4 weeks ago
- The Maine Legislature has approved sweeping weapon information authorities astir six months aft nan deadliest shooting successful authorities history.
- The bills that received support see inheritance checks connected backstage weapon sales, 72-hour waiting periods for weapon purchases and criminalizing weapon income to prohibited people.
- The last ballot connected nan governor's connection came connected Thursday.
The Maine Legislature approved sweeping weapon information authorities including inheritance checks connected backstage weapon sales, waiting periods for weapon purchases and criminalizing weapon income to prohibited group earlier adjourning Thursday morning, astir six months aft nan deadliest shooting successful authorities history.
Democratic Gov. Janet Mills and nan Democratic-led Legislature pressed for a number of weapon and intelligence wellness proposals aft nan shooting that claimed 18 lives and injured different 13 people, contempt nan state’s beardown hunting contented and support for weapon owners.
"Maine has taken important steps guardant successful preventing weapon unit and protecting Maine lives," said Nacole Palmer, executive head of nan Maine Gun Safety Coalition, who praised lawmakers for listening to their constituents.
MAINE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO DISCUSS CONTACT WITH GUNMAN PRIOR TO LEWISTON MASS SHOOTING
The governor's bill, approved early Thursday, would fortify nan state’s yellowish emblem law, boost inheritance checks for backstage income of guns and make it a crime to recklessly waste a weapon to personification who is prohibited from having guns. The measure besides costs unit prevention initiatives and opens a intelligence wellness situation receiving halfway successful Lewiston.
The Maine Legislature approved sweeping weapon information authorities including inheritance checks connected backstage weapon sales, waiting periods for weapon purchases and criminalizing weapon income to prohibited group earlier adjourning connected Thursday morning, astir six months aft nan deadliest shooting successful authorities history. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)
The Maine Senate besides narrowly gave last support Wednesday to a 72-hour waiting play for weapon purchases and a prohibition connected bump stocks that tin toggle shape a limb into a instrumentality gun.
However, location was nary action connected a connection to institute a "red flag" law. The measure sponsored by House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross would person allowed family members to petition a judge to region guns from personification who is successful a psychiatric crisis. The state’s existent "yellow flag" rule differs by putting constabulary successful nan lead of nan process, which critics opportunity is excessively complicated.
Lawmakers pushed done nan nighttime and into nan greeting arsenic they ran up against their adjournment date, which was Wednesday. But it didn't travel without immoderate 11th-hour drama. Lawmakers had to o.k. a contentious supplemental fund earlier casting their last votes and didn't wrap up nan convention until aft daybreak.
The Oct. 25 shooting by an Army reservist successful Lewiston, Maine's second-largest city, served arsenic tragic backdrop for nan legislative session.
Police were warned by family members that nan shooter was becoming illusion and had entree to weapons. He was hospitalized for 2 weeks while training pinch his portion past summer. And his champion friend, a chap reservist, warned that nan man was going "to threat and do a wide shooting." The shooter killed himself aft nan attack.
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Republicans accused Democrats of utilizing nan calamity to play connected people’s emotions to walk contentious bills.
"My large interest present is that we’re moving guardant pinch weapon authorities that has ever been connected nan agenda. Now we’re utilizing nan calamity successful Lewiston to unit it done erstwhile there’s thing caller here," said Republican Sen. Lisa Keim. "It's nan aforesaid aged ideas that were rejected twelvemonth aft year. Using nan calamity to beforehand authorities is wrong."
But Democrats said constituents implored them to do thing to forestall early attacks. They said it would've been an abdication of their work to disregard their pleas.
"For nan liking of nan communities, individuals and families now suffering immeasurable pain, for nan liking of our state, doing thing is not an option," nan politician said successful precocious January erstwhile she outlined her proposals successful her State of nan State address. Those successful attendance responded pinch a opinionated ovation.
