The Legal Landscape: Gun-control bills in Maine face tough challenges
11/19/09 | 71 comments
Guns

The Legal Landscape: Gun-control bills in Maine face tough challenges


By Kevin Miller
BDN Staff
BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY JOHN CLARKE RUSS
Ken Berger of London, Ohio, keeps an eye out for his German shorthaired pointer, Willie, as he, guide Art Wheaton and fellow hunter Jim Ryan of Connecticut trek through the woods in Forest City, Maine, in October looking for American woodcock and ruffed grouse. Buy Photo

AUGUSTA, Maine — Earlier this year, freshman legislator Rep. Anna Blodgett waded into a perpetual brawl with what she thought was a common-sense bill to make it harder for criminals to buy guns.

What she received was a hard lesson on the politics of gun control in Maine.

Blodgett, an Augusta Democrat, arranged for the father of one of the students killed at Columbine High School in Colorado to testify in support of her bill to require private sellers at gun shows to conduct background checks of potential buyers.

But by the time the committee voted, Blodgett had even lost the support of several lawmakers who had signed on as co-sponsors. The unanimous vote against her bill dismayed Blodgett.

“After the vote, I had said that I would never do that again, but I will,” Blodgett said recently.

The powerful gun owners’ lobby figures heavily in Blodgett’s theory for why her bill failed. But those who have been fighting for years on both sides of the debate over guns point out that Maine — with its low rate of violent crime, rich outdoor heritage and “live and let live” ethos — is not the easiest place to get new gun laws enacted.

“Maine is a state that has more guns than people, and it is a very safe state,” said John Hohenwarter, the National Rifle Association’s legislative liaison for Maine and other northeastern states. “That is one of the reasons why you don’t really see a lot of the bills in Maine that you see in other states.”

Maine has dozens of laws on the books regulating the use, abuse, ownership and transportation of firearms. But the state also has a long and oftentimes controversial history of protecting the interests of gun owners.

Before November 1987, Maine’s constitution stated that citizens had the right “to keep and bear arms for the common defense.” But during a referendum that year, Mainers voted to drop the phrase “for the common defense” and amended the constitution to read that citizens’ right to keep and bear arms “shall never be questioned.”

A 20-year-old state law also prohibits municipalities from enacting tougher gun laws than the state, with the exception of regulating the discharge of firearms within municipal boundaries. One exception is colleges and universities, which can enact their own restrictions on guns on campus.

Calculating the number of guns in Maine is impossible, although it is clear from surveys that Maine has relatively high rates of gun ownership. Maine also has one of the lowest crime rates in the nation.

But advocates for tougher gun laws say those statistics tell only part of the story.

Once again this year, Maine received a low score — a 12 out of a possible 100 — from the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, one of the nation’s leading advocates for gun law reform.

A major reason for the low score is Maine policymakers’ resistance to closing the “gun show loophole,” which critics contend feeds the black market and enables convicted felons to purchase firearms from private sellers without background checks. All dealers must perform background checks on potential buyers, whether selling at their store or at a gun show.

“We certainly don’t want to disrupt that hunting culture in Maine,” said Chad Ramsey, senior associate director at the Brady Campaign. “But it only takes a few minutes to get a background check conducted, and it could save lives.”

Maine also lost points in the Brady Campaign’s annual scorecard for, among other things: not restricting the number of handguns that can be sold at one time or the sale of large-capacity ammunition magazines, for allowing the purchase of “military-style” semiautomatic assault weapons and for prohibiting local gun regulations.

Former state Sen. Ethan Strimling tried, without success, to change many of the laws criticized by the Brady Campaign.

Strimling, a Portland Democrat who co-chaired the Legislature’s Criminal Justice Committee, sponsored or co-sponsored bills to ban military-style assault weapons, to require waiting periods on handgun purchases and to close the gun show “loophole.” During the 2005 debate over his assault weapons bill, Strimling received death threats serious enough to warrant an investigation by law enforcement.

Strimling said he realizes the people behind such threats represent the radical extreme rather than your average gun owner or NRA member.

While he acknowledged tradition plays a role in Mainers’ attitudes toward guns, Strimling believes the majority would support banning military-style assault weapons and requiring background checks for private sales. In fact, 88 percent of participants in a recent statewide poll favored background checks for all handgun purchases at gun shows.

So the failure of such measures in the Legislature has more to do, he said, with the influence of the NRA and special interests groups than the will of the people.

“It is very difficult to get substantial gun legislation through the Legislature,” he said.

George Smith, executive director of the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, had a different take, attributing Mainers’ comfort with guns to the state’s culture and the respect for firearm safety observed by the vast majority of gun owners.

Smith also pointed out that SAM worked with Strimling and others to pass a law notifying Mainers shielded by a protection from abuse order when their abuser attempts to purchase a gun.

