Gov. Janet Mills is set to sign a comprehensive gun control bill into law in Maine. The legislation includes measures such as background checks for private gun sales, waiting periods for gun purchases, and criminalizing gun sales to prohibited individuals. The push for these measures came after a deadly shooting in Lewiston that took 18 lives and injured 13 others. Despite Maine’s strong hunting culture and high gun ownership, the majority of the proposals were approved by the Democratic-led Legislature.
The bill aims to strengthen the state’s yellow flag law, enhance background checks for private sales, and make it illegal to sell a gun to someone prohibited from owning one. Additionally, the legislation allocates funds for violence prevention programs and the establishment of a mental health crisis center in Lewiston. Two other bills related to gun control are also under review by the Governor.
The first bill, LD 2238, proposes a 72-hour waiting period for gun purchases. However, some critics argue that this measure does not address the underlying mental health issues. The second bill, LD 2086, seeks to ban bump stocks and other devices that modify semi-automatic guns to function like fully automatic firearms.
A red flag law bill that would have allowed family members to petition for the removal of guns from individuals in a psychiatric crisis did not make it to the floor. Lawmakers worked tirelessly to pass the legislation, facing some last-minute challenges before adjourning. The tragic events in Lewiston in 2023 prompted the urgent need for gun control measures, with survivors and lawmakers sharing differing views on the proposed legislation.
Republicans expressed concerns about the exploitation of the tragedy for political gain, while Democrats emphasized the importance of taking action to prevent future incidents. Gov. Mills stressed the necessity of addressing gun violence for the well-being of communities and individuals. Please rewrite the following sentence: “The cat jumped on the table and knocked over the vase.”
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