Police To Be Present At County Gun Violence Task Force Meeting

ANNAPOLIS, MD — The Anne Arundel County gun violence prevention task force will meet Thursday, Aug. 15, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Anne Arundel Medical Center, 2000 Medical Parkway, Belcher Pavilion seventh floor.

There will be a police presence at tonight's meeting. Several days ago, a fake Facebook page that ridiculed task force members was discovered, which prompted the county's chief executive Steuart Pittman to denounce "bullying or intimidation by extremists." The page was recently taken down.

“We will not sacrifice public safety to appease a small minority of extremists whose selfish desire to avoid the paperwork burden of gun registration and background checks is cloaked in concepts that are the foundation of this great country,” Pittman wrote.

Pittman created the task force in April. Less than a year earlier, five people were killed in a mass shooting at the local newspaper, the Capital Gazette. The task force will submit a report of recommendations in December.

At tonight's meeting, Bridget McCullough, campaign team lead for the Maryland Chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, will give a presentation on BeSmart. According to the agenda for tonight's meeting, the subcommittees of the task force will provide reports and field questions. There also will be time set aside for public comment. The task force consists of 20 appointed citizen members representing a broad spectrum of experience and expertise in public safety, emergency operations, behavioral health and community outreach. The task force also includes 16 local government officials acting as ex-officio members.