Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. letter to the editor of the Baltimore Sun, November 1, 1999

ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR. COMMERCE COMMITTEE Letters to the Editor The Baltimore Sun 501 N. Calvert Street P.O. Box 1377 Baltimore, MD 21278 Congress of ttje ®ntfrb States Щош of &epre2entatte IHagflington, 2ЭС 20515-2002 November 1, 1999 Editor: (4101 284-6828 (410) 266-6983 I join The Sun in applauding U. S. Attorney Lynn Battaglia for Project Disarm, the topic of an October 29th editorial, "Federal Prosecutor Takes Aim at Criminals." The program shows that successfully combating illegal guns and criminals who use them requires both passing and enforcing good laws. One without the other is doomed to failure. Congress has passed federal laws which make it illegal for a convicted felon to possess a gun and imposed severe penalties for violating them. Ms. Battaglia has prioritized her staff resources to strictly enforce these very tough federal laws already on the books. As a result, Project Disarm required no new gun control laws. Project Disarm, however, does not go far enough. As mentioned in your editorial, it works well in the few communities where it is in place. What about the rest of Baltimore, though, and other places in Maryland where guns are pervasive and crime dominates daily life? The same federal laws that make Project Disarm work will benefit these areas as well. For the past four months, I have been leading a discussion about bringing to Maryland, particularly the entire Baltimore- Washington corridor, a similar, more effective strategy called Project Exile. The entire Richmond, Virginia area is covered with the Project Exile blanket. Unlike Project Disarm, there are no circumstances that keep criminals caught with guns out of jail. No pleas. No bargains. No exceptions. Unlike Maryland, all criminals are prosecuted. I have met with state’s attorneys, police chiefs, leaders of fraternal orders of police, gun enthusiasts and opponents, and business and community leaders from all over Maryland. They support bringing Project Exile to our state. I made a commitment to U. S. Attorney Battaglia to get the resources she needs to do this. The people of Maryland deserve the best quality of life, and that quest begins with personal safety.