Washington County Sheriff Donnie Smith says a serious discussion is needed between the NRA, Mental Health, law makers, and others to create better regulations for firearms.
He tells Tide News in regards to the Newtown massacre, some schools in Maine are just a heartbeat away from that. "Schools are isolated. Police response times for some of these schools could be hours, and there's a lot of firearms. So certainly, this could happen to anyone, anywhere. And these children at Newtown, they were babies. Don't they deserve some type of voice from law enforcement or politicians?"
Now, Sheriff Smith says the NRA wants him out of office for taking a stand on gun regulations.
He tells Tide News one of his fellow officers was asked by a member of the National Rifle Association if he would run against the Sheriff in the next election.
Smith says he was a member of the NRA for many years -- adding they are a very powerful organization with a lot of money. "And they're funded, not by their members. Most of their members are avid sportsmen and hunters, and that's why they are members, but the NRA is funded by gun manufacturers. That's where they get their money. That's why they are so powerful. And God forbid you don't agree with them because they're gonna come after you."
Smith says he believes in the 2nd Ammendment, but tighter gun regulations are needed to keep guns out of the wrong hands. He says he does not oppose people carrying concealed weapons, what he is asking is for the restrictions on who is carrying them to be tightened.
Smith says in the state of Maine, it's easier to get a gun than to become a truck driver.
