Bloomberg takes aim at Maine

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meesterdon

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Had a rally in Augusta today raising funds to take on Bloomberg and his $$$. All Mainers should vote no on 3.
 

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Most people I know of here are voting NO on 3. Couldn't make it up to that part of the state this weekend. Would have like to attended.
 
If you aren't a member of Gun Owners of Maine you should be. Lots of good volunteers and we're all doing our part to pump out signs, stickers, pamphlets, and other educational material. In just one evening, myself and two other guys completed 150 32"x10" yard signs.

And if anyone isn't from Maine, ANY little bit of help to support the cause is most appreciated. You can donate at www.ubcbadforme.com
 
I hate to seem alarmist, but I think you Maine people need to understand what you are up against. Based on what I saw in Washington State two years ago with I-594, you can count on Bloomberg and local rich people allied with him to spend millions of dollars to cover all of the local TV stations with ad after ad after ad after ad pushing their agenda. The ads may include some local law enforcement people and prosecutors who are anti gun (if such people exist in Maine). The ads may include sob stories from young women who fear that their violent ex boyfriend can buy a gun with no background check. Et cetera, et cetera. After seeing these ads over and over and over, many people in the vast, uninformed political middle will tilt toward the Bloomberg view and vote to pass his ballot measure.

In Washington State, pro-gun groups focused on trying to "activate the base" to get gun owners to vote against the ballot measure, but that was a waste, because the pro-gun base is already activated. You may be doomed, unless pro-gun groups can spend millions on TV ads. One possible saving grace is that the typical voter in Maine might already be more pro-gun than the typical voter in Washington State was two years ago; I don't know about that.
 
cjwils - We are very much aware of what we're up against. We know what happened in Washington State, and that millions more will be thrown at us.

The gun owner base has launched a campaign at educating friends, family, coworkers, basically reaching as many people that aren't gun folks as we can.

We know the odds are against us, but that doesn't matter, onward we press!
 
"cjwils - We are very much aware of what we're up against. We know what happened in Washington State, and that millions more will be thrown at us.

The gun owner base has launched a campaign at educating friends, family, coworkers, basically reaching as many people that aren't gun folks as we can.

We know the odds are against us, but that doesn't matter, onward we press!"

Well said sir. Very well said.
 
What sort of organised effort is being made? Getting the majority of Mainers spun up about this will be needed. For Bloomberg Maine is just a pawn in an overall scheme.
 
GoMe has a pretty good "grassroots" thing going on right now. With the support of S.A.M. and finally the NRA some stuff is starting to happen. My wife is very involved in the process and has been distributing signs, bumper stickers and other materials all over Central Maine. A lot of good people are becoming (and have been) involved. This is not GoMe's 1st political fight. Come up here and you can legally carry a nice concealed handgun under your shirt.

I have found out that you DO NOT need to be a Maine resident to join GoMe. I believe the official position is "Hell no we'll take 35 bucks from anybody".

Sign up and you can get a loverly Guns Owners of Maine membership card. See link below.

Who knows maybe we can rub Bloomberg's nose in it. :)

http://gunownersofmaine.org/join
 
With the support of S.A.M. and finally the NRA some stuff is starting to happen.

I have been an NRA member for a long time, but I was totally disappointed and disgusted with NRA's complete lack of any meaningful action against I-594 in Washington state. Hopefully, they will be more involved (willing to spend BIG bucks) in Maine. Or will they just use Maine as another excuse to ask all of us to donate?
 
I have been an NRA member for a long time, but I was totally disappointed and disgusted with NRA's complete lack of any meaningful action against I-594 in Washington state.

I assume by being a member of the NRA that you mean you actively donate to the separate organization, the NRA-ILA? Because if not, your money doesn't go to political campaigns like Washington State's or even Maine's. Your NRA dues have nothing to do with their arm that is the Institute for Legislative Action which is what helps in situations like these. It's up to individuals to stop these laws, no one is going to preserve your Freedoms for you.

