What a pleasure to hear the salutation from the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine given to the Maine Citizens Against Handgun Violence. For two groups likely to oppose each other in the State House, it was gratifying that the established organization welcomed the new one in the spirit of friendly debate that could lead to improved understanding on all sides of future gun issues.

“The same knee-jerk anti-gun ideas that are commonly associated with national anti-gun groups,” glowed George Smith, executive director of the alliance. Sweet words one would not hear just anywhere. But Maine is a small, friendly state, so when Mr. Smith says of the new group, “Most of these people are pro-education until it comes to firearms. Then they think ignorance is the solution,” you can believe the expression is heartfelt and meant to convey his respect for fellow residents, even if they do not agree with his opinions.

The board of directors for Citizens Against Handgun Violence is made up of concerned citizens, chiefs of police, doctors and politicians, both Democrats and Republicans. They are concerned primarily, they say, that debates over gun legislation in Maine traditionally have had one very well organized side opposed to further restrictions and one poorly organized side in defense of them. So they got organized and submitted three bills to the Legislature this session.

Their bills would deny concealed-weapons permits to people who have been the subject of a permanent protection-from-abuse order; another would establish a commission to study gun regulation in Maine; a third would make the sale of handguns to anyone under age 21 a felony. These state laws match federal ones, the group says, to ensure that proper law-enforcement and judicial training exists in Maine to ensure that the laws the nation already has can be enforced on the state level.

Not needed, say gun opponents, already covered by federal law. We can’t enforce the laws we have, how dare we add more? And what about that slippery slope? Maybe.

Or maybe when respected Mainers who already have earned positions of trust in their communities raise issues they feel are vital to the health of residents, their ideas deserve something more than being immediately shouted down. Maybe all sides could learn from a more measured debate.