MILLINOCKET, Maine. In an unprecedented move, Maine Democratic State Senator Brownie Carson (D-Cumberland) has rejected petitions opposing the ‘red flag’ gun confiscation bill, L.D. 1312. Commented the Maine Examiner:
“[Carson] doesn’t seem to care much for citizen petitions, at least if they are from his constituents who oppose gun confiscation laws.”
The summarily rejected petitions were gathered from Carson’s constituents in Senate District 24, a mostly coastal tourist area. District 24 includes the communities of Brunswick, Freeport, North Yarmouth, Pownal and Carson’s hometown of Harpswell.
When Eric Brakey delivered the packet of petitions to Carson’s office in Augusta, he never imagined that Carson would return them to him.
Brownie Carson had written a note on the packet:
“Eric, please don’t give me any more of this — Brownie”
In its report, the Maine Examiner further noted the following.
“Mr. Brakey says that similar packets of petitions were delivered to every legislator in Augusta with petitions signed by their constituents as well as Governor Janet Mills and that Senator Carson was the only person to reject them.”
Eric Brakey is the founder of the Free Maine Campaign. He also sponsored Maine’s successful Constitutional Carry bill which became law in 2015
The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution:
Amendment I. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Article 1, Section 15 of the Maine Constitution:
Section 15. Right of petition. The people have a right at all times in an orderly and peaceable manner to assemble to consult upon the common good, to give instructions to their representatives, and to request, of either department of the government by petition or remonstrance, redress of their wrongs and grievances.
— Headline image: Composited by the columnist.
