Maryland Attorney General election, 2014

Leo Dymowski's Solution for Safe Communities

End the Failed War on Drugs

The Problem:
Democratic and Republican politicians created the failed Drug Prohibition, voted to expand it, and now refuse to repeal it -- despite mounds of evidence that it encourages dangerous drug use, increases violent crime, ruins lives, and causes intense suffering for cancer and AIDS patients whose symptoms can be relieved by medical marijuana.

The U.S. has the highest incarceration rate in the world - a higher rate of prisoners than even North Korea, China, Cuba or any totalitarian country on earth! Maryland has one of the highest rates of arrest for marijuana possession in the nation.

At the same time the U.S. has the highest use of cocaine and marijuana in the world! Clearly our drug policy is a horrible failure.

Maryland’s Drug Prohibition discriminates against minorities. Even though Blacks and Whites use marijuana at comparable rates, the number of Black arrests increased by 5,614 from 2001 to 2010 while White arrests increased by only 371.

Maryland’s failed War on Drugs costs taxpayers $38,000 a year for each non violent drug offender in prison and a total of $106 million every year just to enforce marijuana possession laws.

The Solution:
End the Drug Prohibition immediately.

As your Attorney General, I will do everything within my power to:

• Stop the arrest, prosecution and incarceration of non-violent drug "offenders."
• Release non-violent drug "offenders" now in prison so they can go home to their families.
• End the discriminatory practice of racial profiling.
• Direct law enforcement to end all improper stops, searches, and arrests.
• Track and report how police conduct stops and searches.
• Take corrective action when stops and searches are conducted improperly.

These measures will:

• Lower crime dramatically and make our communities safe.
• Give cancer and AIDS patients a fighting chance to live a long and healthy life.
• Free kids from the threat of being denied admission to college, losing their financial aid, or having their careers ruined before they even start because of a minor drug offense on their record.
• Restore the right of adults to use marijuana safely and responsibly. Marijuana is safer than alcohol.
• End racist policies.
• Focus law enforcement on stopping violent criminals.
• Save taxpayers millions of dollars every year, enabling tax cuts.
• End the injustice of incarcerating non-violent drug offenders. They will be free to get productive jobs and support their families. Their young children will get to grow up with their moms and dads at home.

As your attorney general, I am committed to ending the failed and dangerous Drug Prohibition and making our communities safe.

End Citizen Disarmament

The Problem:
Maryland's misguided anti-gun laws disarm responsible, law-abiding citizens while giving violent criminals license to kill.

Democrats and Republicans mislead voters using scare tactics rather than inform themselves and the public that the right to keep and bear arms saves lives and dramatically reduces violent crime.

School children are vulnerable to the terror of mass murderers who know that schools remain unarmed and defenseless.

The Solution:
Repeal and immediately cease the enforcement of disarmament laws now on the books that violate your Second Amendment right to self-defense.

As your Attorney General, I will do everything within my power to:

• Stop arresting, prosecuting and incarcerating non-violent gun owners.
• Work to repeal the Governors Firearm Safety Act of 2013 and every other anti-gun law on the books that violates your right to self defense, protection of your family, and protection of our schools.
• Disband the Firearms Trafficking Unit and stop the seizure of hundreds of firearms owned by responsible citizens.

These measures will:

• Signal to every violent criminal that they are not safe if they violate or threaten another human being.
• Bring an end to senseless killings of innocent men, women and children in "gun free" zones. Schools will no longer be a target for mass murderers.
• Drive down the rate of violent crimes in our state - making our homes, streets and schools safe.
• Save taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars every year.

As your attorney general, I am committed to restoring and preserving your right of gun ownership and self-defense. ^[8]

Protecting people - it’s what I have done in the courtroom and in the legislature. My number one priority as Attorney General will be keeping Maryland families safe. I have been a leader in keeping Maryland families safe by:

• Leading the fight for the Firearm Safety Act, landmark gun safety legislation that will prevent gun violence and save thousands of lives in Maryland;
• Increasing protections for victims of domestic violence;
• Getting assault weapons and other dangerous firearms off of our streets;
• Ensuring that judges have better supervisory authority over dangerous sex offenders;
• Enhancing the authority of police to investigate homicides;
• Enabling judges to send drug addicts to treatment programs.

The Maryland Fraternal Order of Police has twice honored me with its Leadership Award in 2006 and 2010.

Protecting Our Communities

Thanks to our state and local law enforcement and community leaders, crime is at an all-time low in Maryland. (Source: http://www.goccp.maryland.gov/msac/crime-statistics.php) But we cannot let our guard down. We must remain vigilant and have the necessary resources available to protect the public. As Maryland’s chief legal - and law enforcement – officer, it’s the Attorney General’s job to use the law to protect, and improve the lives of, all Marylanders.