“The Maine Legislature has been strongly supportive” of gun owners, Smith said recently. “I can’t think of any [successful] bills that I have had serious problems with since I started about 15 years ago.”

But while critics would agree that most Maine gun owners are safe gun owners, they argue that Maine’s firearms laws have severe ramifications beyond the state’s border.

The Brady Campaign, the national organization Stop Handgun Violence and Maine Citizens Against Handgun Violence all contend that Maine’s lax regulations help feed the illegal gun trade — and, therefore, violent crime — in Massachusetts and other states.

In 2006, Massachusetts-based Stop Handgun Violence tried to shame Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont into passing tougher gun regulations with a massive billboard erected near Fenway Park that accused the states of helping put guns in criminals’ hands.

Identifying the source of illegal guns is no easy task. But at least one study suggests that Maine is a top source for illegal guns recovered in Massachusetts.

In 2008, Maine supplied 11 percent of the nearly 900 recovered guns in Massachusetts that were traced back to a specific state outside of Massachusetts, according to the report from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. That was more than any other state.

Tom Franklin, president of Maine Citizens Against Handgun Violence, acknowledged that many Mainers are comfortable with guns because of the state’s hunting culture and the prevalence of firearms in many homes.

“There is also a certain libertarian streak in Maine where people think, ‘Don’t tell me what to do,’” Franklin said. And then there is the perception among some Mainers that violence among warring drug dealers on the streets of Boston is Boston’s problem, not Maine’s.

“And it certainly is, but we shouldn’t be supplying guns to them,” Franklin said.

But Franklin echoes Strimling’s argument that, given the chance to vote on the issue themselves, most Mainers would support closing the gun show loophole in order to change the state’s reputation as a source of illegal firearms.

The NRA’s Hohenwarter doesn’t agree with the phrase “gun show loophole,” much less that gun sale laws need amending.

Hohenwarter pointed out that prisoners in state correctional facilities reported obtaining firearms from gun shows just 0.7 percent of the time, according to the last U.S. Department of Justice survey of the topic, conducted in 1997. Roughly 80 percent said they obtained their guns from friends and family or from the black market.

The Brady Campaign and Franklin’s group contend that lack of oversight of guns purchased privately — whether at gun shows or through published ads, such as those in Uncle Henry’s — inevitably feeds the black market.

But Hohenwarter responded that, under federal law, anyone who sells guns on more than an occasional basis would be considered a firearms dealer required to obtain a license and conduct background checks.

“There is no gun show loophole,” Hohenwarter said.

Opponents obviously disagree. And Blodgett, the Augusta lawmaker whose gun show sales bill failed in committee earlier this year, said she plans to introduce it again during the 2011 legislative session. Blodgett said the key will be getting the support of at least one committee member, giving the bill a chance to be debated on the House floor.

“I will get it to the floor next time. I’m positive,” she said. “I think that will make a big difference.”

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Comments
71 comments on this item
On 11/18/09 at 8:31 PM, mallory wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

We are a free people. Restrictions on guns restricts our freedom, again. Simple as that. Our ancestors were less educated than us, right? They had guns.

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On 11/18/09 at 8:32 PM, mallory wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I think we may need our guns someday.

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On 11/18/09 at 8:34 PM, gw2kpro wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Our legislature should post that low Brady Bill score at the borders as a badge of honor for the State.

It could say something like

"As this score demonstrates, our citizenry is well armed. Yet, gun crime here is extremely low. The odds of you running into the wrong end of one of these guns is extremely low unless you are breaking into someone's home. If you want to go somewhere where you are not likely to meet an armed homeowner, we recommend that you go South. Thank you and have a nice vacation."

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On 11/18/09 at 9:51 PM, bubbalouie wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

If I wanted a gun to commit a crime with I could have one in an hour ... no questions asked. Now how would all the waiting periods, background checks, bans on magazines, assault style rifles and on and on stop me? I don't care if I am in NYC, Boston or San Fransisco......with a handfull of cash and a little street smarts I could get anything I wanted.

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On 11/18/09 at 10:43 PM, scottcom36 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

So Massachusetts, with a population of 6.4 million, traced 99 guns back to Maine. I'll grant you that 99 guns can do a lot of damage in the wrong hands, but this hardly seems like a crisis.

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On 11/19/09 at 1:31 AM, Bartak wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

gw2kpro....EXCELLENT response to this article! "Identifying the source of illegal guns is no easy task" ...."ONE study SUGGESTS that Maine is a top

source for illegal guns recovered in Massachusetts." They're not SURE where most of these illegal guns are coming from but they want us to

BELIEVE that Maine is the cause of all the gun problems in Mass. Watch out folks, they're hell bent on taking away our right to own a firearm and they're

stirring the pot of FEAR to do it.

