Today, March 15, the Maine Secretary of State has released the Bloomberg gun control ballot initiative to the Maine State Legislature for consideration. The legislature may deliberate and vote as early as Thursday, March 17, to decide whether the measure will be placed on the ballot for November. If enacted, this initiative would criminalize virtually all currently legal private transfers. Please contact your state Representative and state Senator TODAY and ask them to vote against Bloomberg’s gun control initiative when it comes before the legislature! Please click the “Take Action” button below to contact your state legislators!
Bloomberg’s Initiative Would Not Stop Criminals
Despite the rhetoric, this radically misguided ballot initiative will not reduce crime. Criminals will continue to break the law and obtain firearms through the black market, straw purchasers and theft.
Currently, it is illegal to knowingly sell a firearm to someone who is a prohibited person. Likewise, it is a felony for a prohibited person to buy, own or possess a firearm. However, this initiative seeks to make drastic and unnecessary changes to current laws that will place excessive restrictions on law-abiding citizens rather than addressing the true problems associated with straw purchases and the lack of enforcement of current laws.
Simply Loaning a Firearm to a Friend Could Turn a Law-Abiding Gun Owner into a Criminal Overnight
This initiative would only turn law-abiding gun owners into criminals. Simply loaning a firearm to a friend could turn a law-abiding gun owner into a criminal overnight. As seen in Oregon and Washington, this initiative is another attempt by former New York City Mayor and billionaire Michael Bloomberg to push his big city style gun-control on law-abiding gun owners in Maine.
Bloomberg’s Initiative is Unenforceable
According to a Department of Justice report from January 2013, laws like this would be entirely unenforceable without requiring a full gun registration. With limited resources, this deeply flawed initiative would simply place a burden on law enforcement.
Don’t let Michael Bloomberg and his “out-of-touch” bank account control your state and its politics! We urge you to please click the “Take Action” button to contact your state Representative and state Senator and ask them to vote against Bloomberg’s gun control initiative. Let them know that your state can’t be bought and sold by a billionaire from New York City!
Your NRA-ILA will continue to update you on any further developments of the Bloomberg gun control initiative.