Counter to the illogical claims that more guns = more violence, Maine has nearly the highest firearm ownership per capita of any State in the Republic and yet we also have some of the lowest rates of firearm violence in the Nation.
There was also a small gathering of anti-self defence folks who would make Open Carry illegal in certain municipalities. This movement is spear-headed by a local Portland politician. These folks are so scared of the power of inanimate objects that they somehow make the leap of logic that if they just make firearms illegal that criminals will choose to obey THOSE laws and not use firearms when they break other laws to victimise the law abiding (therefore legally unarmed and defenceless) populace.
Luckily in Maine, Augusta took the reigns of gun legislation from the political subdivisions of the State back in 1989 when then Portland Police Chief "Media Mike" Chitwood tried to enact a 19th Century Blue Law of restricting firearm carry in daylight hours. I think it was telling that even in Maine's most liberal municipality, the anti-self defence folks were outnumbered by about 3:1 by the pro-self defence crowd.
The only mar to the cheerful, articulate and well mannered pro-self defence crowd that I saw was some moron had decked his truck out with a Confederate flag flying high above the United State Flags and the truck was laden with claims of communism and socialism from the President. Of course, this truck owner has every right to voice such ill informed opinion...just like his predecessor, President Obama is a Big Government Corporatist, not a Socialist nor a Communist. Neither of our last two Presidents are against redistribution of wealth as long as it services a larger more powerful government and their Corporate Sponsors. My objection is to the flying the Confederate flag in a State which lost so many brave men fighting against what that flag stood for. That alone would be a grave insult. Flying it in prominence over the flag of these United States of America which stands for the ideals of the Constitution which Guarantees the very Rights which they were celebrating, is just outright stupid and should be called such by anyone regardless of which side of the open carry issue we are on.
My parting photo is of a man who stated as much..."I believe that these people have every right to carry their guns in public, but I oppose the racism and hatred that that [Confederate] flag represents here."
An interesting afternoon regardless.
The Pro-Self Defence crowd...(Mostly having interesting conversations and waiting for burgers.)...
The much smaller Anti-Self Defence crowd...Even in very liberal Portland...
The burgers smelled good, but we went went grocery shopping and out for Sushi afterward. :)
This young lady was 'openly carrying' a nice compound bow rather than a firearm...
1 comments:
Right on.
Post a Comment