Maine legislators acted swiftly following the tragic mass shooting in Lewiston last year, passing several gun safety measures aimed at preventing such incidents. Governor Janet Mills, who sponsored some of the legislation, is expected to sign the bills into law.
Among the approved measures are a 72-hour waiting period for gun purchases, expanded background checks to cover private sales, and the banning of bump stocks, devices that increase the firing rate of semiautomatic rifles.
Lawmakers failed to pass a “red flag” law that would have facilitated the removal of firearms from individuals deemed mentally unstable or dangerous.
Kathleen McFadden, representing the Maine chapter of Moms Demand Action, praised the legislative action, noting that it came in response to the calls for progress on gun violence prevention following the devastating Lewiston shooting.
An independent commission earlier found that authorities had probable cause to intervene under existing laws before the tragedy occurred.
The shooter, U.S. Army reservist Robert Card, took the lives of 18 people and injured 13 others in the deadliest gun violence incident in Maine’s history. The card was later found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
His family had previously raised concerns about his mental health and his access to firearms, underscoring the importance of measures like the proposed “red flag” law.
While the passage of these gun safety measures represents significant progress, advocates lament the missed opportunity to enact comprehensive legislation that could potentially prevent future tragedies.
