Tag: gun control

Maine Currents 4/5/18

Producer/Host: Amy Browne
Studio Engineer: John Greenman

Segment 1: Belfast Salmon Aquaculture Proposal Raises Concerns
Segment 2: Removing Guns From Mainers Deemed to be a Risk — Mainers Weigh in on “Red Flag” Bill

Segment 1: As listeners may be aware, plans are underway for Nordic Aquafarms to build a large land-based aquaculture facility in Belfast. The proposed site is partly owned by the local water district and would need to be rezoned. The benefits of such a project would be a probable decrease in taxes and more jobs in the area, but some local residents also have concerns and believe the approval process is moving too quickly, with a vote on zoning possibly taking place this month. Belfast residents Joanne Moesswilde and Ellie Daniels are with me in the studio this morning to share some of their concerns. (NOTE: We plan to follow up with a full show dedicated to land-based salmon aquaculture in the near future. If you are involved in the issue and would like to possibly be part of that show, please contact Amy Browne at news@weru.org)

FMI:
These are the links Ellie Daniels mentioned on the show, along with her descriptions of each:
www.salmonfarming.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/ISFA_LandFarmingreport_web.pdf “This is a comprehensive report from the International Salmon Farmers Association.”
www.maine.gov/dep/water/nutrient-criteria/index.html “This is on the ME DEP site, and summarizes the issues associated with excess phosphorous or nitrogen in discharge water.”
www.aqauaculturenorthamerica.com “This is a trade site that follows the industry.”

Segment 2: A crowd with strong opinions on both sides of the issue testified at a public hearing on LD 1884 “An Act To Create a Community Protection Order To Allow Courts To Prevent High-risk Individuals from Possessing Firearms” in Augusta Tuesday. If passed, this “Red Flag” bill would allow guns to be temporarily taken away from people who are deemed to pose a threat to themselves or others. Today on Maine Currents we listen in as LD 1884 is introduced by Senator Mark Dion, and then we hear some of the public testimony from both sides:

FMI:
To follow the progress of the bill: www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?paper=SP0719&snum=128&PID=1456
For info on how to contact your legislators: www.legislature.maine.gov

Listen to the award-winning Maine Currents- independent local news, views and culture with host Amy Browne- on the first Thursday of each month, 10-11a.m. on WERU-FM or via our live stream at www.weru.org

Maine Currents 3/27/18

Producer/Host: Amy Browne
Our thanks for contributing audio for today’s program goes out to: Sonja Katharine Birthisel, Tracey Hair, Jeanne Curran, John Greenman

Segment 1: “March for Our Lives” audio collage
Segment 2: Salmon Aquaculture Proposed at Abandoned Mill Site in Bucksport

1: A collage of audio clips from local “March for Our Lives” events on 3/24/18. First we hear Stillwater Youth chanting, recorded by Sonja Katharine Birthisel, followed by a few clips of the speakers at the Bangor rally, recorded by Tracey Hair, and then some person in the street interviews in Bangor, recorded by Jeanne Curran.

2: Large salmon aquaculture companies are planning to build facilities in Belfast and Bangor, raising hopes and concerns in both communities. Whole Oceans, the company planning to locate at the abandoned Bucksport mill site held a public meeting recently. John Greenman recorded the event, and today we have some clips from the company’s presentation, followed by some of the question and answer session.

NOTE: Maine Currents is moving to the 1st Thursday of each month, 10-11 a.m. Be sure to tune in then for independent local news, views and culture on WERU-FM!

Maine Currents 10/26/16

Producer/Host: Amy Browne
Studio Engineer: John Greenman

Our multi-partisan panel tackle Question 3 on Maine’s ballot this November, with a supporter and an opponent of the measure joining us to answer questions from the panel and callers.

Question 3 is a citizen initiative that reads: “Do you want to require background checks prior to the sale or transfer of firearms between individuals not licensed as firearms dealers, with failure to do so punishable by law, and with some exceptions for family members, hunting, self-defense, lawful competitions, and shooting range activity?” (FMI: www.state.me.us/sos/cec/elec/upcoming/index.html)

Panel: Trump supporter Thomas White; Libertarian/Johnson supporter Renee Trust; Democrat/Clinton supporter Ken Gleason; Green/Stein supporter Betsy Garrold; and “3rd degree Berner” now planning to vote for Stein, Tim Wilson.

Supporting Question 3: David Farmer, the campaign manager for “Mainers for Responsible Gun Ownership” (responsiblemaine.org/)

Opposing Question 3: Bruce Ashmore of “Gun Owners of Maine” (www.gunownersofmaine.org/)

Maine Currents 6/15/16

Producer/Host: Amy Browne
Engineer: John Greenman

Local communities respond to the recent mass shooting in Orlando. We bring you to vigils held this week in Bangor and Belfast, Maine and then we talk with long time activist and former “Ism Prism” host Valentine King and open the phone lines for your calls. Valentine King is a cultural maven and independent thinker who has been based in Sommesville, Maine for the past 8 years. Originally from Philadelphia, he was active in the independent arts and queer cultural movement in the 1980s, and was part of the movement fighting for recognition of AIDS as a national health crisis at that time. For many years, he was a youth development worker at the Youth Health Empowerment Project, an agency devoted to promoting HIV prevention and youth leadership.

WERU News Report 4/22/15

Producer/Host: Amy Browne
Engineer: John Greenman

This month the Maine legislature’s Criminal Justice & Public Safety Committee is considering at least 9 different pieces of proposed legislation dealing with guns. The one generating the most controversy is the concealed carry bill – which supporters call “constitutional carry” – that would eliminate the required permit for carrying a concealed gun. We review some of the pending legislation and discuss the question “what does sensible gun policy mean to you?” with guests Mary Anne Royal, Coordinator, Northern Maine Chapter, Maine Citizens Against Handgun Violence; Beth Allen, State Coordinator for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense; and Joe Porada, local gun owner and long time WERU volunteer. Hillary Lister of Maine Matters, a Research, Consulting, and Government Relations business joins us by phone to talk about the impact some of the legislation may have on medical marijuana patients, and we open the phone lines for listener calls.

Common Health 6/19/13

Host: Jim Fisher
Engineer: Amy Browne

Program Topic: Guns and Violence

Key Discussion Points:
A) What is the prevalence of violence and how do guns affect behavior?
B) What are some of the underlying causes of violence, particularly gun violence?
C) How can society respond to continue reducing rates of violence?

Guests:
A) Pret Bjorn, Trauma Coordinator pbjorn@emh.org, Eastern Maine Health www.emh.org
B) Peter Sly, Principal Independent legal consultant peter_sly@msn.com and member of Maine Citizens Against Hand Gun Violence www.mcahv.org