Today, the Maine House of Representatives voted to indefinitely postpone the Bloomberg gun control ballot initiative, which has been introduced as LD 1662. This was a procedural move by the House to allow the measure to go on the ballot for the November General Election. LD 1662 will now move to the Senate for further consideration. Please continue to contact your state Senator in opposition to LD 1662, Bloomberg’s gun control initiative. Please click the “Take Action” button below to contact your state Senator!
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
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.
Once again, your NRA-ILA will continue to update you on any further developments of the Bloomberg gun control initiative.