Universal background checks unenforceable
I see that the BDN supports and the Maine Chiefs of Police Association has endorsed universal background checks for all gun transfers in the state — Question 3 on the November ballot. I adamantly oppose this referendum.
It is a poorly concealed attempt at gun control financed by a New York billionaire to change Maine law that has been in effect since we became a state. The change, if enacted, would do very little to stop criminals from obtaining guns because they don’t do background checks now and wouldn’t in the future. These people simply would steal or trade drugs for guns, which already is illegal.
What this law would do is make more felons out of honest citizens than catch any existing felons. Lastly, neither the BDN nor the Maine Chiefs of Police Association have mentioned how this would be enforced. This law, as written, would be totally unenforceable without gun and gun owner registration. This would be the beginning of the end of our Second Amendment rights.
Merle Cousins
Southwest Harbor
Yes on Question 1
I write this letter in support of the upcoming ballot Question 1 to legalize the recreational use of marijuana in Maine.
While there are many sides to this complex question, my particular focus is the well-being of Maine youth. I believe Maine youth will be better served by a legalization approach than the current war on drugs.
Now retired, I served for some years as superintendent and high school teacher at a mid-Maine school district. In those years, I observed that, despite prohibition, marijuana was readily available to my students. Further, student surveys revealed they were smoking marijuana more frequently than cigarettes. These trends continue to the present day. The 2015 Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey shows that 23 percent of Maine 11th-graders use marijuana at least once a month versus 12 percent for cigarettes.
If Question 1 is approved by the voters in November, marijuana use will emerge from the black market and the malign influence of organized crime. Public health, school and other officials will be free to use the same approaches that have been successful in reducing the use of tobacco by Maine youth. I have no doubt that their well-being will be better served as a result.
Denny Gallaudet
Cumberland
Locke right about Clinton haters
I applaud Phil Locke’s intelligent and spot on defense of Hillary Clinton in his Sept. 17 BDN letter to the editor. Her qualifications for the presidency are honest and unimpeachable. I believe, as Locke does, that “propagandists know that any assertions, however unsupported by evidence, gain credence through repetition.”
I would liken the “hate Hillary” campaign to the insidious propaganda that was disseminated regarding the Affordable Care Act as it was being birthed. Because it was unknown and, therefore, scary, people readily believed it was a bad thing. But when these same people were asked how they felt about some of the benefits, such as keeping your child on your insurance until age 26, coverage for those with pre-existing conditions and no lifetime limit, they thought those ideas were great. Fear of the unknown had made them susceptible to negative propaganda.
The hate Hillary crowd contend that “Hillary is a liar.” I would paraphrase an admonition from the Bible: If you are without sin, you have the honor of casting the first stone. Any takers?
Thelma H. White
Sorrento
Stop demonizing political opponents
In response to Ed Woods Sept. 16 BDN letter to the editor supporting Hillary Clinton’s “ basket of deplorables” comment. I am not a supporter of either the Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump camps. I am not a bigot or a racist. I am a conservative Christian who, until now, has always voted Republican.
For Clinton to say that half of Trump supporters are deplorable is to say that a sizeable portion of American voters are bigots, racists, misogynists and homophobes. She also is saying that about a sizeable portion of Republicans. Last time I checked, these “deplorables” were on both political sides.
It does not take courage to run a campaign on name-calling or mud-slinging. The deplorables are sick of it. They want to hear more about the issues that matter. They want to hear what the candidates plan to do to unite this country.
A candidate who uses name-calling as a means to win is no wiser than the 5-year-old who calls another child an insensitive name. Why would anyone applaud such behavior? Clinton does not speak for me or anyone else.
I can agree that as Americans we have dug this pit we find ourselves in and our elected leaders are in just as deep.
My husband and I saw the same kind of political demonizing in the last election, and it is getting old.
Joyce Schwarz
Hampden
Learn hands-on CPR
After reading the Sept. 12 BDN article about the rural dilemma over whether to wait for an ambulance or speed to the hospital when life’s at stake, I could not help but think of how often people do not call 911 when a heart or stroke emergency occurs. I was relieved to hear that Justin Osgood’s father is recovering well after suffering a severe chainsaw injury. For many emergencies and specifically those involving heart attacks, cardiac arrest and stroke, however, calling 911 is essential to saving a life.
An important skill everyone should know but one that is crucial when you live in rural Maine is hands-only CPR. By providing chest compressions, you can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chances of survival — preserving the person’s brain, heart and other organs until emergency personnel arrive. For every minute that goes by without it, a person’s chances of survival decreases by about 10 percent. Depending on where you live, just a few minutes can make the difference between life, death or major disability.
Thanks to the American Heart Association’s efforts, every Maine high school is required to offer hands-on CPR instruction. Most cardiac arrests happen at home and youth are often called upon to help. According to the American Heart Association, 90 percent of people who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests die. If you are called on to give CPR, you most likely will be trying to save the life of someone you love.
Rebecca Adams
American Heart Association in Maine
Carmel