NRA is not opposed to LD 1938

It is unfortunate that Ellen Wells, Cathie Whittenburg and others have politicized the efforts to pass LD 1938, An Act to Protect Victims of Domestic Violence, by portraying the National Rifle Association as opposed to the bill.

Their statement [in the May 3 BDN op-ed, “Is this any way to run a democracy?”] that the National Rifle Association “wins” and women and girls are “losers” is both false and inaccurate. Opponents to gun ownership and the Second Amendment are wont to depicting supporters as swaggering violent men decked out in camouflage sporting aggressive slogans on their beer-stained T-shirts.

Any impartial examination will find we are representative of average Maine citizenry. Yes, we are men and we are women, and sons and daughters who want to create a

safe and secure world for all.

The organization I represent, the Pine Tree Rifle and Pistol Association, is the NRA-affiliated organization in Maine and we have been working together to pass this needed bill as amended by Rep. Joshua Tardy, R-Newport.

In point of fact, we have never made any statements opposing LD 1938. It is, as far as it goes, a well-written piece of legislation that makes needed additions to Maine’s domestic violence laws. Our efforts have been entirely focused on bringing common sense additions to this bill and these have been rejected outright almost entirely along party lines.

It was, as any examination of the legislative voting record will show, killed by the supporters of the unamended bill. Consequently, the baby was thrown out with the bath water when opponents to the amendments refused to compromise.

The amendments proposed by Tardy are reasonable and necessary additions to LD 1938 to ensure that the person accused of domestic abuse does not become the victim by protecting their property and reputation. These are hardly irrelevant. A person accused of domestic violence is just that, accused, not convicted.

It is irrelevant to require that the accuser not be held accountable, as one of the amendments proposed, should it later be found that the accusations were false and driven by vengefulness? It is irrelevant that valuable firearms, some that are collectible and have historical significance, be protected from damage and hence loss of value? We don’t think so.

Recently, in a discussion program on MPBN radio, a good friend of mine, Jeff Weinstein, representing the Maine Gun Owners Association offered to sit down and discuss common ground with Whittenburg on another gun-related issue. We can, as reasonable people, sit down together and discuss our common goals or providing peace, safety and domestic tranquility.

Leslie M. Ohmart III, a resident of Brewer, is president of the Pine Tree Rifle and Pistol Association.