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Gun control legislation advances in Maryland

By WTOP Staff

LUCAS HIGH and RASHEE KUMAR
Capital News Service

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Gov. Martin O’Malley is one step closer to achieving his goal of strengthening Maryland’s gun control laws thanks to a vote of approval in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee Thursday.

The committee approved SB 281, known as the Firearm Safety Act of 2013, by a 7 to 4 vote.

The legislation will move to the floor of the Senate where additional amendments are expected to be introduced.

If the legislation passes, Maryland’s gun laws will be some of the strictest in the nation. The legislation bans ban assault rifles, decrease the maximum capacity of ammunition magazines from 20 to 10, update handgun licensing requirements to include digital fingerprinting, improve school security and restrict the ability of people who have been involuntarily committed to psychiatric facilities from purchasing guns.

“This is a great life-saving victory for the people of Maryland,” said Vincent DeMarco, president of Marylanders to Prevent Gun Violence.

“It’s a terrific public health victory.”

But the National Rifle Association saw it differently.

“Even with the amendments that were put in place the bill still strikes a huge blow at the 2nd amendment rights of law abiding citizens,” said Shannon Alford, State Liaison for the National Rifle Association.

Some of the most hotly contested provisions involved how to keep guns from people with mental health problems, including whether to expand restrictions to some people who are voluntarily committed for treatment.

Those amendments were not voted on and may be rewritten and reintroduced on the Senate floor.

“This is not about a 2nd amendment right, it’s about the safety of people who are sick,” said Sen. Lisa Gladden, D-Baltimore.

Several senators were concerned that some of the mental health provisions would discourage people from getting needed treatment.

“We have got to tread extremely carefully,” said Sen. Christopher Shank, R- Washington. “We’re not going to solve it tonight, either.”

Sen. Joseph Getty, R-Baltimore County, cited the report of the Task Force to Study Access of Mentally Ill Individuals to Regulated Firearms.

“The mental health professionals do not want any voluntary admissions to be brought into the process because it creates a push-back on an individual seeking services,” Getty said.

Shank agreed.

“This is going to have a chilling effect on treatment,” Shank said.

Not only did the senators disagree philosophically on many portions of the mental health amendments, there was constant debate about the nuances in the language of the proposals.

Shirleen Pilgrim, counsel for the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, was in the spotlight all evening as senators repeatedly turned to her for legal clarifications.

“This might be the most difficult problem we’ve had to tackle,” said Sen. Jamie Raskin, D-Montgomery, in regard to the mental health aspects of the amendments.

At times, senators were so tired from debating they dropped the standard senatorial courtesies and started referring to one another by their first names.

Dinner was served and volume after volume of law books were passed around.

The legislation constitutes a “comprehensive approach” to gun control, O’Malley told the committee when he testified in favor of the bill earlier this month.

(Copyright 2013 by Capital News Service. All Rights Reserved.)

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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