NRA Explore

Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

Close CLOSE

Quick Links

Vote No on Question 3

Wrong For Maine

What You Need to Know About Bloomberg’s Background Checks Initiative in Maine
Home Stop Bloomberg Defend Maine About the Initiative News Stay Informed Get Involved FAQs Did You Know? Press Inquiries

Defend Maine. Vote NO on Gun Control Question 3 this November!

Don't Let New York City and Boston elites dictate Mainers' gun rights. 

This proposed initiative in Maine, largely funded by Michael Bloomberg's Everytown for Gun Safety, would amend Me. Stat., 25 § 2014 to add a requirement that no sales or "transfers" of firearms could be made without a background check through a federally licensed firearm dealer. Similar to I-594 in Washington state, the definition of "transfer" is broad enough to encompass any temporary "transfers" of firearms that occur during training, hunting, recreational shooting and defensive use. 

Maine Question 3 is NOT ABOUT GUN SALES but applies to any "transfer" of a gun—all loans, gifts, and any other transaction in which a gun is delivered or provided, even if there is no change in ownership or criminal intent, will be regulated.

Question 3 Criminalizes Private Transfers & Loans Between Friends

Question 3 Criminalizes Private Transfers & Loans Between Friends

If passed, Question 3 would criminalize otherwise law-abiding gun owners for simply loaning a firearm to a friend or family member for not complying with excessive requirements. 

 

Question 3 is Unenforceable And Unfunded

Question 3 is Unenforceable And Unfunded

"Universal" Background Checks are not universal because criminals will never comply with these requirements. According to the National Institute of Justice, "Universal" Background Checks are unenforceable without requiring complete gun registration.

Question 3 Does Nothing To Stop Criminals From Obtaining Guns

Question 3 Does Nothing To Stop Criminals From Obtaining Guns

Criminals, by definition, do not obey the law. And no initiative will force them to start. Criminals will continue to acquire firearms where they do now: the black market, theft, and by other illicit means.

Question 3 Is Bad For Maine

This isn't the first initiative backed by Everytown—it's incredibly similar to Nevada's gun control initiative and Washington state's 1-594 initiative. It's time for Maine residents to stand up and send a message that anti-gun interlopers like Michael Bloomberg aren't welcome in Maine.

LEARN MORE

Don't Be Fooled By Lies

Bloomberg’s New York City propaganda may say this is a "gun safety" measure, but this gun control initiative has nothing to do with safety or addressing crime—and would only impact law-abiding Mainers. It’s important that Mainers stand up for their rights and not let New York City and Boston elites' money influence the future of Maine!  Vote NO on Question 3 this November. 

MYTH

“Universal background checks” are a gun safety measure.

FACT

This initiative has nothing to do with safety or addressing crime—the only people impacted would be law-abiding Mainers. Not only are "universal" background checks never universal—criminals, by nature, will never comply with the requirements—they are unenforceable without requiring complete gun registration.

MYTH

The Bloomberg Gun-Control Initiative includes “reasonable exceptions.”

FACT

The initiative supposedly exempts transfers for hunting and shooting ranges, but because of the initiative language, the exemptions are restrictive and confusing. For example, a firearm can be borrowed to shoot at an established shooting range, however, that same activity away from an established range such as private land is not authorized and would constitute an illegal transfer.

MYTH

"Criminals go to gun shows to buy guns with no background check."

FACT

In each of several studies by the U.S. Department of Justice over the last 23 years, between 0.6 and 0.8 percent of state prison inmates incarcerated for gun crimes obtained guns at gun shows. (Bureau of Justice Statistics, Guns Used in Crime, July 1995; Firearms Use by Offenders, November 2001; and Firearm Violence, 1993-2011, May 2013.)

Latest News

National Review Online  

Friday, October 13, 2017

Study Finds Background-Check Laws in Wa. and Colo. Did Nothing

In the Guardian, Lois Beckett highlights a new study that has found that background-check laws in Washington and Colorado have “had little measurable effect”.

Maine Bloomberg  

Friday, July 28, 2017

Poll Shocker: “Overwhelming” Support for More Background Checks is Actually Rather Underwhelming

Lacking evidence that gun control restrictions reduce crime or enhance public safety, proponents of such measures seek to ...

Maine Bloomberg  

Friday, July 21, 2017

Home Alone in Washington State

Back in 2013, when Washington State’s anti-gun groups rolled out Initiative 594, they promised voters this “universal background ...

Reno Gazette-Journal  

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Gun-control groups try to undermine Nevada Attorney General Laxalt

The ill-conceived Question 1 ballot initiative was doomed from the start. That’s because it was poorly written by out-of-state gun control groups that clearly did not understand Nevada's existing firearms background check system. Now those ...

Las Vegas Review Journal  

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Nevadans for Background Checks shifting blame for its $20M mistake

It’s much easier to look for a scapegoat than admit you made a $20 million mistake.That’s what Nevadans for Background Checks tried to do during a Friday news conference that called on Attorney General Adam ...

Ways You Can Take Action Now

Election Day 2016 will be here before you know it and, to ensure this background checks initiative is rejected, we need your active participation now!

Register To Vote

Register To Vote

Every vote counts! Defeating this initiative will require that every single freedom-loving Mainer get registered and show up at the polls on election day.

Register Now
Donate

Donate

Make a donation today and help NRA stand and fight Bloomberg's billions bankrolling the Maine gun-control initiative!

Donate
Volunteer

Volunteer

Help us spread the word about the background checks initiative. If you're able to donate some time to stopping this measure, click to volunteer below.

Volunteer Now

Help Us Defend The Pine Tree State

Help us defend the Second Amendment rights of all Mainers against Bloomberg's Background Checks Initiative.

Make a Donation

EXPLORE

STAY INFORMED

Bloomberg isn't going to stop trying to take away your personal freedoms, so be sure to stay informed with the latest information.

Sign Up for Updates

© 2019 National Rifle Association of America. Paid for by National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action. This may be reproduced. This may not be reproduced for commercial purposes. Privacy Policy