This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2013/apr/24/stephen-king-donation-maine-gun-control

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Stephen King makes 'substantial' donation to Maine gun control group Stephen King makes 'substantial' donation to Maine gun control group
(5 months later)
Stephen King, who made his views about gun control clear earlier this year in a passionate essay describing automatic and semi-automatic firearms as "weapons of mass destruction", has made a "substantial" donation to a Maine group advocating limitations on gun ownership.Stephen King, who made his views about gun control clear earlier this year in a passionate essay describing automatic and semi-automatic firearms as "weapons of mass destruction", has made a "substantial" donation to a Maine group advocating limitations on gun ownership.
The Coalition for a Safer Maine supports legislation calling for greater background checks on gun owners, a ban on the size of magazines that can be sold and a strengthening of the prohibition of the sale of guns to those judged to be mentally ill. It said in a statement on its website that it had received a "substantial donation" from King and his wife (and fellow author) Tabitha King, and that the couple backed its support of gun control legislation.The Coalition for a Safer Maine supports legislation calling for greater background checks on gun owners, a ban on the size of magazines that can be sold and a strengthening of the prohibition of the sale of guns to those judged to be mentally ill. It said in a statement on its website that it had received a "substantial donation" from King and his wife (and fellow author) Tabitha King, and that the couple backed its support of gun control legislation.
"We are grateful for the generous support of Mr and Mrs King at this pivotal moment in our efforts to establish common-sense gun regulations in Maine," said Larry Gilbert, former mayor of Lewiston, former federal marshal and co-chair of the Coalition for a Safer Maine."We are grateful for the generous support of Mr and Mrs King at this pivotal moment in our efforts to establish common-sense gun regulations in Maine," said Larry Gilbert, former mayor of Lewiston, former federal marshal and co-chair of the Coalition for a Safer Maine.
"Mr King strongly defends the Second Amendment and acts accordingly – he owns three handguns. And as a gun owner, he believes the right is also a responsibility that should be safeguarded by sensible laws, such as expanding background checks and banning the sale of high-capacity ammunition magazines," added Paula Silsby, former US attorney and co-chair of the Coalition."Mr King strongly defends the Second Amendment and acts accordingly – he owns three handguns. And as a gun owner, he believes the right is also a responsibility that should be safeguarded by sensible laws, such as expanding background checks and banning the sale of high-capacity ammunition magazines," added Paula Silsby, former US attorney and co-chair of the Coalition.
King himself told the Associated Press that the gift was "five figures", but wouldn't comment further because "charity's supposed to be a private thing".King himself told the Associated Press that the gift was "five figures", but wouldn't comment further because "charity's supposed to be a private thing".
In his February essay, Guns, King wrote that "political discourse as it once existed in America has given way to useless screaming".In his February essay, Guns, King wrote that "political discourse as it once existed in America has given way to useless screaming".
"Autos and semi-autos are weapons of mass destruction. When lunatics want to make war on the unarmed and unprepared, these are the weapons they use," he wrote. "I have nothing against gun owners, sport shooters or hunters, but semi-automatic weapons have only two purposes. One is so that owners can take them to the shooting range once in a while, yell yeehaw and get all horny at the rapid fire and the burning vapour spurting from the end of the barrel. Their other use – their only other use – is to kill people.""Autos and semi-autos are weapons of mass destruction. When lunatics want to make war on the unarmed and unprepared, these are the weapons they use," he wrote. "I have nothing against gun owners, sport shooters or hunters, but semi-automatic weapons have only two purposes. One is so that owners can take them to the shooting range once in a while, yell yeehaw and get all horny at the rapid fire and the burning vapour spurting from the end of the barrel. Their other use – their only other use – is to kill people."
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.