Days after the 17 minute school walk out in protest of gun violence and on the week of the Washington, DC March for Life on Saturday, March 24, another school shooting occurs. This time, the shooting occurred at Great Mills High school in a small town in southern Maryland with the shooter, a teenage student, shooting a 16 year old girl and a 14 year old boy—all students. They survived. The shooter died. Instead of an assault rifle, this time it was a Glock semiautomatic. Motive or target was yet undetermined. So far, it was the 17th school shooting since January 1, 2018, according to CNN. After hearing about the school shooting in St. Mary’s County, Maryland on Tuesday, March 20, I recalled the first time when I appeared in a court case in St. Mary’s. The court house is located in Leonardtown, MD which is a very small sleepy little town. I am sure that nothing much in the way of crime happens in St. Mary’s. Nearby Leonardtown where the Circuit Court lies has a population … [Read more...] about Another Day, Another School Shooting, Another Killing
Maryland
Trump Travel Ban 2.0 is Dead on Arrival
On Monday, March 6, Donald Trump signed another executive travel ban. Instead of pursuing a likely dead end in lengthy litigation on the first ban which affected seven primarily Muslim countries--- and also banned those person holding visas and green cards, the Trump Administration decided to start anew. The second round ban exempted Iraq—still including the same six other Muslim countries. It further made provisions for those with Green cards and visas to be exempted. However, not much else changed in the real sense of showing a need for a travel ban to Muslim countries. And before the ban took effect, it was shut down by federal courts in Hawaii and Maryland. Nothing had really changed from the first ban. The first one was shut down in federal court in the State of Washington placing a hold on the ban. One day after announcing the new travel ban, Hawaii wasted no time at all in filing a lawsuit in federal court in Hawaii—much like the earlier one filed in the State of … [Read more...] about Trump Travel Ban 2.0 is Dead on Arrival
Why No Charges Filed In MD Firefighter Killed by Homeowner?
One Maryland firefighter was shot and killed and another one seriously injured after knocking on the resident's door responding to a check for the person’s welfare. No charges are filed at this time. And social media is weighing in on both sides of the argument –to file charges and those wondering why firefighters responded in the first instance and attempted to bust in the door. And as a former Maryland prosecutor, I wonder why no charges were filed by Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Angela Alsobrooks. And charges might still be filed at a later time. On Friday, April 15, Prince Georges County firefighters responded to a home for a well person check, following a call by the brother of the resident-to check on his state of health. Firefighters respond as first responders in these types of cases which may need paramedic/medical assistance. Upon arriving at the home, presumably with the customary siren sound on and flashing lights on upon arrival, the firefighters … [Read more...] about Why No Charges Filed In MD Firefighter Killed by Homeowner?
A Lesson for Hillary Clinton from Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown’s Loss
Despite the fact that Maryland has a 2-1 edge of Democrats over Republicans, Democrat nominee for Governor Anthony Brown managed to lose the election to Republican Larry Hogan, who was virtually unknown when he won last week. And in the wake of Maryland’s gubernatorial election, there are lessons for Hillary Clinton, the hands on unannounced favorite Democratic 2016 Presidential candidate. Being a frontrunner can be a blessing and a curse, as Maryland’s Anthony Brown discovered. While many Democrats shunned the President to campaign for them, Anthony Brown did not shy away from the star power of many Democrat politicians including President Obama, Bill Clinton, Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton who came to rallies in support of Brown. No amount of star power from other politicians could save the shellacking that Brown received at the hands of Hogan. Brown lost by over 9 percentage points in a heavy Democrat state. Brown did not lose because he aligned himself with party … [Read more...] about A Lesson for Hillary Clinton from Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown’s Loss