http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/09/13/bl ... -town.html



A Maine town’s tourism sector has come under fire after some visitors have been complaining about a large, hand-painted sign on a private lawn that reads “Black Rifles Matter.” the sign’s creator, told NECN on Monday that his work in Boothbay Harbor is about gun rights, not race. He was inspired to post the sign after reading an ad in the local paper that supported a ban on assault weapons."That's really a trigger for me — the assault weapons ban," Sample told NECN.

Sample said he used “Black Rifles Matter” – a plan on “Black Lives Matter” – to make an impact. He said if anything, the Black Lives Matter movement should be “flattered” he used the phrase.

Boothbay Region Chamber of Commerce Director Rick Prose said that they’ve received a few complaints from visitors.

"Some of these people have cut their vacation short and left early," Town Manager Thomas Woodin said.

Boothbay Harbor officials said Sample has the proper permitting and is exercising his First Amendment rights, despite some calling for the sign’s removal.

"People are ignorant. They shouldn't be putting things out like that," Paul Mayor, who was visiting Maine from Connecticut, told the station. "It's taking a shot obviously at Black Lives Matter."

Another tourist, Jeremy Plasse believes that the town is doing the right thing by leaving the sign up.

"Massachusetts has a ban right now, and I think they should lift it,” he added.

Sample said he usually changes the sign and will soon replace the Black Rifles Matter sign that has drawn some scrutiny.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

Pun intended?

Dumb, but people are cutting their vacations short over a sign? That's laughable.

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-- source

Also, "taking a shot at Black Lives Matter"

That's what you get for vacationing in Maine

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What's laughable is how many ignoramuses & bigots feel the need (& public acceptance now) to freely post that kind of crap

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

I think Trump getting out there and bringing this kind of dialogue into the presidential race has emboldened the dumb and racist to think this kind of incendiary bs is OK. So thanks for that Republicans.

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Did Trump sense that this was out there and decided to tap into it or did Trump just fall ass backwards into it due to his natural behavior and people started jumping on board?

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My guess is the latter but it's a case of chicken and egg hard to determine causality especially with anything as disjointed as the Trump campaign. I think Trump has a really good detector for what is going to get him praise and attention and he just started throwing out random stuff to the press. The things that seemed to react with people were things like the wall and Muslim ban and then he started hammering on those because that is what got him all the cheers. Trump lives for attention and feeds on it.

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Both, imo

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

I think he sensed it after being the leader of the birther movement.

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I'm sure you are all the first people in the world to blame Donald Trump for people doing things that are "not OK". Some real hard-hitting analysis here, cant find these takes anywhere else.

Damn. Your story is just so cool. Can you tell it to us again. PLEASE!

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that guy has gone off half cocked

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

If you have driven around the less traveled parts of the country you know this type of sign was around way before Trump. I think rather than Trump or a single politician bringing this out I think the internet, specifically things like Facebook, make it very easy to just put out what they think, feel etc.

There is a good side to that where people with good thoughts or causes can spread them. It reinforces first amendment rights and empowers. Unfortunately, the bad also has learned the same avenues exist for them to be racist or dopes or worse.

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Elections have consequences.

Fair enough point, maybe this kind of stuff is just more in the media these days with the election front of mind. Especially now in the outrage culture that is twitter and everything these signs get shared so people can get the likes that come with bringing it to the forefront.

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this is sad but true.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.