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ServiceMX t1_iuj4psb wrote

Reply to comment by SobeysBags in In the Maine News? by SobeysBags

Maine had a referendum on universal background checks in 2016. The "pro" side was massively funded by out-of-state political action committees. It was still voted down by a majority of Mainers. I believe you will find there is little political will for universal background checks in Maine at this time.

Feel free to advocate for them, but you will find that a Canadian's perspective on Maine gun laws is generally as welcome in Maine as a Mainer's perspective on Canadian gun laws would be in Canada.

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SobeysBags OP t1_iuj84ou wrote

Dang that was a slim margin to be sure. 51/48. looks like another one might be ready to go.

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ServiceMX t1_iuj8opi wrote

I honestly don’t think so, as Maine has since passed permitless carry and it has, anecdotally, appeared very popular. That said, my opinion is only based on my experience of living in Maine and interacting with the population. Your opinion is based on (respectfully) wishful thinking.

The only way that either of our opinions would be confirmed is by polling, which is expensive and ordinarily only conducted if legislation or referenda are in the cards. Given that they are not, looks like private sales will remain the status quo for the foreseeable future.

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SobeysBags OP t1_iujjcm7 wrote

I've lived in Maine for many years and interacted with population as well. I remember when people thought the same as yourself when it came to Gay marriage and legal pot, and this things changed rather quickly (and sadly can change back). Ya never know, the USA is a weird place sometimes.

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ServiceMX t1_iujjmxl wrote

Right, but according to my undergrad political science classes legal pot, gay marriage, and gun rights are all on the “freedom” side of the tradition “freedom versus order” that is a classical political dilemma.

By this measure, it would appear that Mainers appear to err towards this side, as the same ballot that passed legal pot by referendum was the one that shot down universal background checks. Both results were from the 2016 vote on referenda.

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SobeysBags OP t1_iujkd7a wrote

It's strange, because gun background checks would give people the right to be free of gun violence. It's always about perspective

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ServiceMX t1_iujl5wn wrote

That’s more of a matter of phrasing than a political classification of a freedom. Generally “freedom” would be a more permissive structure for ownership and acquisition of an item, and “order” would be restriction of ownership by erring towards protection of society rather than the freedoms of the individual.

For example, a law that prevents you from saying the word “moist,” does not protect my freedom from getting the heebie-jeebies. Restrictive law enforces order, relaxed law protects freedom, according to the classical paradigm. Neither is objectively good or bad.

By all means, continue advocating for your beliefs. Your efforts may see more success if you’re prepared to accept the political reality on the ground.

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SobeysBags OP t1_iujyj9t wrote

I would say the USA has some radical thoughts on "freedom", especially when it comes to guns. I take my info from the many indexes presented all over the world. Much more dynamic than the simple bipolar spectrum of what I can have or own without restriction, which Americans have a tendency to over amplify in their political debates. It's a give and take and I don't think simply relaxed laws protect freedom. It's a balance, of which the USA is currently lopsided. This is why the USA ranks quite low on most freedom indexes within the developed world. Anyway, waaaay off topic.

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ServiceMX t1_iujzgbp wrote

Most Mainers I know are aware that we have a cultural relationship to guns that differs from yours. If you’re in this subreddit to educate us on that, or find a sympathetic ear for your particular views, you might be unsurprised to hear that most of us aren’t really interested.

If you want to change these things, posting on /r/Maine is probably not the best place to begin. If you want to complain about them, likewise. Your original question was answered in good faith.

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SobeysBags OP t1_iuk101m wrote

I didn't bring up any of the gun laws or rules. That was brought up by yourself. I made no desire to change these things, I was asking about the lack of care or interest in a mass shooting that involved the state. I made no push to educate on the culture of guns from the outset, I made no complaints, and in all honesty got some serious interest and true good faith answers (and not the tongue and cheek absolutism, others provided). Anyway, have a good day. I recommend if you don't want to go down rabbit holes, don't bring up unrelated questions. Focus is a virtue

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