Meanwhile, gun reform advocates are collecting signatures to force a ballot initiative that would ask voters to approve a stronger red flag law.
gun safety
Sen. King’s gun reform bill stalls in Congress
Despite being introduced last November in the wake of the Lewiston mass shooting, the GOSAFE Act has not gotten a hearing in the Senate.
Georgia school shooting stirs debate about safe storage laws for guns
The Georgia school shooting marked the 30th mass killing in the U.S. so far this year.
Opponents of waiting period on gun purchases vow to challenge law in court
Critics of the new law hope to block it in court, saying it is unconstitutional. Supporters of the waiting period are confident it would be upheld.
Mills allows waiting period for gun sales to become law; vetoes bump stock ban
The governor let the 72-hour pause pass without her signature, saying she was ‘deeply conflicted.’ She vetoed a second bill that would have banned rapid-fire devices.
In a historic legislative session, some big reforms for Maine still fell short
Some approved legislation still awaits action by the governor, and lawmakers will return for at least one more day to address vetoes.
Mills signs bill to expand background checks for gun purchases, update ‘yellow flag’ law
The newly signed law, which the governor proposed in the wake of the Lewiston mass shooting, expands requirements for background checks to include private, advertised sales and also updates the existing yellow flag law.
Last-minute red flag bill draws a divided crowd to State House hearing
Supporters say the bill would provide an important path forward for families seeking to restrict a loved one’s access to firearms without stigmatizing mental illness, while opponents raise concerns about due process and Second Amendment rights.
Committee backs expanded background checks, waiting period for gun purchases
The Judiciary Committee also will soon take up a last-minute bill that would put in place ‘an improved crisis intervention order’ for restricting access to firearms when people are deemed to be a threat.
Washington County lagging behind rest of Maine in use of yellow flag law
A compilation of data by The Maine Monitor found that the county has filed just a single yellow flag order since the law passed nearly 4 years ago.