HSO - You ask what is being done? A little run down so far.
Gun Owners of Maine has been growing at an incredible rate, not just in actual paid memberships but our online presence as well. In less than a year our Facebook page (where we do most of our coordinating) has grown from 7,000 members to 14,000! We also have sort of an 'Officers page' where we can discuss specific details and strategies without the 'spies' knowing everything we're up to.

Yard signs have been going up all over the place on private properties, business cards with information and the dedicated website are being handed out, stickers, copies of the actual Bill, and we have all this at booths we've setup at as many public events as we can (not just gun shows). We have a growing network of people transporting materials across the State. And we of course have been sharing lots of posts on Facebook for the friends/family on our friends list that aren't into guns. Because we need to either educate them or 'brand them'. I've seen far more No on 3 signs than yes on 3 so far.

Members are giving till it hurts and raffles are happening all the time so we can keep scraping up more money. Myself and a few others were contacted by the NRA and told that whatever we needed for sign/sticker materials they will start sending our way and take care of it all so there's still hope! We just had a big BBQ fundraiser last Sunday in conjunction with the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine and the NRA too, I couldn't attend but heard it was a blast.
 
If we could convince everybody that owns a firearm in the state to vote this down it might work. Sadly there are a lot of fuds still thinking that it will not affect them. Family members included I am afraid.:banghead: A lot of those that bought firearms recently are in the younger sectors and sadly they think that their vote will be wasted so they sit it out. I have been working locally to get as many on board for this as possible. The other Maine (south of Augusta) is but a bedroom community of Mass these days and they have the greater population that is mostly anti gun. There is where we need to step it up IMHO. The thing that hurt us is the pot heads voting for legalized weed this election on question 1. They usually vote D----when they bother to vote at all. If this was not on the ballot Bloomberg would not be spending the $$$$ that he is already. Changing the mindset of a generation of brainwashed newer voters is going to be an uphill battle in the least. Until they find out they have to perform a background check for $50 so they can borrow a friends firearm for a days shooting after this passes. Then they will be upset but still SOL like the rest of us.
 
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This seems like a well thought out campaign. Washington has a gun ownership rate a bit below Maine, but Maine has a huge rate compared to other NE states like Rhode Island, but they aren't going after states like Rhode Island. If they can keep picking off these middle ground states it tests whether they can do this nationally.


Successfully countering universal background checks is going to come down to how well our side can articulate the problem with having those checks to people that don't particularly care either way, since gun ownership in most states is below 50%.

I have not heard a particularly appealing argument that would appeal to those not invested.
 
The other Maine (south of Augusta) is but a bedroom community of Mass these days and they have the greater population that is mostly anti gun.

Funny, in all the sign printing, fundraising, distributions, and campaigning down here in the "other Maine" I must have missed you there helping. And with the hundreds of people I've talked to that firmly oppose Question 3 I must have missed the "bedroom community of Mass".. Bashing on half the State isn't helpful toward our goal of stopping Bloomberg, so try to keep an open mind and remember we need everyone we can get if we're going to stop him in November.

The only people I've found so far that support Question 3 is people that don't know what's in the actual law, they just look at the title, which is why it is so important to educate people between now and November.
 
Not arguing with you at all about this. BUT from personal experience I have close friends in the greater Lewiston and Portland areas. It seems those areas especially have a lot of rabidly anti folks in residence. Can't say much positive for the MDI/JAX lab area either.;)
A big problem is retirees relocating here from other states that have strict firearms laws (NJ, NY, MASS for example) and thinking that more restrictions here will only add to their safety.

