Maine Governor Signs Pro-Gun Legislation into Law

[GreenStormCloud]

http://www.nraila.org/legislation/state-legislation/2012/03/maine-governor-signs-pro-gun-legislation-into-law.aspx

Yesterday Governor Paul LePage signed Legislative Document 1603 into law. This NRA-backed legislation, introduced by state Representative Dale Crafts (R-104), will allow a state employee, who has a valid permit to carry a concealed firearm, to store a firearm in his or her personal vehicle on state property as long as that vehicle is locked and the firearm is not visible. LD 1603 will take effect sixty days after adjournment of the 2012 legislative session.

The bill itself may be viewed at:http://www.mainelegislature.org/LawMakerWeb/summary.asp?ID=280043389

That is three states, so far this year, that have enacted pro-gun laws. My purpose in posting everytime a new pro-gun law is signed is to show that there is a wave of pro-gun legislation sweeping the nation. The Democratic Party needs to catch the wave, not oppose it. Surf's up and the antis are wiping out. Some Democratic Senators and Representatives and state legislators are already hanging ten.

[Kennah]

1. But, but, but ...

... the Taliban will now break into the vehicles of state employees and then use the guns to crash planes into Pearl Harbor, thereby sinking the Titanic.

[Callisto32]

4. Not the Lusitania?

"O!....HE saw the Lusitania in distress! (Wut'd 'e du!?)
HE shoved the Lusitania up 'is Dress! (BIG DRESS!)
Then, he drank all of the water i'th'sea
and, he walk all the way to Italy!

That was my brother...."

[edgineered]

2. The 2nd ammendment, regardless of its uses and abuses,

is part of our law. How and when it changes, and what changes are made to it are subject to too many influences for radical and immediate revisions of law.

The projection of power, the ability to exert force from a distance, since drafting of the constitution has grown expotentially. Along with the effective range of firearms, the ability to fire repeatedly with unimaginable precision, shells specifically designed to stop, penetrate or kill, comes a disparity between intent, letter of the law and the exercise of rights. Despite having DU as a forum for discussion of gun issues, little more than either helping eachother to understand what is at issue or further re-inforcing ones existing beliefs will happen. But we can give some thought to one thing that has not changed in these few short centuries.

That constant is the desire to exercise ones own will. There may not be evidence of any change in human nature through recorded history - there is change in the breadth, depth and speed of exerting ones will onto others though. Using broad based communications brings faster results; it also enables seeing the perils of poor decision making not a leap but a few steps into the future.

Call the pre-gun / anti-gun debates the first step. The 2nd ammendment easily gets the victory. The anti-gun advocates cannot win a sweeping gun control battle, nor can they wrest enough legislation to enforce their first win. That win would have to be an inventory and accountability of all weapons and/or the ability to prevent weapons manufacture. That leaves the pro-gun/anti-gun factions as the opposing sides.

What happens as the battle wears on? Does battle fatique affect one side more than the other? The anti-gun side remains fairly unified, while taking things a step further, the potential for a rift in policy among the pro-guns must develop, The anti-guns become less of a threat, eventually not even to be considered as worthy opponents.

In the long term those with the guns must consider others with guns, but unlike themselves in policies and ideals, the real enemy. Whether fact is stranger than fiction this time, we may never know. What we do know is that the drumbeats of international war keeps the thirst for blood from becoming our civil war.

[Dragonfli]

3. You are right, but more importantly, even more anti-women laws are being passed

That's a tasty wave as well, come on conservadems, get aboard the BIGGEST wave.

[pipoman]

5. The obvious difference

is that the "anti-women laws" are restrictions on individual freedom and liberty...very non-Democratic/non-progressive. The gun control plank in the Democratic platform is the only plank I can think of which advocates for a conservative interpretation and implementation of individual freedom and liberty. The polar opposite of everything I expect from my party. The party has been wrong about the gun control issue, and thus can never win the support of a large faction of the party.

