Augusta -
Gun control legislation is likely to be the hot button topic in Augusta during this legislative session.
Thursday at The Senator in Augusta, the Maine Sheriffs Association tried to make sure lawmakers can make informed decisions when it comes to legislating guns.
Lawmakers in Augusta will have roughly 80 bills related to gun control to consider during this session. "That's why I came today," said freshman legislator Ryan Tipping-Spitz, an Orono Democrat. "I just want to know everything that's out there before we start making decisions."
Firearms instructors from various state sheriffs departments put on a weapons training seminar, allowing lawmakers to learn about the firearms that could be affected by proposed legislation. "There's no bias with this, there'll be no suggestions," said Kennebec County Sheriff Randal Liberty. "That will happen later on on the session when we have public hearings. Today is just informational."
Lawmakers learned the difference between automatic and semiautomatic weapons, different calibers of rifles, magazines that have 30 round capacities, and much more. "I saw a weapon I would have considered to be an assault rifle and I saw a hunting rifle that looked sort of benign and I learned that the two of them do exactly the same thing," said Republican Senator Roger Katz from Augusta.
The Maine sheriffs want lawmakers to realize that when it comes to stemming gun violence, there's a lot they need to know. "There's all kinds of pieces that we have to be educated on, because there's no one single thing we're going to be able to do and we don't want to do things that just make you feel good and really don't accomplish the end game," said Penobscot County Sheriff Glenn Ross. "We have also be very cognizant of constitutional rights and the freedoms that we have on our country."
The deadline for submitting gun legislation is Friday.
There are thousands of people that use them for Competitive events as well as self defense or jst plinking at the range.
The Federal Government actually has a program that is affilitated with the US Army called The Civillian Marksmanship Program. The are the governing body for the Service Rifle Competitions that held at thousands of ranges each year.
Why do they call it Service Rifle? Because the competititors must use a rifle styled after a rifle that was actually used by our military.
The history of this organization is quite interesting. It was formed originally to ensure there would be plenty of folks that knew how to shoot in case we went to war.
The US Military today wishes the CMP hadn't been scaled back to its current level because one of the biggest challenges they have is teaching a young man or woman to shoot who was raised in a State or City with restrictive gun laws. They don't know a muzzle from a butt stock.
Yes indeed they do sell M1 Garands, Carbines and other rifles and parts. As I said it is a shame that the Military has all but abandoned this fabulous organization.
They support the Shooting Sports and sponsor many shooting matches.
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