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On 11/19/09 at 2:20 AM, Bob_from_Orland wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Maybe some of these other states should take note and follow Maine's example on protection of gun ownership and the low crime rates compared to these so called "civilized" anti-gun states. Maybe there's a reason that crime is lower here like the citizen's being armed, which ought to be a pretty good deterrent in my humble opinion.

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On 11/19/09 at 5:07 AM, cheeta wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I am not a gun owner, never have been, terrified of them. I am always curious how people believe that owning a gun makes them more safe. Do you keep your gun loaded at your bedside? If someone were to break into your home, would you really have time to find the gun, get it loaded to protect yourself?

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On 11/19/09 at 5:31 AM, iworkformymoney wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Cheeta I have more of a chance of protecting myself and my family if the gun is there then I do if it isnt there!!! Our town dosnt have full time police so it takes time for help to arive. even if we did the average response time is somewhere around 3 min, a long time when your daughter is being raped or beaten. Think about that one.

"Strimling said he realizes the people behind such threats represent the radical extreme rather than your average gun owner or NRA member."

My question is how much more infringement would put most honest law abiding Mainere into Strimlings "radical exstreme" catagory? Keep sticking your noses in deeper boys, I can hear the banjos warmin up.

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On 11/19/09 at 6:04 AM, wolfie wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

All the guns in my home were purchased through private sales. If a background check had been needed, I would not have a problem with that. If as Hohenwarter states, there is no gunshow loophole, why fight against background checks for private sales at gunshows? If 99.9% of the sales at gunshows have background checks anyway, whats wrong with making 100% have background checks?

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On 11/19/09 at 6:28 AM, Bartak wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Cheeta.....I am a woman who lives alone and YES I DO keep my gun within close reach....right under the pillow next to me and LOADED! So to anyone

STUPID enough to choose my house for a home invasion...well.... 'nuff said.

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On 11/19/09 at 6:30 AM, WTF266 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

5:07 AM, cheeta;

I absolutely have a loaded 9MM at my bedside with a round chambered, as does my wife on her side. We will not be a victim. We are also very proficient with our weapons and practice weekly. We also both have a CWP. When you live outside of town, you have only yourself to protect loved ones and property. The police will not be there to protect you, only to investigate AFTER the fact.

Also; the corner store in this town was robbed enough times so that the owners, husband, wife, son, and daughter, all got CWP's. I can't wait for the next little dirtbag punk to try to rob this store.

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On 11/19/09 at 6:35 AM, ElectraGlide wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

wolfie<>as a gun owning NRA member

that is a good ? at 6:04<<

the battle should be over taking our guns

not on Laws that help us

ALL<<

Stop Crime wherever it shows its ugly head<<

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On 11/19/09 at 6:37 AM, Bartak wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Also Cheeta, your fears of a gun are born of ignorance. If you took a gun safety course you would no longer have those fears. Knowlege is power.

It's the fearful people our lawmakers are trying to strike MORE fear into to pass their un just laws.

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On 11/19/09 at 6:49 AM, Coolfusion wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Oh shucks, why not? The Feds have control over your businesses, your earnings, your job, your health care, your education system, the communcatiion airways, your property, your legal system. Your guns are the least of your problems.

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On 11/19/09 at 7:05 AM, Captain_Caveman wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

"In 2008, Maine supplied 11 percent of the nearly 900 recovered guns in Massachusetts that were traced back to a specific state outside of Massachusetts" So how many of these guns came from gunshows and not a private sale elsewhere? I could pick up an uncle henreys and with around $700 walk away with a semi- automatic AK-47 2 or 3 30 round magazines and a couple hundred rounds of ammo. Not that I'm against that but what private seller is going to care who is buying the gun As long as they get their money from it?

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On 11/19/09 at 7:52 AM, mainelyagony wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

5:07 AM, cheeta

Just to chime in, yes, I also keep a loaded hand gun in the head board of my bed. It is extremely rural where I live and the police can take anywhere from a half an hour to an hour depending on where they are when the call comes in. (That is saying I have the time to make the call.) So, no eyebrows going up on me when I read that the crime rate is low in Maine. You would have to have manure for brains to be kicking doors in this state. Let's keep it that way. When something works, it don't need fixing. I would rather call the police to say that I just shot an intruder than have to call them and say that my wife has been murdered by some scum bag.

As far as the background check goes on the private sales, I can't see how this is going to be enforced. Gun shows is one thing and is perhaps achievable. But, I have bought/traded guns with/from friends. This is just a normal way of life where I live as I am sure it is all over the state. Be this as it may, Take a weapons course, get your CWP and watch over your family. I will not go out and shoot someone for say trashing my pickup, but if you are in my house, you are in no mans land and WILL be met with the force needed to insure my safety.

