Maine Anti-Gun Ballot Initiative Gets Big Out-Of-State Donations

posted on August 2, 2016
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A Seattle billionaire has contributed $125,000 to promote an anti-gun initiative on the Maine ballot this year, joining former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has contributed at least $3 million toward the effort. Nick Hanauer, a venture capitalist, also teamed up with Microsoft billionaires Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer to win a similar referendum—Initiative 594—in Washington state two years ago. 

If approved by voters, the Maine initiative, known as Question 3, would outlaw almost all so-called “transfers” of firearms—including loans, gifts and other perfectly innocent and temporary “transfers”—unless they are approved by the government, in advance, through background checks conducted by federally licensed firearm dealers. 

Maine Gov. Paul LePage has publicly opposed the initiative, noting that it would violate the Maine Constitution, but it won’t be easy to match the financial firepower of the initiative’s backers.

Use Your Power!

Mainers, get informed, get involved and spread the word about Question 3 by visiting votenoquestion3.org.

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William A. Bachenberg
William A. Bachenberg

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