If we wanted to live under those rules we would just move there................:banghead:

Ps I am a SAM and GoMe member
 
Looks like the NRA is stepping up to the plate here in Maine. Radio ads and future TV ads and a field representative. Go get 'em Andy.
My name is Andy Torbett and I am the new NRA-ILA Campaign Field Representative for the State of Maine this election cycle. Like many of you, I treasure the independent Maine lifestyle and resent former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's arrogant attempt to infringe upon our rights. Something we Mainers are now experiencing first hand. We cherish the ability to raise our children in such a beautiful wilderness and for many the Second Amendment affords us the tools to survive here. Yes, to hunt, but most importantly, to defend our homes and families.
Mayor Bloomberg has made it clear that his goal is to dismantle our rights piece by piece, starting with anti-gun ballot Question 3. If you have not heard about how bad this ballot initiative is, visit www.votenoquestion3.org. Bloomberg has discounted the might and resolve of the citizens of Maine. Despite the seemingly endless amount of money he has invested in this, we can defeat him if we all stand together. Please stand with me and volunteer TODAY to help push the New York City Elitists out of our state.
Proponents claim that this question will take guns out of the hands of criminals, but the one thing that makes them criminals is that they don’t follow the law. Make no mistake about it, this is an attack on your gun rights. Contact me today and let’s get started by making sure the pro-gun community knows the truth about anti-gun Question 3. Knocking doors, making phone calls, attending events, we need to get the word out by any means possible.
If you have any questions, or would like more information, please email me at [email protected] or call me at 207-659-2368. If you know of others that may want to get involved, please forward my information as well. We don’t have a minute to waste.
Yours in Freedom,
Andy Torbett
NRA-ILA Campaign Field Representative
http://www.nrailafrontlines.com/
 
Until they find out they have to perform a background check for $50 so they can borrow a friends firearm for a days shooting after this passes. Then they will be upset but still SOL like the rest of us.

Ok, that's a bit of hyperbole, BUT it is a good point that these folks will have to pay for a background check instead of it being something the state provides as part of the service. Not only will you have the check imposed, but you'll have to pay for the "privilege" when there's not one study showing any statistics that violent crime is reduced by the compliant complying with the law.

How is that framed so the demographic finds the very idea unacceptable and an imposition?
 
We've had background checks for gun purchases in illinois for just shy of 50 years. In the time I have been in the fraternity my collection has grown 100x and I carry legally even in Chicago / Cook County. In all the debates, the "we don't know who's buying them" cant be used as a impediment to moving forward on expanding rights. I know how the rest of you feel and keep up the fight. The Bloomberg proposal seem more draconian then what we deal with. It seems the more time that passes the more strict the proposals. GMHO
 
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Aim high and compromise is what they do.
Bloomberg with his money is a threat and I just saw that he gave $250,000,000 to John's Hopkins University and he has come out saying he doesn't intended to pass his fortune on to family.

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Successfully countering universal background checks is going to come down to how well our side can articulate the problem with having those checks to people that don't particularly care either way, since gun ownership in most states is below 50%.

I have not heard a particularly appealing argument that would appeal to those not invested.

Successfully countering universal background checks will require coming up with a logical argument explaining why buying a gun from a dealer requires a background check but buying one from an individual should not. Background checks = registration = confiscation will not will not and has not worked.

In the end I see UBCs passing for the simple reason that they are supported by an overwhelming majority of people.
 
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I work for the gun lobby here in RI and we've shut down the Bloombergers four years in a row. If it can be done in the bluest of blue states Maine can do it. This year is going to be a tough one for us but it can be done.
 
We've had tables at gun shows, fairs and other public events spreading the word about the issues with the proposed Bill. We aren't even talking about the gun sales so much but this Bill says transfers as well and clearly defines transfer to include many items like lending a shotgun for a buddy to go hunting, or getting out of your vehicle when you and your buddy are returning from the range and leaving him in there while you get a coffee, you just illegally transferred your firearms to him if this Bill were to pass.

It's also a defacto handgun ban on everyone from 18-21 even if they have their Concealed Carry Permit, since if they can't buy it privately they have to go to a Federally licensed dealer which cannot sell a handgun to anyone under the age of 21.

We certainly have huge concerns that this Bill will pass, but we're working hard to stop it.
 
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