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On 11/19/09 at 7:54 AM, coopah wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Humans - the biggest loop hole

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On 11/19/09 at 7:55 AM, JeffDubay wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

If you don’t have blinders on, you can tell from the following quote in the article that it is a good thing . . .

“Calculating the number of guns in Maine is impossible, although it is clear from surveys that Maine has relatively high rates of gun ownership. Maine also has one of the lowest crime rates in the nation.”

. . . And you know why? It’s because some of the b@sterds don’t know if we have guns in our homes so they question whether it is a good idea to try this home. Common sense tells even them that if someone is in that home and they have a gun, they may use it on people who intend to inflict harm or trouble.

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On 11/19/09 at 7:59 AM, hooligan wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

BTW....does this (ahem) newspaper have an editor, and if so...what in sam hill does he/she do all day?

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On 11/19/09 at 8:05 AM, bubbalouie wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I am a disabled vet ... with a lot of medications. There are three known drug dealers on my street. Lots of druggie traffic. But one thing they all know is that I am armed... and there will be no warning shots should one of them decide they want some free goodies. I have told them that to their faces. Where is the DEA and police? Well I just don't know I guess they got bigger fish to fry. Take away gun owners rights and who will have any protection? They can come in here, beat the crap out of me and take what they want. The cops are at least and hour away.

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On 11/19/09 at 8:05 AM, JeffDubay wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I forgot to add that when a police officer comes to your home, he/she knocks on the door unless they are there for some suspected trouble, they do not enter through the cellar window.

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On 11/19/09 at 8:08 AM, hooligan wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

cheetah:

"I am not a gun owner, never have been, terrified of them. I am always curious how people believe that owning a gun makes them more safe. Do you keep your gun loaded at your bedside? If someone were to break into your home, would you really have time to find the gun, get it loaded to protect yourself?"

The best advice I can give you is don't go see for yourself.

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On 11/19/09 at 8:21 AM, WTF266 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

6:49 AM, Coolfusion;

Very very true. But we are labeled finatics if we question, or are against the government and more taxes. What a shame that more people are not willing to stand on their own two feet and take control of their lives.

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On 11/19/09 at 8:30 AM, windfuture wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Since when does 11% make one a "top source" of the problem? Maine is the source for 11% of the guns confiscated in Mass. in 2008. Big deal. Mass is probably the source of 25% of the cocaine distributed in this state.

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On 11/19/09 at 8:32 AM, downeasteh wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

It's very interesting that the violent crime statistics in Maine show a low rate of violence with firearms. Doens anyone wanting more restirictive gun laws think for one momnet they are going to stop the sale of guns to felons? If they truly do then they are sadly mistaken. Just like the rest of the country, the only group penalized by gun laws are the law abiding citizens who choose to own firearms. I was born and reaised in Maine and enjoy my outdoor heritage, which includes hunting and yes gun ownership. That is, along with the low crime rate, one of the reason I live in this state. If the state and federal prosecutors would prosecute gun laws on the book this would not be a topic of debate. I'll end my little rant with a common phrase "if it aint broke don't fix it".

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On 11/19/09 at 8:35 AM, concernsme wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

On 11/19/09 at 5:07 AM, cheeta wrote:

I am not a gun owner, never have been, terrified of them. I am always curious how people believe that owning a gun makes them more safe. Do you keep your gun loaded at your bedside? If someone were to break into your home, would you really have time to find the gun, get it loaded to protect yourself?

Cheeta: you, as a person who is afraid of guns and don't know how to use them, should never own one. In an emergency, your lack of knowledge would make you a certain victim. The gun would be turned on you. There are some of us who know what we are doing and could protect ourselves. By the time the criminal is in your bedroom it is too late. The key is to be ready for them before they get that close.

Of course, if you have small children, guns in your home should NEVER be loaded. That does tend to slow things down. Thank goodness for clips and speedloaders!

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On 11/19/09 at 8:38 AM, Jezebel wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Cheeta, I'm sure you have gotten the idea by now. But I also have a loaded gun within arms reach at night. You seem to be in the minority of Mainers on this issue.

According to this article, the Maine constitution states that a citizen's right to keep and bear arms SHALL NEVER BE QUESTIONED. The Bangor Daily News is putting forth one hell of an effort to rally the public into questioning our rights. Un-constitutional if you ask me.

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On 11/19/09 at 8:50 AM, shroomtour04 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I have to laugh: People who speak about living in rural areas and the police taking about 25 minutes to get there (which isn't all that funny- scary really)- i live in the city of Bangor. I called the police- guess what? It took about 25 minutes. So regardless if you're in the city or rural areas of Maine- police just take however long it takes- so yes. My guns are loaded. Home protection is the only protection; ONE SHOT, ONE KILL!

