Around 200 people, some visibly armed with a variety of firearms, attended a gun rights rally in Wiscasset March 9 that focused on combating seven bills concerning concealed weapons permits presented by Rep. Tim Marks, D-Pittston.
The rally was put on by the Maine Gun Rights Coalition. Jessica Beckwith, the coalition’s founder, said the one of the group’s purposes is to keep the public informed about any gun-related legislation that is presented.
“The purpose of [the coalition] is to provide you with the contact information for the representative that sponsored it and proposed it, and we want the people of Maine contacting their legislators when something is proposed,” Beckwith said.
Because the job of representatives is to represent the people, they need to hear how the public feels, Beckwith said. “We really need to draw the line in the sand, right here, right now with our gun rights,” she said.
Marks, a former state trooper, is currently in his first term in the legislature and represents District 53. Mark’s seven bills called into question at the rally concern changes to the conceal weapon permit system, including making the Chief of the State Police the only issuing authority in the state, raising the minimum age for a concealed carry permit from 18 to 21, establishing a database on individuals admitted or committed to mental health institutions that pose a substantial threat to themselves or others to be used in issuing the permits, and creating authority for permit suspension.
Marks said on March 12 that he attended the rally, but no one recognized him in the crowd.
“I think that it wasn’t really about me. It seemed more second amendment than anti-Tim Marks,” he said. “[Beckwith] said that I am anti-gun and I am anti-second amendment. That couldn’t be further than the truth.”
When Beckwith asked how many people had read the text of Marks’ bills, only about eight raised their hands, Marks said.
“My bills don’t increase gun ownership or decrease gun ownership. My bills are strictly administrative and help the police do their job,” he said. “You people are here protesting me, and you don’t even know what my bills are.”
As far as the bill that calls for the minimum age to receive a concealed carry permit is concerned, Marks said the purpose is actually to increase the number of states Maine permit holders can carry in.
Currently, Maine has reciprocity for concealed carry permits with nine states, Marks said. “If we raised [the age] to 21, we’d easily double that number.”
“When our age is 18, other states say ‘we can’t deal with Maine, they’re too young for us,'” he said. “So it would actually give them more states to carry in.”
Marks said he would be willing to amend the bill to allow people serving in the military to be issued concealed carry permits once they reach the age of 18.
Les Fossel, a former state representative for District 53, attended and spoke at the rally.
In an interview at the rally, Fossel said both the content and timing of Marks’ bills had issues.
“I’ve been a legislator for a number of years and one of my basic rules in legislation is you don’t legislate based on headlines,” Fossel said. “Before we introduce bills, we try to solve problems, not create them, and as far as I can see these types of bills at this time simply create further problems and I find that regrettable.”
The way an issue like gun control should be handled is by creating a joint committee of people both for and against gun control to look at the laws and come to a consensus and bring legislation to the second session, Fossel said.
“If we’re going to talk about gun legislation, let’s talk about all of it and let’s make sure that anything we do is fact based and focused on problems we have in the state of Maine,” he said.
“This kind of thing is headline hunting in my point of view,” Fossel said. “One of the things you do as a legislator is represent your district. I don’t see how what he’s introducing represents the district.”
Gunnar Gundersen, the president of Lincoln County Rifle Club, attended the rally with a sign calling for Marks to withdraw his bills on concealed carry permits.
“I think if people gave out gun locks they’d do a lot more than what they’re doing here with all these foolish gun laws that aren’t going to help anyone,” Gundersen said.
Problems are not going to be solved by legislation against guns or concealed weapon permits, but by people being responsible, he said.
Concealed carry permits aren’t the problem; people are the problem, Gundersen said.
“People don’t teach their kids respect anymore,” he said. “You can’t pick out stupidity in a background check, or irresponsibility.”
