Sen Susan Collins of Maine has recently made an odd move considering she is up for reelection in 2014. The move could mean a few things. It could hint that she is not actually planning to run again or it could suggest that she believes the Maine GOP as there no viable threats to her from the right or the independent middle.
Whatever she believes, she has just stuck a RINO horn into rattlesnakes nest and riled up the coiled snake in the grass. Sen. Collins has co-sponsored a gun control measure in the Senate with several Democrats. She has struck on the one issue that unites Constitutionalists, tea partiers, libertarians and conservatives. These groups have been a bit distant from each other in the light of the implosion of the Maine Republican Party, the disasterous results from 2012 and their post-election cull of non-loyalists.
"Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, is one of five senators -- three Democrats and two Republicans -- who introduced legislation Monday designed to control illegal trafficking in firearms."
The timing is ironic in and of itself considering a successful well attended pro-gun rally was held in Wiscasett Maine not longer after the bill was submitted. The gun rally which featured open carry and speakers, pulled more attendees than recent tea party events. Like Vermonters and New Hampshire types, one thing that unites all sides of the political spectrum in Maine is the Second Amendment.
The following is from in the local newspaper which featured an interview with the driven you lady behind the rally.
The event was sponsored by the newly formed Maine Gun Rights Coalition; the founder is Jessica Beckwith, a 20-year-old student at the University of Maine. During an interview March 11, Beckwith said the goal of the coalition was to make sure when lawmakers propose changes to gun laws, the voices of their constituents are heard.
Gun Control is a rail on which few Maine politicians, who want a future, dare to even accidentally step on. So it quite surprising to see the 2 term Senator meddle with it in such an overt way.
Will gun control be the force that unites opponents of the centrist Collins and bring her down? Are we going to see a repeat of 2012 where the "unassailable" Senior Senator from Maine is no longer Senator come the next election? Yet again Maine may just be a state to watch come 2014.