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On 11/19/09 at 8:51 AM, concernsme wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence is way to left wing an organization to be taken seriously on this. They have a radical agenda to rid this country of all handguns and any rifles, shotguns that look like they belong on a hollywood set. Most of the "assault weapons" from the previous ban were on the list because of appearance, rather than performance.

Sometimes the NRA, with its "cold dead hands" stance can be pretty annoying also. Not every person should have guns in any circumstance.

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On 11/19/09 at 8:56 AM, boogyman wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

"Strimling believes the majority would support banning military-style assault weapons" Why, what is the data to suggest that these types of weapons are being used in crimes in Maine? There is none. So why the push for the ban?

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On 11/19/09 at 9:07 AM, Coville wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Apparently these idiot anti-gun, leftist legislators do not read the Maine Constitution, where it says (and has been pointed out before) "Every citizen has a right to keep and bear arms and this right shall never be questioned."

Also, relying on a group like the Brady Campaign, or the Violence Policy Center for "facts" is like asking Hitler what he thought of Jewish culture in Europe back in the 1930's.

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On 11/19/09 at 9:21 AM, David889327 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

911 works best in the cities. Let's keep the crime rate low.

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On 11/19/09 at 9:25 AM, TurkeyTalker wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Maybe Mass. should follow our lead, and then they wouldn't have to worry as much about gun violence. Gun laws only apply to those who will follow the law. A criminal does not care about the law to begin with, so we ought to at least allow the honest to be as armed as the dishonest!

"This Residence is Insured by an M&P .40"

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On 11/19/09 at 9:52 AM, sptrout wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

ENFORCE the darn laws you have on the books....and leave the LAW ABIDING gun owners ALONE.......pretty simple there folks..........

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On 11/19/09 at 9:57 AM, Oheathen wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Stop with the crazy get rid of guns crusade! Voting Democrat is in my economic interest, but it is things like this that make me weigh that interests against my Constitutional rights and liberties ( I do not own a gun and I do not hunt by the way ) Make a National law that conforms to the Constitution , this way laws in states are on even playing field. If you can not make more laws on national level because the Constitution prohibits it, do not attempt to get around Our Rights and Liberties by way of legal maneuvering state by state, this only encourages gun running. ( Of course with gun running, political opportunist disingenuously say see now we have to further restrict gun access ) this trick is not lost on those of use to understand the true intent of the Second Amendment set forth by Our Founding Fathers.

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On 11/19/09 at 9:59 AM, mattecamp wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I hate the BDN. I cant wait until the paper collapses.

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On 11/19/09 at 10:04 AM, MaineSurvivor2 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I agree mattecamp. It's just a rag. If you want real news go to bostonherald.com or boston.com. It's straight-up journalism.

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On 11/19/09 at 10:21 AM, David889327 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Am I smelling a whiff of social engineering lately?

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On 11/19/09 at 10:23 AM, blueskiesaboveme wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Oh my word mattecamp and MaineSurvivor2,

Pardon the pun but, is there someone holding a gun to your head making you browse the Bangor Daily website?

This is a free country isnt it? Freedom of choice, freedom to read a wide range of opinions.

Freedom to look at something else if you dont like something you read.

Do you go into stores just to complain loudly about the merchandise?

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On 11/19/09 at 10:55 AM, JonAlbrecht wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

No new gun control laws are needed. None.

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On 11/19/09 at 11:19 AM, gw2kpro wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

"........we shouldn’t be supplying guns to them,” Franklin said."

Maine is supplying guns to nobody. If someone comes here and steals them or buys them illegally, they are taking them AGAINST THE FREAKING LAW, nobody is being "supplied" anything.

Does Blodgett really believe that passing yet another law here in Maine (that will simply be broken as well by the same people who are breaking the current laws in obtaining guns), will somehow cure the desire a great number of people in Massachusetts (apparently) have to shoot one another?

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On 11/19/09 at 11:45 AM, commonsence wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

So I guess all of you are afraid of "being the victim"? That is understandable, but Maine is proven to have a low crime rate and I don't think it is because just about everyone has guns in the house. I think you people that sleep with one or two guns under your pillows are just paranoid. When was the last time you heard of a home invasion? Now I know the argument, "there are no home invasions because we sleep with guns". MOST criminals are smart enough to break in without making a sound and MOST get scared off when they heard a slight sound. So the chances of you waking up and realizing there is someone in the house is very slim. I don't need a gun in my house, I feel safe in this state and I think that there should be more restrictions AT GUN SHOWS. Thats it just the shows, everyone else keep them, even the military spec ones. Even you crazy gun sleeping nuts can keep your stupid guns, but really just try and think if you would like to have a gun that you sold to just some guy turn out to be the weapon that is used in a workplace shooting.

