Micromanage

Bob McWilliams' column in the April 2nd issue of the Capital highlights the type of delegate that I do not want to become.

Bad things happen. If a person causes a bad thing to happen to another person, generally you can sue. Most of the time there is already a law against it. The crime of assault includes unwanted touching of all varieties. The crime of Harassment includes non-physical conduct which is harassing all the same. Stealing is wrong.

By and large, we have our bases covered.

Bad things will still happen.

And when they do, legislators leap to the rescue to create a new law or regulation that re-states the existing law. Mr. McWilliams column mentions a few laws which were proposed this session: Not hitting bicyclists with your car doors or throwing things at them or eating, drinking or smoking while driving a car.

Newsflash: It's already a crime to hit bicyclists with your car door. And if you are eating while driving and it causes and accident, you can be found guilty of reckless driving.

I'd like to quote Mr. McWilliams, "[O]ur legislators are much too quick to repeal "everyone's" freedom in response to isolated cases of individual irresponsibility. Increasingly, we all lose a bit of our liberty as we allow the passage of endless laws in a futile effort to control people who don't really care about the law to begin with."

I would like to go to Annapolis to help prune the Maryland Code. Why have three laws when we can condense them into one? Why have one law when none is required?

It's not a sexy issue, but it is important. Legislating is not a matter of picking up the paper and picking the issue of the day. Legislating is about taking a long-term look at the State and the government and determining the best course of action for the future.

Protect the Future. Vote Chiappelli.