Mary Plouffe’s column in the May 3 Maine Sunday Telegram (“Maine Voices: Concealed guns conceal emotions”), explaining the psychology of the gun rights movement, was as “fascinating” to me as it was to her.

The National Rifle Association recently held its annual convention, attended by an estimated 70,000 law-abiding, patriotic Americans determined to protect their constitutional right “to bear arms” whatever the cost.

I have never been able to understand this obsession with lethal weapons designed to kill and maim, but Plouffe’s article served to suggest the reasoning behind this behavior.

As she made clear, the gun rights movement has been extremely effective using basic psychological process to shape and stifle the debate about guns. For example: “If you believe in freedom, you believe in guns: unfettered, unregulated, uncontrolled.”

To paraphrase Plouffe: “The gun rights movement links the American flag with guns, a lethal weapon becomes a substitute object for patriotism, belief in the Constitution an expression of uniquely American values. If you believe in America, you believe in guns.” It follows that if you do not believe in guns, you are not a true American.

Regrettably, many members of our Legislature also subscribe to this philosophy and are actively considering eliminating any restrictions on the possession of guns, whether or not they are appropriate for hunting or sporting purposes. No stricter gun-control laws will be considered.

I am particularly alarmed by the warning to gun-control advocates issued by Chris Cox, the head of NRA’s lobbying arm: “We’ll fight you in the courts, we’ll fight you in the legislature, and we’ll fight you on Election Day.”

Plouffe asks, “What is the balance between one man’s desire and the risks the rest of us want to avoid?”

While we futilely seek the answer to this question, innocent Americans continue to be victims of gun violence.

Phyllis Kamin

Cumberland

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