Drizzt
April 1, 2003, 05:10 PM
Portland Press Herald (Maine)
March 31, 2003 Monday, FINAL Edition
SECTION: EDITORIAL; Pg. 8A
LENGTH: 340 words
HEADLINE: Bills to ease ownership of guns have no merit;
Even defenders of gun rights oppose allowing concealed weapons without a permit.
BODY:
Always a popular topic in Augusta, the right of citizens to keep and bear arms is again on the legislative agenda, but most of the ideas miss the mark.
Several bills have been introduced that aim to loosen existing gun-control laws in Maine, but the need for some of these changes is not entirely clear, even to groups that typically champion unfettered gun ownership.
The most radical idea, proposed by Rep. Michael Vaughan, R-Durham, would allow victims of domestic violence to carry a concealed weapon without a permit, if they complete a gun-safety course. This privilege would not be extended to the public at large.
While it's true that victims of domestic violence are usually women, and that a firearm can be a powerful deterrent to abuse, we are not persuaded that it makes sense to suspend the rules for this one category of people, no matter how deserving they are of increased protection. Additionally, the bill, as drafted, sets no limit on how long a victim of domestic violence would be able to carry a gun without a permit.
For good reason, the Maine Citizens Against Handgun Violence and the state Department of Public Safety oppose the bill, and even the pro-gun-rights Sportsman's Alliance of Maine is not endorsing it.
Legislators also should think twice before supporting other measures intended to make gun ownership easier, especially a bill to repeal altogether the state law requiring a concealed weapons permit. In light of the increase in requests for these permits since Sept. 11, such a change seems unnecessary and wrongheaded.
Nor do we endorse a proposal to allow people who satisfy requirements for a concealed weapon elsewhere to carry one in Maine. As they do now, state and local police should continue to review each application for a concealed weapon.
Finally, a proposal to allow applicants to appeal to the state police when municipal officials refuse a request for a concealed weapon may have merit, but we are concerned that state police could be burdened by this additional work.
March 31, 2003 Monday, FINAL Edition
SECTION: EDITORIAL; Pg. 8A
LENGTH: 340 words
HEADLINE: Bills to ease ownership of guns have no merit;
Even defenders of gun rights oppose allowing concealed weapons without a permit.
BODY:
Always a popular topic in Augusta, the right of citizens to keep and bear arms is again on the legislative agenda, but most of the ideas miss the mark.
Several bills have been introduced that aim to loosen existing gun-control laws in Maine, but the need for some of these changes is not entirely clear, even to groups that typically champion unfettered gun ownership.
The most radical idea, proposed by Rep. Michael Vaughan, R-Durham, would allow victims of domestic violence to carry a concealed weapon without a permit, if they complete a gun-safety course. This privilege would not be extended to the public at large.
While it's true that victims of domestic violence are usually women, and that a firearm can be a powerful deterrent to abuse, we are not persuaded that it makes sense to suspend the rules for this one category of people, no matter how deserving they are of increased protection. Additionally, the bill, as drafted, sets no limit on how long a victim of domestic violence would be able to carry a gun without a permit.
For good reason, the Maine Citizens Against Handgun Violence and the state Department of Public Safety oppose the bill, and even the pro-gun-rights Sportsman's Alliance of Maine is not endorsing it.
Legislators also should think twice before supporting other measures intended to make gun ownership easier, especially a bill to repeal altogether the state law requiring a concealed weapons permit. In light of the increase in requests for these permits since Sept. 11, such a change seems unnecessary and wrongheaded.
Nor do we endorse a proposal to allow people who satisfy requirements for a concealed weapon elsewhere to carry one in Maine. As they do now, state and local police should continue to review each application for a concealed weapon.
Finally, a proposal to allow applicants to appeal to the state police when municipal officials refuse a request for a concealed weapon may have merit, but we are concerned that state police could be burdened by this additional work.