For His Leadership, Mike Lenett Has Earned Re-Election to Maryland Senate

Jun 3, 2010

Annapolis, MD - The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, the Maryland Chapters of the Million Mom March and Jim and Sarah Brady today announced their endorsement of Mike Lenett for re-election to the Maryland State Senate, representing Montgomery County, Maryland’s District 19.   Lenett also earned the organization’s endorsement in 2006.

As a freshman State Senator, Mike Lenett became one of the Brady Campaign’s biggest champions by pushing legislation to ban military-style assault rifles and to regulate Maryland gun dealers and helping lead the fight to take guns away from those who commit domestic violence and crack down on gun trafficking and gangs.  Senator Lenett introduced and pushed legislation each of the last four years.

“The day after he was elected four years ago, Sen. Lenett called the Brady Campaign to start charting a course to get military-style assault rifles off of Maryland’s streets and to give law enforcement effective tools to crack down on corrupt gun dealers,” said Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.  “Sen. Lenett is always asking us what more he can do.  He is a champion in the gun violence prevention community and he deserves our endorsement for his re-election.”

As a key U.S. Senate staffer, Lenett also played a key role in the passage of the Brady Law and the assault weapons ban in the early 1990s.  Sarah Brady put it this way:  “To Jim and I, Mike Lenett is family. We will never forget how much he did in a historic fight to keep guns out of the hands of criminals.  We’re absolutely delighted that such a fine person seeks to serve the public in elective office.” Brady added “we need Mike's leadership, knowledge, and drive to help us reduce gun violence in Maryland and we ask the voters of District 19 to send him back to Annapolis to work with us.”

As Counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee and Committee leaders Joseph Biden (D-DE) and Howard Metzenbaum (D-OH), Mr. Lenett was arguably one of the most key staff members in the Senate responsible for securing the votes to pass both the Brady Law and the ban on military-style semiautomatic assault weapons. 

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As the nation's largest, non-partisan, grassroots organization leading the fight to prevent gun violence, the Brady Campaign, with its dedicated network of Million Mom March Chapters, works to enact and enforce sensible gun laws, regulations and public policies. The Brady Campaign is devoted to creating an America free from gun violence, where all Americans are safe at home, at school, at work, and in our communities.

For continuing insight and comment on the gun issue, read Paul Helmke's blog at www.bradycampaign.org/blog/. Visit the Brady Campaign website at www.bradycampaign.org.