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On 11/19/09 at 11:51 AM, caveman wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

boogyman wrote: "Strimling believes the majority would support banning military-style assault weapons" Why, what is the data to suggest that these types of weapons are being used in crimes in Maine? There is none. So why the push for the ban?

The answer to this one is our right to bear arms is solid right now. I have only fired assault weapons in thew military firing range. BUT..I will not vote against them for the same reason all gun owners won't. It gives them a foot in our door. We don't hunt with them. We do like to shoot them. We do covet our right to own them.

The owner of this paper is an outdoor sportsman. He's playing to his audience; newspapers are in trouble. Too bad Rick!

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On 11/19/09 at 11:51 AM, pathxe wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Cheeta has every right to be afraid of anything she wants. Doesn't make her ignorant, just makes you ignorant for making that statement. she has every right not to like guns or want them near her.

Honestly I have 11 firearms, they are kept in a locked cabinet. I seriously doubt for a second if someone is going to sneak into my bedroom to kill me that they are going to make enough noise to wake me up and allow me to get my gun. Plus keeping a loaded gun under a pillow seems very dangerous to me.

People don't have to like guns, they don't have to want people to have access to them. The same rights that allow us to have guns are also the same rights that allow people to not want us to have them. Can't have it all your way.

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On 11/19/09 at 11:58 AM, caveman wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

The Portland Libs are hard at it for a teachers aid that accidentally brought a gun to school...in a CLEAR PLASTIC BAG!

PPH story and comments are here: http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=297094&ac=PHnws

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On 11/19/09 at 11:59 AM, pathxe wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Honestly were do you people live? that you are in such fear of home invasion? I would never live anywere that I was so afraid of someone coming into my home to harm me that prompted me to keep a loaded gun near me when I slept.

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On 11/19/09 at 12:01 PM, pathxe wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Can't bring a gun to a school, by accident or any other reason. Don't care if the bag was bedazzled!

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On 11/19/09 at 12:04 PM, pathxe wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

How do you know they are "libs"? a republican super or principal would have had to do the same thing. So what if the administration were all Republicans would they have gotten some empty cans and did some target shooting? No they would have had to do the same thing.

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On 11/19/09 at 12:06 PM, jellybeanhelene917 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

bubbalouie; you're right. I could also go to ANY Wal-Mart and buy a baseball bat and go crazy, killing everybody in the store! Are they going to start doing background checks on everyone buying baseball bats too? It is VERY easy to buy guns through private sales. It's legal. Restricting gun sales may bring the crime rate down a bit, but it will not stop gun violence. It will not stop gun sales.

ALSO!!!! Does anybody even have a CLUE how many guns are out there that are not even REGISTERED????? Think about all of these people who have guns from their parents and grandparents that may have been handed down over several generations..... I'm sure there are MILLIONS of them out there!

So, what do we do about gun violence?! Put the criminals in JAIL!!!! Don't punish innocent gun owners!

And to cheeta...I myself own guns. I guarantee if I had an intruder in my home I WOULD have time to get a gun! I would never kill an intruder, but I promise they would not walk out of my home. They'd be leaving by ambulance. They would no longer have knee caps! I for sure would protect myself and my loved ones.

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On 11/19/09 at 12:21 PM, pathxe wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Actually you would probably be better off killing them. That way they can't sue you later for disabling them.

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On 11/19/09 at 1:08 PM, caveman wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

pathxe for pathetic with head buried uphill!

Here's a lesson for you; the economy is in the tank.

Maine averaged 2-3 bank robberies a year and now has 2-3 a week. Chief Ross was quoted that Oxycontin sells for $100 dollars per hit (WABI). He's probably using it. I have heard it's about ten bucks. I live on the door step of Washington county where this drug is more prevalent than aspirin. I used to leave my keys in the car; not anymore. I used to leave the house unlocked, not any more. I used to keep the pistol stashed away, not anymore.

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On 11/19/09 at 1:17 PM, Jonboy2 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

WTF266, well said.

Come into my home Mr. BADGUY. I have a little surprise waiting for you. Mr. OFFICER asks, “Did you fear for your life and did you give one warning”? Well, Yes Sir, I did just that. Mr. OFFICER also asks, “How come you fired 36 times”? Well Sir, I used both of the firearms under my pillow and fired until the threat was stopped. No citizen funds will be used to house and feed this BADGUY, thankyou. Oh yes, I should mention my wife hates firearms, but has one under her pillow and is an excellent shot. Come to my home Mr. BADGUY, We have a little surprise for you………..

