Emmett C. Burns Jr.

Emmett C. Burns Jr. (August 26, 1940 – March 17, 2022) was an American politician from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. He served five terms in the Maryland House of Delegates, representing Maryland's District 10 in Baltimore County. Burns was a member of the Economic Matters Committee.

Emmett C. Burns Jr.
Burns in 2007
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 10th district
In office
January 11, 1995 – January 14, 2015
Preceded byBob Ehrlich
Wade Kach
Ellen Sauerbrey
Succeeded byBenjamin Brooks
Personal details
BornAugust 26, 1940
Jackson, Mississippi, U.S.
DiedMarch 17, 2022(2022-03-17) (aged 81)
Lochearn, Maryland
Political partyDemocratic
OccupationMinister

On July 8, 2013, Burns announced his intention not to seek re-election to the Maryland Legislature in 2014.[1] He died on March 17, 2022.[2][3]

Early life and career

Burns was born in Jackson, Mississippi, on August 26, 1940. He earned a B.S. degree from Jackson State University, a Master of Divinity degree from Virginia Union University, a Master of Religious Education degree from the Presbyterian School of Christian Education, and a Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh. After a brief stint in the United States Air Force, Burns became a Baptist minister in Baltimore.[3]

In the Legislature

Burns, a Democrat, was considered a conservative on some social issues. He opposed a woman's right to choice regarding abortions and efforts to legalize slot machines in the state. He was also an opponent of legalizing same-sex marriage.[4] Burns was involved in government task forces on the legacy of slavery in Maryland, on the impact of cults in institutions of higher education, and on entrepreneurship among African Americans. He was a member of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland. He sponsored the bill that changed the name of Maryland's major airport to the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. After 5 four-year terms in the legislature, Burns opted not to file for re-election in 2014.[1]

Legislative notes
  • voted for the Clean Indoor Air Act of 2007 (HB359)[5]
  • voted for income tax reduction in 1998 (SB750)[6]
  • voted in favor of increasing the sales tax while simultaneously reducing income tax rates for some income brackets - Tax Reform Act of 2007(HB2)[7]
  • Introduced House Bill 90 to invalidate marriages between same-sex couples validly entered into in another state or in a foreign country, declaring that "marriages between individuals of the same sex are against the public policy of the State." On WYPR's Maryland Morning with Sheilah Kast (January 26, 2010),[8] Burns was quoted as saying "Same sex marriages are bad economic policy, bad social policy, bad educational policy, it's just bad policy."
If it had been voted and signed into law, House Bill 90 would have added further restrictions to Maryland's marriage laws for same-sex couples. The bill was defeated on February 3, 2010.[9]
  • voted against Civil Marriage Protection Act,[10] a law allowing same-sex couples to obtain a marriage license.

2006 General election results District 10
Voters to choose three:[11]
Name Votes Percent Outcome
Emmett C. Burns Jr. 29,140   34.2%    Won
Shirley Nathan-Pulliam 28,544   33.5%    Won
Adrienne A. Jones 27,064   31.8%    Won
Write-in votes 370   0.4%    

Controversies

Altercation with a tow truck driver

In 1999, Burns accused a tow truck driver of uttering a racial slur, a claim the driver denied. Michael Stansbury, a tow truck driver for Flash Towing, said that he denied service to the politician after Burns started shouting at him and used a profane term to refer to his race.[12]

Letter to Baltimore Ravens owner

After Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo voiced his support for same-sex marriage, Burns wrote a letter on August 29, 2012, to Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti, on official Maryland State letterhead, demanding that Mr. Bisciotti "take the necessary action ... to inhibit such expressions from your employee," further stating, "I know of no other NFL player who has done what Mr. Ayanbadejo is doing." Ayanbadejo's off-field activities did not violate any NFL or Ravens' rules or regulations. Burns was criticized for trying to use the authority of his government position to prevent a citizen from exercising their First Amendment rights and for taking a public position on same-sex marriage that was in direct conflict with his Democratic Party platform and the constituency that elected him. In an interview for The Washington Post, a spokesperson for the Ravens acknowledged that the team had received the letter but refused to give any further comment.[13][14][15] Later however, the Ravens publicly supported Ayanbadejo's right to voice his viewpoints. Ayanbadejo himself affirmed in a subsequent interview with The Baltimore Sun that he had received public support for his actions and that he had no intention of backing away from them.[16]

Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe famously came to Ayanbadejo's defense, penning a scathing retort for the popular sports website Deadspin. After echoing previous criticisms and wondering why Burns "hates freedom," Kluwe stated that making gay marriage legal "won't magically turn you into a lustful cockmonster" and that he himself has been very vocal in supporting same-sex marriage, despite Burns' claim that Ayanbadejo was the only NFL player to do so.[17]

Burns ultimately recanted his demand and acknowledged that Ayanbadejo had the right to speak out on same-sex marriage.[18]

Death

Burns died March 17, 2022.[4] His funeral was held on March 26 at his church, Rising Sun First Baptist Church in Baltimore County, Maryland. He was laid to rest at Garden Memorial Park in Jackson, Mississippi.[19]

References
  1. Rector, Kevin (July 8, 2013). "Prominent gay marriage opponent to depart Annapolis in 2014". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  2. "Former Maryland Del. Emmett Burns Dies At 81". CBS Baltimore. March 17, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  3. "Emmett C. Burns, Jr., Maryland State Delegate". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. March 18, 2022. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  4. Swift, Tim (March 17, 2022). "Former Del. Emmett Burns Jr., civil rights activist and conservative Democrat, dies at 81". Baltimore Fox 45 News. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  5. "BILL INFO-2007 Regular Session-HB 359". Mlis.state.md.us. 2007. Archived from the original on August 6, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  6. "Vote Record 1229". Mlis.state.md.us. April 6, 1998. Archived from the original on May 7, 1999. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  7. "HB2 Third Reading" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 9, 2012. Retrieved July 13, 2007.
  8. "MD Delegate Emmett Burns on Out-Of-State Marriage Equality Recognition". WYPR. January 26, 2010. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved September 8, 2012 – via YouTube.
  9. Bykowicz, Julie (February 4, 2010). "Lawmakers reject ban on recognizing same-sex unions". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved February 5, 2010.
  10. "BILL INFO-2012 Regular Session-HB 438". Mlis.state.md.us. 2012. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  11. "Official 2006 Gubernatorial General Election results for Legislative District 10". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved September 8, 2007.
  12. Willis, Dail (August 21, 1999). "Tow truck driver denies aiming racial slur at Burns". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
  13. Rosenwald, Michael S. (September 6, 2012). "Md. delegate blasts Ravens for linebacker's support of gay marriage". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  14. "Emmett Burns letter over Brendon Ayanbadejo" (PDF). WBAL-TV 11 Baltimore. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 7, 2012.
  15. Alper, Josh (August 31, 2012). "Maryland politician asks Ravens to "inhibit" Ayanbadejo's same-sex marriage support". Profootballtalk.com. NBC Sports. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  16. Vensel, Matt (September 7, 2012). "Ayanbadejo responds to politician looking to silence him on gay marriage stance". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  17. Kluwe, Chris (September 7, 2012). ""They Won't Magically Turn You Into A Lustful Cockmonster": Chris Kluwe Explains Gay Marriage To The Politician Who Is Offended By An NFL Player Supporting It". Deadspin. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  18. Linskey, Annie (September 9, 2012). "Burns backs off bid to silence Ravens player". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  19. "Obituary of Rev. Dr. Emmett C Burns". VaughnGreene Funeral Services, P.A. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
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