Gun Safety Legislation in Maine
Maine Legislature approves gun safety legislation including background checks on private gun sales, waiting periods for gun purchases, and criminalizing gun sales to prohibited people after deadliest shooting in state history.
Key Points
- Approval of waiting periods for gun purchases and ban on bump stocks
- Tragic shooting incident in Lewiston served as backdrop for legislative session
- Republicans and Democrats clashed on the necessity and motivations behind the legislation
Pros
- Significant steps taken to prevent gun violence and protect Maine lives
- Strengthening of state's yellow flag law
- Boosted background checks for private gun sales
- Crime penalization for recklessly selling guns to prohibited individuals
- Funding for violence prevention initiatives and mental health crisis receiving center
Cons
- No action on proposal for a 'red flag' law
- Criticism on complexity of current 'yellow flag' law
- Accusations of Democrats using tragedy to push through legislation