Author: David Trahan

Former U.S. Attorney Paula Silsby recently appeared in a “Yes on 3” campaign ad to support the expansion of background checks for firearm sales and a new category of transfers that includes temporary use. Silsby claimed that there were “loopholes” in Maine firearm laws, and said, “More than 1,500 guns sold in Maine turned up at crime scenes in other states.” In front of her in the ad appeared the image, “Bangor Daily News, 11/17/2009.” This ad makes it appear Maine is the wild-west of gun trafficking. Except, when you go to the article referenced, this is what the story says:…

On July 24, 2016, Bucky Owen, former commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife under Governor Angus King, wrote a column in the Lewiston Sun Journal titled, “Get the facts about question 3.” In this article Owen arrogantly attacked the integrity and intelligence of outdoor writer V. Paul Reynolds who had written an earlier column in the Lewiston paper opposing Question 3. In addition, he, not so subtly, threatened to use ex-New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s lawyers to go after the respected outdoor writer and editor of the Northwood’s Sporting Journal for libel. Owen’s personal attack on Reynolds was a typical bullying…

Supporters of Question 3 (to expand firearm background checks to private sales) continually repeat this key campaign talking point: “Question 3 on November’s ballot is simple, straight-forward and common sense. It requires a background check for all gun sales and transfers, with exceptions for family members, hunting and self-defense.” Under scrutiny, that claim doesn’t stand up. In 1993, Congress passed the Brady Act. As part of the Act, the FBI launched a new system in 1998 called the National Instant Background Check System to determine whether individuals seeking to receive or possess firearms were prohibited by law from doing so…