Poliquin: Yes to Mandatory Background Checks on Purchase of a Firearm

Bruce -
I just looked at your website, and while you reference environmentalism many times, you don't say a single thing about gun rights or hunting.
Do you even have a hunting license? And if so, how long have you had it?

Bruce your characterization of the question is not accurate. Harriman asked for a straight yes or no answer to this question:
"Mandatory background checks on the purchase of a firearm." . Watch the video again.

Not "certain" firearms. Mandatory checks on the purchase of a firearm. The question meant all firearms, which is why every other republican answered strongly and clearly "no".

If you were confused, admit it. But don't try to recreate what happened.

I support upholding that law, which is why I said 'yes'. I do not support extending the law to include ALL gun purchases – which is not what the question asked.

We all know , and the other republicans must of known as well , that the question is about closing the so called gun show loophole and private transactions...As you said the the existing law is already in place and the question wasn't about repealing that law , it was about the gunshow loophole that is in the news lately...I find it VERY disturbing you would say yes PERIOD no matter how you try to spin it....

Tom:

I respect your opinion, and at one time wouldn't have considered another possibility. I think people are more likely to sell and purchase furearms if it can be accomplished without liablity that follows you around long after the day of the sale.

The background check may seem okay; up until someone steals a gun. After that, what's the point?

Ed, as I stated earlier I would oppose any new gun laws. I would not support background checks at gun shows.

Color me confused as well. Did you mean you wanted to clarify your statement or contradict it?

Mr. Poliquin, I appreciate your answers. To clarify- you're saying you mis-spoke at the debate?
If this is the case, I have to be honest and say it looks bad that you waited till video emerged to address this.

And I don't think it's proper for you to ignore the questions of all of the other people here. Their questions are valid.

I'm getting a Collins/Snowe feeling here

There is no such thing as a "gunshow loophole." This is more propaganda from the lefties. All sales have the same rules. All sales through a dealer are treated the same whether at a gunshow or in the store. All private sales are treated the same whether at the home of the buyer, the seller or a trade show. No drama, no crisis and no loophole. Its just a buzzword (like assault weapon) to scare the crap out of people and advance a dishonest adgenda.

Wow, so Bruce Poliquin is on video supporting mandatory background checks for all gun purchases.
And Les Otten just got his hands on 100,000 emails of people with hunting licenses via SAM.

Boy, it's a good thing Otten doesn't have any reason to want to attack Poliquin, like, retaliation or something....

I think people are more likely to sell and purchase furearms if it can be accomplished without liablity that follows you around long after the day of the sale.

I used to have a bunch of guns.

Then I went fishing, and they all fell overboard.

I don't have any guns any more.

In December of 1989, Poliquin donated $500 to an organization known as “Handgun Control, Inc.”, which has since (June of 2001) morphed into the organization now known as The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

Pine Tree Politics

In December of 1989, Poliquin donated $500 to an organization known as “Handgun Control, Inc.”,

Well that CERTAINLY puts things into perspective....He may as well fold up his tent and go home....He is DONE....

so Bruce Poliquin is on video supporting mandatory background checks for all gun purchases.

That was not the question. You add the word, all.

I just had a flash of memory regarding the old Michael Douglas movie:

"The other piece of legislation is the crime bill. As of today, it no longer exists. I'm throwing it out. I'm throwing it out writing a law that makes sense. You cannot address crime prevention without getting rid of assault weapons and handguns. I consider them a threat to national security, and I will go door to door if I have to, but I'm gonna convince Americans that I'm right, and I'm gonna get the guns."

Things have sure changed since the dark days of the Clinton era - 1995.

What a waste of $500! He could have picked up a fine used deer rifle for that much money!

He should save himself and his supporters money and effort and pull out now. He's toast no matter how he tries to spin his comment.

charlie

Mr. Poliquin,

With all due respect, this question was a softball, no brainer. After two pages of this thread, I still have no idea where you really stand!

If I can't trust you to easily answer a simple question about 2nd Amendment rights, how can I trust you to answer anything easily and honestly?

Dan Billings' link is disturbing as well.

This thread has just eliminated one choice I had to make.

1. Supports NRCM
2. Wants to require background check on all firearms purchases
3. Donates to Handgun Control Incorporated
4. Can't remember his own position (Classic "moderate" answers) Remember: "Moderate" means unprincipled.

I appreicate Mr. Poliquin's willingness to come on this site and engage people. I have a simple question that I would like you to address, Mr. Poliquin.

Would you support a law similar to what other states are pushing forward that would exempt guns made and sold in Maine from all federal guns laws? In other words, if I manufacture firearms in my town and sell them ONLY to Maine residents, do federal gun laws apply to me? Should they apply, taking into account the 2nd, 9th and 10th amendments as well as the dramatically overused "commerce clause"?

Thank you for your clarification on this important subject in advance.

Regards,

Tom

Great question Tom. With all the other States leading the way combined with our very strong Amendment (Article 1 Section 16) Maine would be an excellent candidate for this.

A state can't decide that something is exempt from federal law.

Isn't this fellow a member of the Poliquin campaign staff? This comment was posted on Pine Tree Politics.

John J Bouchard said:

We have alot bigger problems in Maine than worrying about
candidates views on handguns.

Dan,
I disagree with your legal analysis. The states never intended to form a central government with the sole authority to determine its own power. If that were the case, there would be no way whatsoever for states to exercise any check and balance on federal authority or to resist federal actions that violated the Constitutional limits on its power. Thus, the 9th and 10th amendments were explicitly included in the Bill of Rights. You seem to be suggesting that the 9th and 10th mean nothing since the states and/or the people have no means by which to enforce the rights which are reserved to them.

Bruce Poliquin should withdraw from the race NOW...This coupled with the video fiasco attacking Otten shows he is CLEARLY not ready for prime time....Don't go away mad , just go away...

I had to get help to scratch him from my short list on facebook. I don't know how he got there in the first place, but he's gone now.

it really is stunning that he EVER sent money to Handgun Inc./ The Brady Campaign. They are the absolute enemy of anyone who supports the Second Amendment. Never in my life, NEVER in my life, would I ever give a nickel to these gungrabbing freedom haters. NEVER. Handgun inc/Brady has ALWAYS been up to no good, they have NEVER EVER EVER been a good cause when it comes to freedom. There's no excuse.
In the same vein, giving a nickel let alone $2000.00 to Chellie Pingree is just as bad, when has this Progressive, socialist, hypocrite gun hater ever been up to any good. NEVER, She's a gun hating pinko, always has been since her early hippy farmgirl days in Minnesota and now she's a congressional special interest moneygrabbing hypocrite.
2 Republican Candidates giving money to these 2 is unconscionable.
you can't spin it, you can't double talk your way out of it, you can't say "everyone in business does it." you can't even say "Looking back I shouldn't have". There is no excuse.
I have never met a person who has donated to Handgun Inc./Brady Campaign that didn't support their efforts.
THE DEED IS DONE!
don't go away mad, just go away.

Whether or not he's reliable with respect to 2nd amendment rights might be one thing, but note that the contribution to Hangun Control was 21 years ago.

1989 was the year Sarah Brady, wife of Ronald Reagan's press secretary, became chairman of that orgnization, and so he may have been responding to a polical call, rather than a true gun control desire.