangling around at the end of it.
My attempt at curing this matter, as I’ve stated before, comes down to the Executive Order. If I were Governor, Maryland would go from being a “may carry” state to a “shall carry” state – by Executive Order, if necessary. Hell, Barack Obama’s tried to “Executive Order” EVERYTHING and the GOP Congress hasn’t done much of a damned thing to stop him – although the courts have in a number of instances. In fact, on the issue of gun control, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe has signed an Executive Order down yonder increasing VA’s gun control measures. Google it if you don’t believe me.
My point being and, yes, I know MD is not VA, but here – one state south of us – a Governor issues an Executive Order increasing gun control…so why can’t Larry Hogan issue an Executive Order making MD a “shall carry” state? Executive Orders don’t all have to be about increasing the state’ s strangle hold on its citizens, you know. And, if the legislature challenges it in court and the Executive Order is overturned, what’s that mean? That we’re right back where we started from – no better, no worse.
So, when Larry Hogan tries to tell you that he is unable to change the gun laws that are in place, ask him, “Have you tried issuing an Executive Order when it comes to making MD a shall carry state?” What does he have to lose?
Seriously, has Larry Hogan never heard the saying “Nothing ventured, nothing gained?”
After all, it’s not 2002 anymore and his name is not “Bob Ehrlich.”
darknessrevisted 
Delegate Fisher wrote a letter asking this very question about executive orders. As i hope you know, a letter from a delegate or senator always gets a response from the AG office. In this case an assistant AG penned a response that says the history of the passage of the 1972 law precludes an interpretation like you suggest. Since this assistant AG is assigned to MSP support services, his written opinion appears to be binding on that division, which includes the handgun permit section.
And frankly, setting a precedent for future md governors to EO whatever they want about guns is a bad precedent. It just sets the stage for anything done in that arena today to be undone tomorrow.