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On 11/19/09 at 1:27 PM, caseyatbat wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I keep a loaded pistol next to me at home. But when my grandchildren come to visit I lock it up. That is the only time. I have had neighbors that have had their homes broken into and they have suffered because of it. Most of them have now taken safety courses and have a weapon. They refuse to be a victim any longer. As it has been noted the police arrive after the fact and they are reduced to being investigators.

I bought my weapon legally but I refuse to register it. People in our state want that information to be public. I think not. I do have a CWP, for use when I travel in state. I also have permits in the boarder states. I had to because we have no reciprocation with them.

Stand firm and don't let the government erode your freedom of the 2nd amendment. And by the way where does the other 89% of the illegal weapons come from in Mass.

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On 11/19/09 at 1:39 PM, ironwolf56 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Massachusetts influencing Maine law? Didn't we finally (after many attempts and backroom politics to keep it from happening earlier) get freedom from them in 1820 for this reason exactly? Do we need a Gulf of Maine Tea Party?

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On 11/19/09 at 1:50 PM, TurkeyTalker wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

David889327 @ 9:21am

Colt 1911 works best period!

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On 11/19/09 at 2:59 PM, Stevey_Dee wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

You guys just thrive on violence.....

Give me your guns and it will save you...:)

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On 11/19/09 at 3:05 PM, Ronfla wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

The only thing they are trying to do here is get one step closer to taking away fire arms from the people. It's our constitutional "RIGHT" to bare arms. yet they pass such obsurd laws to make people fellons just to be able to deny them the right to own a gun. Once the guns are removed from the peoples hands the government has total control. We have the right o own guns so when the time comes to over throw the government we have the arms to do it with. Accuse someone of domestic assualt and whether they are guilty or not the state WILL try you and Convict you of it just to get the guns away from that person regardless of the fact that no weapons were involved. YOU can be a fellon and not even know it because of some bogus law that was passed making a simple misdemeanor a felony. If it's not this law it will simply be another.. It's up to the people to make sure their voices are heard when it comes to gun control and that message is LEAVE OUR RIGHT TO OWN A FIRE ARM ALONE or face the consequences. They can have my guns when they pry them out of my cold dead fingers... And before that happens they'll get them one bullet at a time!

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On 11/19/09 at 4:10 PM, tcosta wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I support gun rights, but also think they should be harder for criminals to get ahold of...I dont' see a conflict here, whats the big deal? You're a felon and can't buy a gun?, too bad! True story though for all you who think having a gun keeps you safe in your home however. Guy broke into a friend's house, only weapon the intruder had was a shovel...home owner got out his gun to defend himself and his girlfriend...scuffle followed, homeowner got shot and killed...so much for staying safe. As soon as a gun gets involved in a situation like this, there is no gaurantee that you or or loved ones won't be the ones who get hurt...for all you cowboys who think that wouldn't happen to you, that you're a good shot, or have no second thoughts about killing another human being...you're only fooling yourselves and your cowboy friends.

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On 11/19/09 at 5:41 PM, valgal10 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

cheeta writes: Do you keep your gun loaded at your bedside? If someone were to break into your home, would you really have time to find the gun, get it loaded to protect yourself?

......for me to know and you to find out.....t.....

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On 11/19/09 at 5:42 PM, valgal10 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

criminals are just that, criminals, do you think they get their guns legally?

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On 11/19/09 at 5:44 PM, valgal10 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

same ole, same ole....if some one wants to commit a crime a knife, a club, a bat will all do well...it is the person....NOT THE GUN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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On 11/19/09 at 6:01 PM, under_the_radar wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

If the majority of Mainers didn't own firearms and only the police and criminals did, combined with the worsening state of our economy and the impending desperate acts that follow, the probability of a criminal entering a random home armed and NOT getting his head blown clean off would be a lot higher, therefore the crime rate would be a lot higher. As long as I continue to breathe air, I will always have a way to defend myself, my family, my belongings and my home, no matter what crazy laws our most liberal of lawmakers in our state try to drive down our throats. I hope this is a wake up call for next November to vote in someone with ideas and beliefs congruent to our own, those of us who have lived here our whole lives, that is, and not moving here from elsewhere trying to bring their crazy politics with them and change our home into a place that they just had to get away from in the first place.

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On 11/19/09 at 6:21 PM, cheeta wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I am going to maintain my respect for guns and avoid them. I also live in a rural area and I agree with a previous poster, you could live in the city and wait just as long for help to arrive. I never lock my doors at night and have never had any fear of home invasion. Of course, it could happen however I refuse to live my life with that sort of paranoia. I have 2 dogs that love to bark and they would alert me to someone trying to come into my home far sooner than what I may hear. You people that have guns under your pillow, at your bedside...that is truly frightening. I pray that no children ever come into your home!

