An A Rating from the NRA… But An F in Geography

Maine’s Question 3

New York billionaire Michael Bloomberg has been hard at work this election, with his pro-gun control non-profit group Everytown for Gun Safety The non-profit was originally founded in 2014 with partnership with Moms Demand Action. Since then, the group has been at war with the National Rifle Association, mirroring some of the pro-gun rights group’s political tactics – like endorsing candidates and ballot initiatives and airing political ads.It was only a matter of time until the two diametrically opposed groups started aiming their attacks at one another directly – with this ad focused on Maine, which faces crucial gun control legislation on this year’s November Ballot.The ad opens up with a bourgeoisie narrator saying “The New Yorkers are here, and they’re trying to tell Mainers how to live.” But as a silhouette of the “New York” skyline opens up on the screen, one can soon see The Transamerica Pyramid, the Oakland Bay Bridge, the 555 California building... and then it becomes obvious that this skyline is from another big liberal city – San Francisco. The NRA did throw the Statue of Liberty in there for good measure though.The ad continues attacking former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg for “spending $3 million dollars to try and boss Mainers around with Question 3 this election.” The narrator is referring to a citizen-initiated referendum question on Maine’s ballot this November that would require a background check for all gun transfers in the state, with some exceptions.The NRA explains further, “Let’s say you loan your neighbor a shotgun. You would both have to drive to a dealer and get permission. If you don’t – jail.”“Question 3 will not make Maine safer,” the narrator concludes. “It just puts the New York billionaires in charge of your life.” The San Francisco skyline takes up the screen one more time.Maine’s Question 3 has gained some national recognition, as other states like Nevada are looking at similar universal background check legislation. If these laws are successful, Maine and Nevada would join 11 other states that require universal background checks.