The fact is, criminals have their lawyers. The rest of us have the people’s lawyer: the Attorney General of the State of Maryland, representing mothers trying to raise their families in violent neighborhoods, senior citizens victimized by financial scams or elder abuse, and protecting children whether they’re at home, at school, or online. Those are the people I’ve spent my career fighting for – and who I will fight for as Attorney General.

As Attorney General, I will focus on bringing together neighborhoods, community groups, schools, and law enforcement to help prevent and reduce crime and develop innovative and achievable solutions to increase public safety in Maryland.

Combating Domestic Violence & Sexual Abuse

Incidents of domestic violence and sexual abuse are extremely serious crimes and unfortunately all too prevalent in Maryland. Tens of thousands of Marylanders are victims of domestic violence crimes each year. (Source: Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence).

Public officials can and should do more to keep Marylanders from suffering abuse. I have championed laws that help victims of domestic violence get protection from their abusers. Another important step that remains to be taken is to establish a more reasonable burden of proof for victims to obtain a permanent protective order. I will introduce legislation in the 2014 Maryland General Assembly to do just that, giving victims of domestic violence increased protections from their abusers.

Protecting Our Youth

We have known for years that a “one size fits all” approach to criminal justice is counterproductive. It leads to policies that waste tax dollars and make our streets more dangerous, not less. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the juvenile justice arena. Positive reform of the juvenile justice system cannot happen unless we ensure the fair and humane treatment of both youth who have committed offenses and those who have been a victim of crime or abuse. I believe it is crucial to keep all of our young people safe while holding them accountable for their actions.

As Chair of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, I have advocated policies that provide alternatives to juvenile detention whenever possible. Studies show that we can improve public safety, cut costs and reduce racial disparities by directing many of our troubled youth to placements and programs in community settings. (Source: Annie E. Casey Foundation Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative 2011) As Attorney General, I will continue to fight to give all kids the opportunity to be successful and to ensure that our communities are safe. ^[8]

• AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE ROLLOUT FIASCO - Request investigation into procurement issues, performance issues, and seek recovery of monies spent. Taxpayer money is too important to waste!

• "RAIN TAX" - Investigate legality of Federal EPA forcing a tax on Maryland citizens. Virginia's Attorney General fought this tax - successfully. How is rain water a pollutant? This fifteen billion dollar fiasco should be challenged.

• TAXES, TAXES AND MORE TAXES - I propose that any tax increase must be voted on separately by the General Assembly. No more voting this year, to increase taxes in future years. If taxes are going to be increased, our legislators should have the courage to do this openly and temporally.

• VOTING TO INCREASE TAXES BASED ON FUTURE INFLATION - I will investigate the legality of this stealth tax increase. I stand against automatic tax increases. If taxes are to be increased, legislators should have the courage to vote for those increases. Maryland taxpayers should know how much more money is going to be taken from their pockets, and who is responsible.

• GAS TAX - Another tax "phased in" so that the General Assembly only has to vote once. This tax is hidden in the price of gasoline. I propose that every fuel pump contain an easily readable disclosure indicating how much taxes we pay for every gallon. Tax payers deserve to know what taxes are being paid (Just cross the Virginia border to see the difference).

• EXPANSION OF ARBITRATION AND MEDIATION SERVICES OF THE OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL - To assist consumers in disputes with Maryland businesses, I propose increased resources to mediate and/or arbitrate these disputes, without the necessity of lawyers and courts. This should save both parties time, trouble and expense.

• LAWS, RULES, REGULATIONS, LICENSING, BUREAUCRATIC REQUIREMENTS - As Attorney General, I will appoint a task force to begin examining and recommending the repeal of those regulations which serve no useful purpose, and which cause employers to expend inordinate amounts of time and money complying with regulations that do nothing to protect the public. Cost/Benefit analyses need to be made for existing regulations, and all newly proposed regulations.

• ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR THE PEOPLE OF MARYLAND - Our citizens need an Attorney General who will be a watchdog for their best interest - not a rubber stamp for actions taken in Annapolis.

• COMMON SENSE - Maryland citizens and businesses are fleeing the State. New businesses are refusing to locate here. High taxes and excessive regulations are the main culprits. My proposal is to begin reviewing laws, rules, regulations, are bureaucratic requirements, and repealing those that serve no useful purpose. This will help Maryland's business climate. Frankly, it is disconcerting to cross the Virginia border and see all of the new business activity in that State. It is also disconcerting to cross the Pennsylvania border and see all of the new home developments, built to house those Maryland residents fleeing the State, not to mention the number of former Maryland residents now residing in Delaware and other low tax states, and elsewhere.

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