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On 11/19/09 at 7:16 PM, valgal10 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Actually, cheeta, we have 7 children and 10 grandchildren. They have all been raised around guns and taught gun safety and we do not worry about them at all, it is your children and grandchildren that worry me with their curiosity about something that is taboo....good luck with the barking dog theroy. I guess my question for you is after the dogs wake you when the intruder enters....then what? You reason them to death....

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On 11/20/09 at 7:01 AM, gw2kpro wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

To each his own.

Some people choose to prepare them selves against things that can and do happen every day in this world -- others choose to put their faith in our government to do this for us; it's simply a matter of perspective.

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On 11/20/09 at 11:36 AM, thejohnchapman wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I am amazed that, despite the succession of actual criminals exported to Maine by Mass, they criticize our decision to arm ourselves. Google Jonathan Belez of Southboro. He was the ringleader of a group of Maine home invaders who went on a rampage last week, posing as stranded motorists before robbing and beating elderly people. "They choked one man and another woman, they threatened to chop off her toes," Lewiston, Maine, police Lt. David Chamberlain said.

When the Mass crime rate dips below ours, we'll take their suggestions seriously.

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On 11/20/09 at 2:31 PM, wollydevil wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

If all you people want restrictions than go to iran you will love it there and you wife better not wear a bra ether or she will get beating.

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On 11/20/09 at 9:18 PM, chumby wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Here is why I love this article: the premise is that the drug problem is Mass is somehow linked to me owning a firearm. My firearms have never killed anyone illegally or legally (yet). The same cannot be said for Ted Kennedy's car. I love that Maine score's low on the Brady scale but score's high on being a safe place to live. I bet Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, Wash DC, and California all score well according to the Brady Campaign yet have gun violence rates akin to those in the middle east war zones and in Mexico. Low score on Brady = high crime rate. Brady campaign won't tell you but ever since the "assault" weapons ban expired violent crime rates have plummeted so low in fact they are at mid 1960s levels. States with shall issue CCWs have much lower violent crime rates than those with restrictive gun ownership laws.

Regarding "the loophole," private citizens are allowed to sell other private citizens firearms at gun shows. Private citizens are allowed to sell other private citizens guns outside of guns shows. Closing "the loophole" would only make something illegal at a gun show that is otherwise illegal.

A noteworthy item: "...with its low rate of violent crime, rich outdoor heritage and “live and let live” ethos — is not the easiest place to get new gun laws enacted." Low crime, rich outdoor heritage, not getting in the affairs of others - sounds like classic America to me. I suppose the Democrat from Augusta wants less outdoor heritage (maybe she could be personally responsible for closing Bean!), more crime, and more control.

With the exception of a pellet gun, a .22, and a muzzleloader, just about everything else fits into "military style."

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On 11/20/09 at 9:41 PM, chumby wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

cheetah:

Concerning access during a break-in: I'll assume my shepherds will wake me and provide a brief amount of time for me to retrieve one of the two loaded guns I have in a handgun safe mounted on the nightstand. If it is a Navy S.E.A.L. team, yeah, I'm dead. But if it is a burglar or one of those Daniel Fortune types, I have a good chance. When one removes the gang-related deaths, children are much more prone to die from drowning in a 5-gallon Home Depot-style bucket than from a gun. I hope you strongly support banning 5-gallon buckets from homes with children, no matter what the Maine tradition is regarding home projects and Yankee do-it-your-self.

commonsense:

The low crime rate IS very much attributable to the large population of gun owners - there's a book by an economist that evaluates actual data (not emotion): "More Guns, Less Crime." You should read it. Regarding your "most criminals" statements, please provide your research sources. Three times in my life I have believed someone bad was in the house and I went through with the dogs and a firearm. Once, many years ago while renting a room from a family, three home invaders broke in when I wasn't home and shot and killed the husband in front of the rest of the family. I should mention this was not in Maine; it was in a very blue state with much more restrictive gun purchase laws. The criminals don't follow the law. See, when you shoot someone in malice you are breaking the law (it is usually called murder, unless you had a bad childhood). If you don't want a gun, don't buy one.

You are much more vulnerable to die from the vehicle of a Democratic Senator (q.v., Ted Kennedy (1) and Joe Biden (2)) than that of a legal gun owner. Do you think we should ban 2x4s since that seems to be the weapon of choice in Obama's hometown?

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On 11/21/09 at 11:29 PM, acadian wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

What are our infamous Maine leaders about to pass, sign, and try to drive another law down our throats? I see something coming down the pike here, much talk about guns doing this and that lately. Well no problem...we have "The Peoples Veto".

Firearms keep the playing field level. No criminal presently knows who has gun out here right now do they? Allow the passage of a bunch of gun laws and the criminals will know we are sheeple ready for fleecing.

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