More info regarding Saturday's post.

Go read it here.

God, it's even worse than we thought.

From an email I recieved from Associated Gun Clubs:

Governor Compromises the Privacy of Thousands of Maryland Citizens

We have confirmed earlier reports that on orders from Governor O'Malley, the Maryland State Police are sharing the personal information on 77R firearms purchase application forms with the following non-MSP government agencies:

Department of Human Resources (DHR)
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Department of Transportation
Department of Public Safety
Correctional Services of Department of General Services

This will impact no less than the 38 thousand Maryland citizens who are currently still waiting for the MSP to "Not Disapprove" their applications to purchase a regulated firearm.

It is our information that state employees are being offered "comp time" to work this weekend doing data input. Other than a reported confidentiality agreement, there appears to be no effort to investigate the possible criminal backgrounds of these employees.

These forms contain the applicant's name, address, date and place of birth, social security number as well as information on the firearm the applicant intends to purchase. The Maryland State Police have lost control of the Licensing Division.

At this time, we will not publicly speculate on the Governor's political motivation for this action.

I have no words.

Well, yesterday I was optimistic.

Today, not so much. This was Senator Jamie Raskin during yesterday's hearing:

(Alternate link here, in case that one disappears. You may also want to embiggen it, to see just what game he's playing.)

If you wish to tell him precisely what you think about this, here's his contact information:
Jamie Raskin
(410) 841-3634, (301) 858-3634
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3634 (toll free)
e-mail: jamie.raskin@senate.state.md.us


Also worth sharing:

The text of Maryland SB0281 is available to the public.

In short: we're fucked.

Well, that took longer than I anticipated.

One of the gun owners whose information was listed in the Journal News is now dealing with a break-in and theft of his guns from his home. Awesome. I wonder how much the newspaper will be paying the victim.

Remember, kids: just because you can doesn't mean you should.

Somebody's a dum-dum...

STOP. TOUCHING. IT.

HAH!

I guess his membership to the "only ones" society ran out. Oopsie?

GO BALTIMORE.

So, remember this post?

I assumed they'd take the kids into custody, since there were witnesses and they were all in uniform. At least charge them! Apparently, that won't happen.

Surveillance footage is quite clear on what these kids did. THEY BEAT A MAN, for chrissakes...and yet, somehow, "We have reviewed all the evidence that the police gathered in their investigation, including the video footage, and have determined that criminal charges are not appropriate."


WHAT IN THE FLYING FLUFFERNUTTER IS GOING ON HERE??!? Have I somehow found myself in Bizarro Baltimore, where obvious criminal acts go unpunished? Have I simply gone mad? I just...I don't understand. Can someone smarter than me explain this so I can understand?

If this doesn't prove the TSA has no purpose, I don't know what will.

Now the "do-you-know-who-I-am??!?" set can go through TSA screening without patdowns. I mean, we CAN'T have the TSA patting down Beyonce. JUST IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD DO TO THEIR IMAGE AS A GOVERNMENT AGENCY!!


While you're at it, this is worth a read.

I'm glad I live in this city.

Because when things like this become more frequent, it'll make ANYWHERE else seem like heaven.

And last night, on my way home, the jackass commissioner decided HEY LET'S HAVE A SEAT BELT CHECKPOINT ON BEL AIR ROAD (which happens to be a heavily-traveled thoroughfare for people entering and leaving the city on the east side).

In the past 2 weeks alone the violence and crime has skyrocketed...because kids are out of school...so OF COURSE it makes sense to waste time and manpower on a bloody seat belt checkpoint.

...Really? How stupid can you be?

My friend Jeff H. linked to a story from New York that hit Gothamist Tuesday morning. I guess hipsters aren't as smart as they'd like us to think...otherwise this wouldn't have happened.

Guess what, hipsters: LAWS EXIST FOR A REASON. PAY ATTENTION TO THEM. Freaking poachers.

WOW. Way to be a pain in the ass, MDSP...

This wouldn't happen to have ANYTHING to do with the Wollard ruling, now would it?

Yet another TSA failure.

A friend of mine - who is now officially a citizen of both the US and the UK - came back to the States for a family emergency over a week ago. I don't think she anticipated the crap she got from the TSA...nor did she expect them to steal some cookies her aunt made her for Christmas.

I guess peanut butter cookies are potentially deadly. I mean, that's the ONLY possible reason half her cookies are missing, right?

I understand this is petty compared to the other crap the TSA has done, but really, it's just one more reason they need to go. When will the government listen to the people and get rid of this useless POS agency already?

Aww, poor baby.

Apparently a TSA agent reported sexual assault from a fellow TSA agent. Apparently she felt they retaliated against her, and now she's suing.

I have no pity. It's about time they experience this crap directly.

Via BoingBoing.

I guess they solved the crime problem?

Our WONDERFULTASTIC governor, Martin O'Malley, has signed off on a $553,000 purchase order for a diploma mill. Because that makes a lot of sense.

So glad to see all the state's crime has been fixed. Oh wait...

Oh, the ridiculousness...

Hypocrites.

Ugh. I knew this would happen...

Someone finally got raped in the "Occupy Baltimore" camp.

Huh.

Looks like the idiot TSA agent who left the note in that woman's luggage got suspended. Of course, that probably means the individual got a promotion.

So...everyone's pretty certain the TSA's staffed by hornballs, right?

In case you aren't 100% certain, maybe this will help cement that idea.

Dear TSA goons: Sex work pays better AND is more honorable than working for the TSA. And I've heard it can be a lot more fun. Might want to reconsider your line of work.

Failing at market research: example!

This came in the mail yesterday, and it was addressed to me...not Resident. Chris didn't get one, so I can only guess I'm on a mailing list that he isn't on. While I appreciate their desire to support charities, I really don't think they're going to do terribly well in their campaign...unless, of course, their campaign is limited to making me laugh hysterically every time I read this thing.

Anyway, presented without further comment:

(apologies on the quality, the scanner I used is NOT the best...click both to embiggenate)