AUGUSTA, Maine — Before the Maine Legislature adjourns Thursday morning, nearly six months after the deadliest mass shooting in state history, the Maine Legislature will introduce background checks for private gun sales, waiting periods for gun purchases, and gun restrictions for prohibited persons. Approved sweeping gun safety laws, including criminalizing sales.
Democratic Gov. Janet Mills and the Democratic-led Legislature have called for a number of proposals on guns and mental health after the mass shootings that killed 18 people and 13 others, building on the state’s strong hunting tradition and gun protection. Despite ownership, most of them were adopted.
“We have heard loud and clear the voices of Mainers across our state who want meaningful action to protect our communities from violence. I’m very proud of that,” Rep. Kristen Cloutier (D-Lewiston), assistant to the House majority leader, said in a statement Thursday.
Ben Goodman said the governor would strengthen the state’s yellow flag law, approved early Thursday, by increasing background checks on private gun sales and restricting reckless gun sales to prohibited gun owners. A spokesperson said the company plans to sign a bill that would make it a crime. The bill would also provide funding for violence prevention initiatives and open a mental health crisis reception center in Lewiston.
Goodman said the governor will consider two other bills that narrowly passed in the Senate on Wednesday, including creating a 72-hour waiting period for gun purchases and banning bump stocks, which transform weapons into machine guns. He said that he plans to establish a
However, no action was taken on the proposed red flag law. The bill, introduced by House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross, would allow family members to petition a judge to remove guns from a person in mental health crisis. The state’s current yellow flag law differs in that it puts police in control of the process, which critics say is too complicated.
Lawmakers worked through the night and into the morning in preparation for Wednesday’s closing day. But it wasn’t without 11 hours of drama. Lawmakers had to approve a controversial supplementary budget bill before taking a final vote, and did not adjourn until dawn.
The Oct. 25 shooting by an Army reservist in Lewiston, Maine’s second largest city, provided a tragic backdrop for Congress.
Police were alerted by family members that the suspect was becoming paranoid and had access to a weapon. He was hospitalized for two weeks last summer while his unit was training. And his close friend and fellow reservist warned that the man was going to “open fire and cause a mass shooting.” The gunman committed suicide after the attack.
Survivors of the shooting had mixed emotions. Some called for legislative action. People like Ben Dyer, who was shot five times, were skeptical of the proposed legislation.
“Sick people did bad things that day. And Congress and politicians are trying to use that to pass their agenda,” Dyer said, adding that while criminals ignore suggestions, law-abiding guns He argued that it was natural for the owners to be hurt by the proposal. He added that the state already had a yellow flag law, but law enforcement officials did not use it to prevent the tragedy.
His sentiments echoed those of Republicans who accuse Democrats of using the tragedy to play with public sentiment in order to pass controversial legislation.
“My big concern here is that they’re trying to advance gun control, which is always on the agenda. Now we’re trying to use the tragedy in Lewiston to push forward gun control, when there’s nothing new here. They’re trying to force a vote,” Republican Sen. Lisa Keim said. “It’s the same old idea that has been rejected year after year.”
But Democrats said they are pleading with voters to do something to prevent future attacks. They said ignoring their pleas would be an abdication of responsibility.
“For the benefit of the communities, individuals, families and state that are currently suffering immeasurable pain, doing nothing is not an option,” the governor, a former prosecutor and attorney general, said in a statement outlining his proposal in late January. I mentioned it at the time. She said this in her State of the Union address. Those in attendance responded with a standing ovation.