The gun control issue is historically (recent history 50 years or so) misunderstood. Gun control is not and never will be a party issue, it is an urban/rural issue. This is why urban Dems and thugs tend to agree on the issue, and rural dems and thugs agree. This is why dem reps from rural districts will never agree to gun control legislation. There aren't enough urban repubs to counter the rural district dems.

Gun control, like every other limitation on liberty is NOT a liberal/democratic/progressive position...women's rights along with all other human rights is a very liberal/democratic/progressive position..

[Dragonfli]

9. You are right! ALEC is just looking out for my right to get shot by the good man

That has a REALLY big piece.

Go ALEC!
Go ALEC!
Go ALEC!

ALEC is by no means taking a progressive or GOP stance on legislation they blueprint. They are neutral.

The need to have GUNS in close proximity to as many as possible, with easy peazy self defense proactive shooting solutions is the only thing we need to agree on to move forward into the 19th century.

[HALO141]

14. Well, I think that's a little extreme

but I can work with it.


Welcome aboard.

[pipoman]

26. Intresting the paradox you are advocating

what other civil liberties do you advocate conservative interpretation of?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

7. Lifting of the draconian anti gun laws is in many ways pro woman

[Dragonfli]

8. I agree! Go ALEC!!!

it is pro women to make sure people can easily shoot anything that scares them.
The only organization that seems to care about women and the need they have to be with men that have a big gun is ALEC.

They get women the most, I agree wholeheartedly, lets support ALL the stuff they author.

[gejohnston]

12. is there any evidence ALEC has anything to do with it?

because I honestly think it is bullshit. Thom Hartmann speculated about it. He was also trying to paint a rosey picture about how you could defend yourself from a car jacker under the old law (which you probably could not, since most Florida juries would not giving up your car as unreasonable, meaning you go to jail.)
Just like how the current law is keeping Zimmerman out of jail. Sanford PD fucking up is keeping him out of jail, the law is being used as an excuse to cover their asses.
Blindly believing talk radio heads is as stupid on the left as it is on the right.
ALEC cares about money, they don't give a shit about guns.

[Dragonfli]

24. Why yes, yes there is, I have seen many posts and articles about the stand your ground

and be a man legislation as blueprinted by ALEC.

They provide the blueprints and smart Con servatives push them into law with minor tweaks (or no tweaks), if you don't know this, I'd say you need to learn where this crap comes from and learn to do your own research, I am sick to death of holding people by the hand and pointing them to what the people that understand debated legislation know, basically who authors this crap.

Too many ask and then refuse to look at the proof, they only ask because they don't want to know and then deny ALEC has any power at all. I am sick of hearing that ALEC doesn't exist

Look up ALEC, I won't do your work for you. Basically they are a group that provides conservatives across many states with conservative blueprint legislation that they then pass in waves across the country to change the landscape nationally as much as possible.

[Kennah]

25. SYG is much older than ALEC

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002449250

More to the point, ALEC serves the wants and needs of corporations. Gun rights does NOT serve the interests of corporations. The last thing they want is enslaved workers who are armed.

[gejohnston]

27. I know who ALEC is

I know Thom Hartmann made the claim, but I have not seen any evidence ALEC has any interest in SYG. Plutocrats are not big on having serfs with guns.

I know they exist, I'm just not buying the gun connection.

[pipoman]

28. You are the one making a statement of fact

which is obvious fiction. Why not post your sources? Are they too biased to be taken seriously by anyone but the true believers?

[GreenStormCloud]

11. Gun freedom is for women too.

My wife has a CHL (Concealed Handgun License - Texas for CCW) and has twice used her handgun to stop herself from being attacked. The attacks would have been for money as she had the combination to the door and was always first to arrive at work. Both times the would-be robber took off running, no shots fired. I suppose you would be happier if she had been disarmed and a crime victim statistic.

She works at a different place now, that is much safer. But she still keeps a gun in her car. Her employee manual has the standard rule forbiding guns in employee cars. Now that Texas has that same law she is completely free to have her gun in her car all the time, and she does. She did before too, she just didn't say anything and they never searched the cars. She still doesn't say anything about the gun but she isn't concerned about the employer doing a car check anymore.

