RICHMOND

As House Democrats staged a sit-in in Washington, D.C. to demand gun-control measures, Maine’s governor was drawing applause for his pro-gun stance at a town hall forum in Richmond.

“I don’t believe guns do the harm, it’s people with the gun in their hand,” Gov. Paul LePage said.

The Republican governor was responding to Howard Solomon of Bowdoinham, who asked LePage what leadership he can offer on gun control.

“We all were shocked, horrified, saddened by the death of 49 people in Orlando,” Solomon said, referring to the massacre at a gay night club that has spurred the latest gun control debate, adding that gun violence “has to stop.”

“Ninety-five percent of Americans who own a gun aren’t bad people,” LePage said, drawing applause.

According to LePage, the root cause of gun violence, such as mental illness, needs to be addressed.

Regarding terrorism in cases such as the Orlando shootings, LePage said: “You’re not going to change someone’s heart from hatred.”

“If you’re going to do it comprehensively I’m all in, but if you’re only going to go after guns …,” LePage said.

He paused, before saying that every time there is a notable incident of gun violence, “I go buy a gun.”

LePage also argued against a November referendum that seeks to require background checks prior to the transfer of firearms between individuals. He said that the proposal goes against the Constitution.

LePage on SNAP

During the forum, LePage addressed his threat to cede the state’s administration of Maine’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program after the USDA rejected his request to ban the use of SNAP benefits to purchase sugary drinks and snacks.

Maine has a serious problem with obesity, he said.

“I’m not trying to get rid of the SNAP program. What I am trying to do is reform the SNAP program,” he said. “Our kids are obese, they have diabetes and they’re hungry because they eat food that has no nutritional value.”

He said he’s working to ensure the dollars put into the SNAP program go to nutritious foods so people eat healthy.

Maine 1st District Congresswoman Chellie Pingree has warned that if Maine were to withdraw from the SNAP program, Maine families would lose access to the benefits.

“We are literally talking about taking the food off the table of Maine families struggling to make ends meet,” Pingree said in a statement. “SNAP is a program funded by the federal government but the law is clear — it’s up to the states to run it. If Maine were to pull out of SNAP, then Maine people would not have access to it. Families that depend on SNAP — seniors, children, veterans — would go hungry. This is not how we treat each other in Maine.”

In a statement, the USDA told Pingree that “ states have the option to administer the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). If they choose not to do so, their citizens will not receive these nutrition assistance benefits. USDA does not have the authority or funding to administer SNAP at the state level.”

Maine Senate Democratic Leader Justin Alfond of Portland also took LePage to task in a statement.

“Food is a basic necessity of life, and Gov. LePage is threatening to take it away from more than 195,000 food- insecure Mainers because of yet another fight he’s picked with the federal government,” said Alfond. “This latest temper tantrum threatens to punish the very people it purports to help. I’d ask the governor this: How does taking food off the tables of hungry Maine families support healthy eating habits?”

Governor vs. NRCM, MPA

Also Wednesday, LePage renewed his attacks on the environmental group Natural Resources Council of Maine. The governor placed the blame for the state’s high income tax rate on the shoulders of the NRCM, and has claimed the group is anti-business.

“ NRCM, Natural Resources Council of Maine, will do anything they can to get property off the tax roles and into land trusts,” he said. “Nobody has ever held them accountable.”

He added, “Make no mistake, they are anti-jobs.”

LePage also went after the Maine People’s Alliance, whom he said are behind a November referendum that would increase the minimum wage to $12 per hour by 2020. MPA, he said, cares only about entitlements and their own priorities.

“ Where we differ is I want your money in your pockets,” LePage said.

Maine is ranked the 19th highest-costing state to do business with in America, he said, because the government picks and chooses which utilities power and heat your home, and not the least expensive. He argued he isn’t against wind and solar power options — the only sanctioned energy alternatives.

“ What I am against is above market pricing,” he said. “I want Maine to have low-cost energy.”

He also advocated for nuclear and hydro energy options.

dmoore@timesrecord.com