Close ‘boyfriend loophole’
Sen. Susan Collins has a huge opportunity to demonstrate bipartisan leadership. I urge her to do so by co-sponsoring the Protecting Domestic Violence and Stalking Victims Act of 2017, aka closing the “boyfriend loophole.” Collins knows she has the people of Maine behind her on this bill, and now is the time to show real leadership on the issue of gun violence prevention.
The two most recent massacres in Las Vegas and Sutherland Springs, Texas, were committed by men with histories of domestic violence. Headlines like this make the news. What doesn’t make the news is that at least 52 percent of American women killed with guns are killed by intimate partners or family members. Women in the U.S. are 16 times more likely to be killed with guns in the U.S. than in other developed country, and when a gun is present in a domestic violence situation, women are five times more likely to be killed. These statistics are sobering.
Gun violence against women in America is inextricably linked to domestic violence, we can and must do more to keep guns out of the hands of those intent on doing harm.
We must demand more action from ourselves and our elected officials to stem the epidemic of gun violence that is uniquely American. I urge all readers to take a moment and call Collins today to ask her to do her part to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers and co-sponsor the bill to close the so-called boyfriend loophole.
Kathleen McFadden
Maine volunteer leader
Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
Prospect Harbor
Politicians must have integrity
As we approach the 2018 election season and the many policy debates that loom within, it seems to me that as a larger community we have a clear imperative to ensure that those vying to represent us can stand on their own integrity.
The fact that national organizations and lobbyists frequently perceive candidates as mere vehicles through which political agendas can be achieved — regardless of the social costs — is a depressing reality of our democracy.
But when our political atmosphere has degraded and sunk so low as to permit individuals in power to excuse the actions of alleged sexual predators and child abusers — Roy Moore and Donald Trump, among them — it becomes clear that our society is in need of much more than reflection, faux outrage and half-hearted rebukes by the political leadership.
As Mainers, we should use the opportunities ahead of us next year to demonstrate that our integrity is far more valuable than any short-term political advantage. Use this opportunity and demand of your representatives what you already demand of others.
Emma Collins
Camden
Trump makes America irrelevant
With actions taken by President Donald Trump since January 2017, we have abdicated our nation’s respected international leadership on the major economic and environmental issues. Trump talks about “America first” while making us irrelevant.
Trump withdrew the United States from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership, an international trade agreement affecting 40 percent of all world trade. This agreement was negotiated by the Obama administration because it was seen as vital for U.S. economic growth as well as strategic global leadership to limit China’s influence. At recent meetings, the other 11 nations announced that they were continuing on with the agreement. Meanwhile, China is making significant agreements with the 11 countries.
In June, Trump announced he would withdraw the United States from the Paris climate agreement of 2015, which had been led by President Barack Obama. The agreement has now been adopted by every nation in the United Nations as response to the record breaking rising greenhouse gas emissions. Recently in Bonn, Germany, these nations gathered to work on how to make the greenhouse gas reductions happen, plan for the beneficial clean energy future, and adapt to the climate events causing so much harm throughout the world. On Nov. 13, the U.S. government delegation held an official event promoting fossil fuel (coal, oil and gas) use, which produces greenhouse gas emissions. I am saddened.
Pam Person
Orland
Maine’s not for sale
Question 1 on the Nov. 7 ballot was a rip-off. It was a cushy business deal, hatched by an international gambling promoter, shamelessly masquerading as a boon to the people of Maine. Fortunately, voters saw through Shawn Scott’s phony promises.
Fortunately, a few politicians spoke out against his proposal, including Gov. Paul LePage, Rep. Lydia Blume of York and the York Board of Selectmen. So too did Maine newspaper editors. Fortunately, if late in the game, the Maine Ethics Commission fined the pro-casino campaign.
Unfortunately, neither the Maine Republican nor Democratic parties took a stand against Question 1. Both weighed in on other initiatives this year, but not on Question 1. Why not? Silence in response to an obviously crooked initiative makes one question the value of Maine’s Democratic and Republican organizations. Beyond their partisan agendas, aren’t they supposed to be concerned about good government?
No initiative designed to benefit one individual and his cronies should ever go before the voters. We need to change the rules. Step up, Maine political leaders. Do the right thing. Take action, so the self-dealing Shawn Scotts of this world cannot game Maine’s voting system.
David Chase
York
Mass shootings and domestic violence
Research shows that over 50 percent of all perpetrators of mass shootings have a history of known domestic violence. And those are just the ones with known violent histories. Each month, 50 American women are shot to death by intimate partners, and many more sustain nonlethal gunshot wounds.
Currently, domestic violence offenders are prohibited from purchasing guns if they: lived with the victim; share a child with the victim; or were married to the victim. If the perpetrator was dating the victim (without any of the three conditions), they can still legally purchase a gun.
Please contact Sen. Susan Collins and ask her to co-sponsor the Protecting Domestic Violence and Stalking Victims Act of 2017 (S 1539). This bill would end the “boyfriend loophole” and make it illegal for perpetrators of violence against dating partners to purchase guns.
It bears repeating: over 50 percent of mass shootings are carried out by perpetrators with a known history of domestic violence. We have to close this dangerous loophole.
Josie Ellis
Brewer