Award-Winning Documentary There Ought to be a Law Airs on Public Access Stations
PORTLAND, MAINE – (June 16, 2008) – The locally produced documentary There Ought to be a Law makes its television debut on public access stations throughout Maine. This award-winning documentary is currently airing on the following access channels and new stations are being added each week. Check local listings for broadcast dates and times.
Boothbay Region Community Television -- http://www.brctv.org/joom/
Brunswick TV3 -- http://207.5.228.24/Cablecast/Public/Main.aspx?ChannelID=1
Community Television Network TV4, Greater Portland -- http://www.ctn4maine.org
Great Falls TV, Auburn -- gfallstv@yahoo.com
Phippsburg Channel 3 -- http://www.phippsburgtv.com/
Searsport Community Television – Channel 7 -- SCTV7@aol.com
South Portland Community Television – http://www.southportland.org
Washington County TV – Channel 58 -- kvarian@ptc-me.net
There Ought to Be a Law follows the story of Lewiston resident Cathy Crowley in the months after her 18-year-old son bought a shotgun and killed himself.
"Cathy couldn’t believe her son could simply walk into a store and purchase a gun that same day," noted co-producer Anita Clearfield. "When she confronted the store manager he said that’s what the law allowed. If she didn’t like the law, she should contact her legislator, so that’s what she did."
Crowley had no political experience and had never even voted. Yet, she vowed to get the Maine legislature to pass a simple bill that would mandate a waiting period for youths purchasing firearms. This documentary shows her transformation from a shy mother to a passionate advocate for the prevention of gun violence and youth suicide.
Although the bill Crowley campaigned for was defeated, this year an amended version passed the Maine legislature and was signed into law by Governor John Baldacci. This new law prohibits the sale of firearms to 16- and 17-year-olds unless they have parental permission. http://www.thereought2bealaw.com/press_feature.html
Booklist called There Ought to be a Law "a profile of strength and courage in the wake of tragedy" and "a refreshing take on the theme of average citizen versus the government." http://www.thereought2bealaw.com/press.html
There Ought to be a Law was co-produced by Maine filmmakers Anita Clearfield, Shoshana Hoose and Geoffrey Leighton. The Center for Independent Documentary in Sharon, Massachusetts sponsored the project. Earlier this year, a distribution grant was provided by the Paul Robeson Fund of New York, allowing the film greater exposure.
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