We are a group of 75 elders from the Portland community who are concerned about the welfare of future generations.

We are asking U.S. Sen. Angus King to reverse his opposition to a ban on assault rifles and high-capacity magazines that enable the guns to fire more rounds before having to reload.

In past statements to the Press Herald, after the slaughter of children at Newtown, Sen. King justified his opposition to the ban by saying that many of his friends hunt with semiautomatic weapons and such a ban would somehow affect their ability to hunt.

We don’t agree with this argument, as any good hunter knows it takes only one bullet to kill a deer.

In the aftermath of yet another massacre by a young man with body armor and an assault rifle, we ask: “How many more dead will it take?”

When it comes to other critical issues such as potential war with Iran over nuclear weapons and the threat of climate change, Sen. King has been a leader with a clear voice of reason.

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While we are not hopeful that our present Senate will be able to pass meaningful gun reform, we urge Sen. King to step forward and lead.

He can begin by reversing his opposition to a ban on assault rifles and high-capacity magazines.

Tom Mikulka

member, Elders for Future Generations

Cape Elizabeth


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