That law gives her, a woman, a freedom that she didn't have before.

[Dragonfli]

13. I agree, the only way anyone can be safe is if they can easily kill anything that scares them

Everyone should have the freedom to use a tool designed to maim or kill a human, everyone knows that the only defense is deadly defense and law and order is in your holster!

Gun rights are for children too, but the bastards just don't get it.
True freedom will require a lot more ammo, and a lot more lobbying.

I have a dream where anyone can shoot anyone regardless of the color of their skin, or the sexual organs they posses, a world of new freedoms for all and a way for even children to be safe in areas where so many die in drive by drug shootings, arm the children and they will be safer (they have to start shooting back at the dealers don't you agree?)

The only safe community is a heavily armed one, just ask Canada and Great Britain! They let everyone have guns don't they? Our draconian gun laws keep us from being as safe as all those countries where everyone carries guns.

The scariest places on earth don't allow guns, the reason Somalia is so unsafe is because they won't let anyone have a gun there.

[rl6214]

17. More rantings of a 12 year old

Not even worth reading after the first sentence.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

21. Quite a screed you got there...

I teach firearms for self defense to mostly LGBTs and women. Vast majority liberal and/or progressive. Some have been victims of violence or bashing, other have had friends that were attacked, even killed. The decision to arm themselves is not taken lightly, nor should it be. Even after the class, some do not choose to go the firearms route, which IMO is an honorable decision. They are not for everyone. I don't charge (unless you count the potluck lunches) for the classes nor do I sell weapons or ammunition. Its one of the ways I give back to the community.

Gun control in the US has classist and racist roots and they remain true to them today. Armed gays don't get bashed and weak can defend themselves against the predators. I have not and will not defend Zimmerman. Nor do I agree with decision not to charge Joe Horn. Neither death was IMO justified. However, I am not going to use those cases to take away primary means of defense from others who need it.

[Dragonfli]

22. Guns solve so much, we should all have them, I agree /nt

[jpak]

6. Lepage (AKA The Penguin) is a teabagger and it was passed by the GOP majority.

More GOP cheerleading in the Gungeon.

yup

[Dragonfli]

10. You got it all wrong!! the ALEC pro gun bluebrint is there because pro gun is pro women

It is posted plain as day above.

Why do you hate women? They need more kids shot, and you are standing in the way of that.

[ellisonz]

15. Domestic Violence and Gun Ownership

Guns increase the probability of death in incidents of domestic violence.26

Firearms were used to kill more than two-thirds of spouse and ex-spouse homicide victims between 1990 and 2005.27

Domestic violence assaults involving a firearm are 23 times more likely to result in death than those involving other weapons or bodily force.28

Abused women are five times more likely to be killed by their abuser if the abuser owns a firearm.29

A recent survey of female domestic violence shelter residents in California found that more than one third (36.7%) reported having been threatened or harmed with a firearm.30 In nearly two thirds (64.5%) of the households that contained a firearm, the intimate partner had used the firearm against the victim, usually threatening to shoot or kill the victim.31

Laws that prohibit the purchase of a firearm by a person subject to a domestic violence restraining order are associated with a reduction in the number of intimate partner homicides.32

Source: Legal Community Against Gun Violence

[gejohnston]

18. LCAV?

&list=FLGjp21lBK0TiXCoaaHdkeSw&index=26&feature=plpp_video

Here is their legal director listing all of the examples of gun laws reducing crime. Oh yeah, I hope she read up on Gun Control Act of 1968 and interstate sales since this video was made.

[ellisonz]

19. Peer-reviewed studies and federal crime statistics.

You see those little numbers - those are footnotes.

[gejohnston]

20. how many are peer reviewed science?

many of them are neither. How many of these peer reviewed studies are actually peer reviewed, and more importantly, has anyone else been able to replicate the study and findings?

[pipoman]

29. And most shocking stat of all

100% of all shootings occurred with a gun!1!!1!

[rl6214]

16. Oh, the backlash...