Posted on 10/26/2023 8:22:16 PM PDT by DoodleBob
…Maine is generally a safe state, with less than 30 homicides per year on average. Yet the state has a relatively high rate of gun ownership, especially relative to the rest of New England. Data show that about 47 percent of adults in Maine have a gun in their home, compared to 14.7 percent in Massachusetts.
…
But Maine has some of the most lax gun laws in the country. The state does not require universal background checks, does not ban high-capacity magazines, and does not require a permit for concealed carry for those over the age of 21. The state received an F from the Gifford’s Law Center regarding the strength of our gun laws. And while some Mainers celebrate that as an indication of freedom, there are common-sense steps that can be taken to help make everyone safer without trampling on individual rights.
…
Maine has a yellow flag law that allows law enforcement agencies to confiscate guns from those who are a threat to themselves or others. Unlike red flag laws, in which people can petition a court to have firearms taken away, Maine’s yellow flag law relies on a medical opinion before action can be taken.
…
As we know from research, it is common for mass public shooters to make their intentions known, either through direct threat or what is called “leakage,” where they discuss plans with someone prior to the attack. These are opportunities to intervene.
Unfortunately, red and yellow flag laws are not used with much frequency. This could be for a variety of reasons, including a state’s hesitation to infringe on gun rights or a simple lack of knowledge that these laws are in place. They need to be used more often.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
“So they want to implement MORE gun control laws that don’t work and criminals will disregard anyways?”
Yes, by design.
Permit less carry is one reason that homicides are down in that state. I still don’t understand why no one returned fire against this wacko .
they were all out hunting?
Seriously, though, I was wondering the same thing. The further north you go in Maine, the more conservative it gets. And they love their guns in ME, too.
To me it seems inconceivable that nobody was carrying and returned fire to stop this guy.
FWIW, the day after the shooting, I heard LOTS of gunfire here. Someone nearby (one of the neighbors) was getting LOTS of range time in.
I'm guessing lots more people here in NH are carrying at the moment.
My understanding is where these shootings occurred were “gun free zones” (note: have not been able to find a dispositive link, but that rumor is going around). Assume this is the case. Then the law abiding of course complied. The mass murdered didn’t.
So Biden’s and the leftscum’s solution: Make all of Maine — no all of the US — a gun free zone.
One good guy or gal with a gun and proper training could have dropped this worthless piece of filth sub-human animal.
The first two sentences are all you need to know. The rest is just liberal BS.
I’ll just lay this out. If you go to a private business that has a gun-free sign on it and there’s no armed security at this point? You almost deserve what you get. Unless it’s a school, airport, court, or something that searches or metal detects, even if you break the rules what are the chances of getting caught if you have any IQ.
And if you’re busted for carrying in a banned place after you had to use it to save your life then you should wear that as a medal of freaking honor.
That's true. However, Maine firearms dealers must initiate the background check required by FEDERAL LAW.
I could say more but might have shades of blaming the victims. And that one guy mentioned above deserves to be recognized for his bravery.
On some personal notes: I am licensed and could carry anywhere I go. Don't. Instead have other means of self defense on hand, namely a fully legal blinding "flashlight" (it is actually a laser -- instant blindness if I shine it in a bad person's eyes) and my fully legal Benchmade knife (20+ years of knife fighting training -- very effective in close quarters -- have back off muggers just by pulling the blade and they could see I knew how to use it -- never cut anyone).
Guess the take away is defense of yourself and your people is a person's own responsibility. The cops usually show up too late and just try to clean up the mess. Sure we agree on that score.
Do feel obligated to comment on this part of what you said:
And if you’re busted for carrying in a banned place after you had to use it to save your life then you should wear that as a medal of freaking honor.
AGREE COMPLETELY!
Liberals live in their own Bizarro World.
Their beliefs have noting to do with reality, truth, science or natural law.
Their entire world is founded on things that they pretend exist.
They pretend that “shall not be abridged” means “shall be abridged in the same way they believe
that males without wombs or other female organs can become impregnated and give birth.
By any reasonable definition they truly are insane.
Yes I’m sorry. I said almost and I didn’t mean there’s any... culpability or anything. It’s just it’s a bad idea and that if something like this happens and you listened to the sign I guess you shouldn’t be surprised?
Bowling and concealed carry don’t go well together. There were probably a lot of weapons sitting in trucks in the parking lot. A sleepy little town in Maine doesn’t project the same danger as an urban area.
EC
Bkmk
To this point:
It’s just it’s a bad idea and that if something like this happens and you listened to the sign I guess you shouldn’t be surprised?
Absolutely agree. That's why people such as us train, have situational awareness, and don't freeze when bad things happen. Sadly, this is no longer as common as it should be. Sigh.
To be blunt, I had an "unfair" advantage: My Dad was a Marksman class II in the Army (aka a sniper). Although I never served (regrets), He trained me well. Not everyone has that benefit so I try to cut people some slack. That said, what you stated (highlighted above) is absolutely correct.
I agree!
Have to add one more comment: Why don't these anti-gun people recognize a simple fact: The vast majority of mass shootings outside of gangland stuff happen in "gun free zones"? The monsters/perps/scum aren't completely stupid. They look for unarmed victims. Just like Hamas did in Israel.
Looks to me that Maine already has the most common-sense gun laws in the nation, no changes necessary.
If ONE of those poor people had been “carrying” the outcome may have been quite different.
Whenever you see the words “common sense” you can be sure that some more of your freedom is about to disappear.
Many times when there is a violent crime in a “good” or “safe” neighborhood, we often hear the residents say things like “this is such a safe town. This sort of thing just doesn’t happen here. I keep my doors unlocked. We all know each other. The schools are good. There aren’t drug deals on the street” and so on.
I live and lived in “good” and “so-so” towns. I can tell you, it takes a strong person to avoid the hypnotism of safety, and not practice situational awareness 24/7. If you’re at a restaurant or a bowling alley or mall with friends in a “safe” town, you tend to let your guard down. Been there, done that, and to be fair I read articles on the physical downside to being on alert 24/7.
Being disarmed at the door by the govt, ie no guns where liquor is served, is a contributing factor. But so is the mindset.
The reality is that Bad Guys, by definition, don’t follow the imaginary boundaries we establish in our minds. They don’t play by these mental rules. Thus, when a rat acts like a rat, we shouldn’t be surprised.
Again, I am not victim-blaming…the good people who were murdered and injured in Maine are innocent, much like the people in Gaza. The Bad Guy is always the guilty party.
In closing, one of the most magnificent contemporary pieces was written by Jeffrey Snyder, A Nation of Cowards. While the piece is overtly about concealed carry, it is much broader than that.
Is your life worth protecting? If so, whose responsibility is it to protect it? If you believe that it is the police's, not only are you wrong -- since the courts universally rule that they have no legal obligation to do so -- but you face some difficult moral quandaries. How can you rightfully ask another human being to risk his life to protect yours, when you will assume no responsibility yourself?...One who values his life and takes seriously his responsibilities to his family and community will possess and cultivate the means of fighting back...He will never be content to rely solely on others for his safety, or to think he has done all that is possible by being aware of his surroundings and taking measures of avoidance.
What Snyder wrote applies literally to every situation under the sun, not just thieves in the night or bad dudes in an alley but bureaucrats in lab coats and college faculty in sport coats. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.
Lots of content in your comment. Will not comment on every point. Will just say, “WELL SAID!”
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