Maryland

( Patrick Semansky / Associated Press )

Maryland's rate of 4.67 firearm slayings per 100,000 residents ranks it the third likeliest place to be shot in the nation. Despite that, the comparatively liberal state has relatively strong gun laws, ranked No. 7 on the Brady Center score card with 45 points.

Governor Martin O'Malley Convenes 'Maryland Forward' Policy Forum on Guns and Gang Violence

Governor introduces new major technologies for Maryland law enforcement

BALTIMORE, MD (March 10, 2011)–Governor Martin O’Malley convened the latest in his series of “Maryland Forward” policy forums today in Baltimore, focused on guns and gang violence.  Joined by Mayor Rawlings-Blake as well as law enforcement and public safety stakeholders, Governor O’Malley facilitated a discussion on progress and opportunities for collaboration in the areas of guns and gang violence.  During the presentation, Governor O’Malley introduced a new, comprehensive warrant database supplying a searchable collection of all open warrants in Maryland, accessible by law enforcement agencies statewide....

Line of Duty Deaths: 298 (click here)

Gunfire: 132
Gunfire (Accidental): 5

The percentage of police deaths due to gun fire is lower, but, still the most predominant reason for their deaths. The other number that struck me funny were the number of automobile accident deaths.

Automobile accident: 36

Maryland in square miles is not that big. Why the high speed chances when there are cameras available to track 'the speed demons and law breakers. Isn't the damage to police cars something to consider when this goes on. Those cars are expensive. The officer's lives are irreplaceable.

High speed chases never made sense to me. There are good substitutes that actually give the criminal the idea they have made a clean get away while police knew where they were all the time and can find them easy enough.

I find the effort to stop gun violence admirable, but, the approach is very weak. 

This is a pet peeve of Mayor Bloomberg. There are states making it difficult for the NYPD to do their jobs because they have lack guns laws and an interstate highway system that runs from Florida to Maine.

The states along the I-95 corridor need their own association to bring them together for a common purpose to stop the flow of weapons in the USA. 

Maryland needs to tighten it up.