AUGUSTA, Maine — The Lewiston mass shooting sparked a suite of gun safety bills for Maine lawmakers to consider. Advocates for those bills rallied Wednesday in Augusta to show their support.
The rally was hosted by Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, two organizations that often work towards similar goals of protecting people from gun violence.
"And we’re demanding lawmakers act with courage, to pass life-saving laws now," Moms Demand Action Executive Director Angela Ferrell-Zabala, said.
Speakers at the rally touched on the need for an extreme risk law, background checks and waiting periods for gun sales, bans on certain devices like bump stocks as well as the creation of The Office of Violence Prevention as mentioned in Gov. Janet Mill’s State of the State Address.
Others touched on personal experiences with gun violence — both directly and indirectly — and how their views on the issue have changed since the increase in gun deaths over the past couple of years.
"All of the swattings that happened in Maine around a year ago really scared students," Students Demand Action Chapter member Liana Holden said. "I don’t think many students have felt safe in a really long time. Shootings have kind of followed us as we’ve grown up."
Afterward, advocates went to speak with their local representatives, to understand where lawmakers stand on the issues involving gun restrictions in Maine.
One lawmaker listening in to the rally was Republican Rep. Donald Ardell, who said while he’s open to having discussions on gun safety, he hopes the focus could shift towards the root cause of gun violence or suicides such as the need for more mental health resources.
"I’m glad we can hear these bills, and understand what the outcomes will be," Ardell said. "Making law-abiding gun owners wait three days is not effective policy … and really it’s just a move for people who are just hostile to the right to arms."
A suite of gun safety bills was discussed at a work session in committee Wednesday afternoon following the rally.