What Was All the Fuss About?

That's the title of a Baltimore Sun editorial, subtitled, "Death penalty repeal and gun control measures fail to stir sufficient opposition from Maryland voters to put either on the ballot next year."

So what was all this about a voter referendum or two?

Opponents of a pair of controversial measures backed by Gov. Martin O'Malley and approved this year by the Maryland General Assembly — a repeal of the death penalty and landmark gun control legislation — claimed the local populace was outraged by both. So certain was this that many fully expected them to be brought to referendum and defeated by voters in 2014.

The petition drive to bring the death penalty repeal to referendum was even championed by Western Maryland Del. Neil Parrott who was instrumental in bringing three laws to referendum last year through use of a web site that made the signature-gathering process easier. With those kinds of resources, it should have been a snap to put the matter before Maryland's voters.

And:

In the six weeks since the legislature went home, opponents weren't able to muster enough interest in either issue to generate 18,500 signatures of registered voters — or about a summer weekend's worth of tourists at Fort McHenry or half an Orioles home game. Where was the outrage? Where was the voter anger? Where was this "silent majority" of people seeking to oust those who dared approve these laws?

Here's an idea. Most people weren't outraged because, as polls have indicated, most prefer life without parole to the death penalty, and changes to gun laws that make it more difficult for a Sandy Hook massacre to happen here and for criminals to buy guns through "straw purchases" are overwhelmingly popular. And perhaps those who opposed those measures did not hold such strong convictions that they thought signing a petition, let alone volunteering for a petition drive, was worthwhile.

There is also additional news coverage of the referendum petition failure.  Maryland Gazette.net posts, "Petition drives to overturn Md. death-penalty repeal and gun laws both fail," by Daniel Leaderman.

"Petition Drive To Halt Death Penalty Repeal In Maryland Fails," by Ian Millhiser for Think Progress.

"Petition drive to overturn Maryland gun-control law fails, official says," by John Wagner at the Washington Post.

Earlier coverage from Maryland begins at the link.