AUGUSTA, Maine — Members of the judiciary committee met in Augusta Thursday to discuss a suite of bills concerning gun safety and mental health in a work session, as dozens of other lawmakers, state leaders, and advocates anticipate if it will pass.
Since being introduced in late February, the highly-discussed legislation has generated a mixed response on whether the proposals would prevent another mass tragedy in Maine’s future.
One organization watching the work session is the Maine Gun Safety Coalition, who also rallied at the state house for common sense gun laws just days after the mass shooting in Lewiston in October.
"We've heard from Mainers across the state that they're ready for the legislature to pass common-sense gun safety reform," Campaign Manager BJ McCollister said. "Faith leaders, law enforcement, everyday Mainers, hunters, veterans... all alike have come in front of this committee and told them that it’s time for meaningful reform."
If passed, the bills would create both waiting periods and voluntary waivers to prevent or slow down gun sales. Additional gun legislation from Gov. Janet Mills would prevent forfeited firearms from being resold, and stop anyone under an extreme risk protection order from getting their hands on a gun.
State Republicans and organizations like the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine have expressed support for parts of the proposed legislation that would boost mental health resources in Maine but disagree with limiting access to guns.
"We are not going to criticize the governor, we appreciate what she’s doing… although we don’t support 100 percent of what’s in her bill," Executive Director David Trahan said. "[It’s] more significant than a national gun control agenda. We need change, as I’ve described, across the spectrum."
State Republicans and organizations like Gun Owners of Maine have previously called out Sen. Anne Carney, a sponsor of one of the gun safety bills, in a filed complaint, claiming Sen. Carney was involved in a closed-door meeting with a deputy assistant director of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives on Wednesday.
According to a communications representative for the Office of the Senate President, the meeting was a party caucus, and the Senate President’s Office has already reached out to the federal government to be given clearance to offer the information shared in the meeting to be brought to members of the public.