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"The debate over changing Maine's gun laws is dominating the discussion in Augusta this week.There are nearly 30 bills in front of state lawmakers that would affect state laws regarding firearms.The debate started on Monday and public hearing will continue through the rest of this week.The topic of gun control is drawing crowds of people from both sides of the issue.Everyone involved, mindful of December's massacre in Newtown, Conn., classroom.\"Every time I think about Newtown, I want it to not be true,\" said Dr. Michele Pfannenstiel of Cumberland.Pfannenstiel lives in Maine now but the name of her hometown will always be associated with one of our nation's worst incidents of gun violence.\"We moved to Cumberland because it was like Newtown and I want to know that I've done everything I can to make sure that my children can grow up safely,\" she said.Pfannenstiel and others were in Augusta on Monday to lend their support to an array of bills aimed at preventing gun violence in Maine.One bill would ban magazines that can hold more than 10 bullets.\u00A0 Another would tighten regulations on firearms sold at gun shows.\u00A0 There are nearly 30 bills in all.\"They're all frivolous,\" said Blaine Richardson of Belfast.Opponents like Richardson said there's a better way forward than outlawing certain guns or magazines.\"It isn't my firearm that's causing the problem.\u00A0 It isn't my 30-round magazine that's causing the problem.\u00A0 It's our not taking care of the people that have the mental problems,\" said Richardson.Others agree and said stricter gun laws haven't done much in the past.\"During the federal gun ban of magazines over 10 rounds, we still had these school shootings taking place,\" said Jeremy Hiltz of Chelsea.Judy Richardson said tighter regulations would not only help prevent gun violence, but would also help solve crimes.Police still haven't tracked down the person who shot her daughter Darien in Portland in 2010.\"What has hindered the police investigation is that the gun that was used was sold at a gun show and there was no background check done and no records kept,\" said Richardson.President Barack Obama is in Connecticut Monday making a push for an up-or-down vote on gun control legislation at the federal level."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.wmtw.com/article/public-hearings-held-in-augusta-on-gun-legislation/1995050>