Tag Archives: Maine politics

Feb 20 2015

One More Shot for Gunowners

Word from the office of Congressman Bruce Poliquin is that he has also co-sponsored another bill, H.R. 578.   The bill is entitled The Recreational Lands Self-Defense Act.  The bill allows U.S. law abiding citizens to possess firearms and concealed firearms on lands owned by the United States Army Corp of Engineers.  Poliquin has certainly come out guns blazing in defense of the 2nd Amendment, leaving no doubt on his stance.  Poliquin says, “As your Representative, I’m determined to protect our right keep and bear arms as it is an essential and irreplaceable part of the Constitution”.  This is an encouraging sign for Maine people in CD 2.  TMCV will continue to monitor the Congressman’s progress and votes in Washington and report back to you

Feb 19 2015

Poliquin Announces Co-Sponsorship of Reciprocity Bill

As per TMCV’s announcement last night, this morning the office of Congressman Bruce Poliquin issued a press release detailing his co-sponsorship of H.R.986.  This bill is similar to Senate Bill sponsored by Texas Senator John Cornyn which attempts to standardize reciprocity between States which have a concealed carry permit system for firearms. With the push for constitutional carry nationwide, States and the Feds are wrestling with the complexities of State sovereignty and the impact Constitutional Carry has on reciprocity across the Country,

Feb 18 2015

Reciprocity

Maine Senator Eric Brakey has introduced a Bill to the legislature that would make Maine a Constitutional Carry State. The idea behind this measure is an idea I support. Still, this bill must be approached carefully as to avoid unintended consequences, specifically in the area of reciprocity.

To date, Maine is an Open Carry State. This means a resident of Maine may carry a firearm exposed on their person without a permit. A resident may not carry a concealed firearm in this State without a permit. Senator Brakey’s bill would eliminate the need for a permit to conceal a firearm in the State of Maine.

Reciprocity is a political and legal term, which refers to process to where States honor, uphold, and enforce laws from other States within their sovereign borders. For gun owners, it means that possessing a concealed weapons permit in Maine also means that they can carry a concealed weapon in a State that reciprocates, or honors that permit. Therein lies the rub for gun owners in the State of Maine.

If Maine simply changes to a Constitutional Carry State, legislators may unwittingly nullify reciprocity for the many concealed weapon permit holders in Maine, who use their permits in their travels to other States. This makes them vulnerable to prosecution now in States that do not reciprocate Constitutional Carry in their borders. Hopefully, Senator Brakey has addressed this in his legislation.

If not, there is a simple solution. Amend the bill so it continues to allow for the Concealed Weapon process should the resident choose to apply, thereby maintaining reciprocity with those States that honor the permit. Clearly stipulate in the language that Constitutional Carry applies only to the borders of the State of Maine and its residents by their choice.

Common Sense dictates that not all States will agree with our stance on Constitutional Carry. With John Cornyn of Texas proposing legislation that will standardize reciprocity for concealed weapon permits for all 50 States, it is important that we maintain a pathway that allows Maine residents to provide for their personal defense wherever they may travel. A measured and thoughtful approach, as always, will yield the best solution for the people of Maine. Let’s Set Maine Free!

Feb 11 2015

Nose Cutting

It has reached epidemic proportions within the political realm.  Patience is no longer a virtue.  If the desired end is not reached immediately, if not sooner, then the foolish perpetrator of sloth and betrayal, who was foolish enough to offer to work towards that end, must be publicly excoriated, vilified and abandoned.  Who needs him, if he can’t microwave a miracle right now?

So it was last week, fresh off an air pressure sports scandal that wasn’t, we, the public, tried to conjure up another crisis that is just more hot air.  Bruce Poliquin made a vote that surprised many in a test vote, emphasis on test, in other words, not a real vote.  The Congressman used this test, not real vote, test vote as an opportunity to send his Republican colleagues a message that they should put some substance behind their symbolic votes.

How dare he???  He’s betrayed us!!!  We sent him down to Washington to stand against the status quo and….and…he’s doing it!  Who would have ever thought?  The travesty!!!  Heaven help us!!!

Meanwhile….Bruce Poliquin has been back at work doing what he promised he would in Washington, attacking ObamaCare. He’s just co-sponsored a bill to repeal the individual mandate.  He’s already supported bills to restore the full time worker classification back to 40 hrs rather than the 30 hrs and repeal the medical device tax.

Surprise!  There has been a flurry of proposals from Republicans for free-market solutions to healthcare.  It’s amazing what happens when the wheel very publicly squeaks.  And suddenly the congressional district, which was called the most insignificant in the United States, is very significantly impacting the healthcare debate.

Still, we are angry.  Why, because we want to be and we won’t let any explanations, facts, actions, and especially reasoning get in the way of our desire to be angry.  We prefer to listen to the statements of pathological liberal liars simply because we are invested in rage.

We are playing right into the designs of the left media here in Maine.  Columnists like Amy Fried have no qualms about lying to achieve their ends.  That end is to ensure that Bruce Poliquin is a one term representative.  She is well versed and proficient in her ability to toss false darts into the cauldron of those focused on fury and the melee ensues.

Her hope is to stoke enough rage, albeit misplaced, amongst Conservatives and Libertarians against Bruce Poliquin to ensure that Emily Cain is elected next election cycle.  Poliquin is doing the right thing by continuing to stay the course he has promised, and continue to visit Maine every weekend to talk to the people.  If Bruce has anything, he has courage.

It would be in our best interest here in the State of Maine to vacate this propensity to cut off our nose to spite our face just to make someone pay for a perceived offense.  This behavior does more damage than good. Given time and patience from his constituents, I believe Bruce Poliquin will do the job we sent him to do.