Democratic Gov. Janet Mills on Friday signed into law a series of gun safety laws approved by lawmakers in the wake of the worst mass shooting in the state’s history, expanding background checks on private sales of weapons and eliminating the state’s “yellow flag.” It strengthened the law and criminalized the transfer of weapons. Providing guns to prohibited populations and expanding mental health crisis care.
In his State of the Union address, the governor told lawmakers that doing nothing was not an option after an Army reservist with an assault rifle killed 18 people and injured 13 others in Lewiston on Oct. 25. He spoke to the following people.
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The bill drew opposition from Republicans who accused Democrats, who control both chambers, of using the tragedy to advance proposals, some of which had previously been defeated. Mills said Friday that the proposal would improve public safety while respecting the state’s long tradition of gun ownership and outdoor heritage.
“This legislation represents important and meaningful progress that does not trample on anyone’s rights and better protects public safety by enacting sensible reforms and significantly expanding mental health resources. “We’re going to do that,” Mills said.
Governor Janet Mills attends an event in Augusta, Maine on March 11, 2022. Mills on Friday, April 26, 2024, signed into law a series of gun safety laws approved by lawmakers in the wake of the worst mass shooting in state history, expanding background checks for private sales of weapons and increasing the state’s It strengthened “yellow flag” laws and criminalized guns. Expanding gun transfers and mental crisis care to prohibited populations. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bucati)
The new law signed by the governor does not require universal background checks, but it does require background checks on people advertising gun sales on places like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. Sellers must conduct a background check using a commercially licensed business such as L.L. Bean or Cabela’s.
The bill would require police to evaluate a person, take them into protective custody for a mental health evaluation, and hold a hearing before a judge to remove guns from mentally ill people. It includes amendments to the state’s yellow flag laws that allow it.
The new law will streamline the process by allowing police to go directly to a judge to obtain a warrant. This removes a hurdle when deputies were stumped when the Lewiston shooter refused to answer the door for an in-person interview as required by current law. Law enforcement officials said in testimony about the shooting that the state’s existing yellow flag law is burdensome and difficult to enforce.
Rep. Billy Bob Falkingham, the Republican leader in the Maine House of Representatives, said Friday that Republicans in the state continue to oppose the bill, particularly because of the proposed expansion of background checks.
“House Republicans have expressed continued support for Maine’s so-called yellow flag law and strengthening mental health services, but they oppose the governor’s bill,” Faulkingham said. “Unenforceable background check provisions will only cause confusion among law-abiding Maine residents.”
Advocates for expanding gun laws, who have been pushing for the new standards to pass for months, called the rules’ approval a victory. John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety, said 22 states currently have background check laws in place.
Advocates also said they expect other new gun regulations approved by Maine lawmakers to become law soon.
“Today is a victory for the gun violence prevention movement and a reminder of what Maine residents can do to keep our communities safe if we work together,” said Vicki Farsasi, a volunteer with the Maine chapter of Moms Demand Action. This proves that.”
The bill signed by the governor also strengthens the legal standards for prosecution and penalties to stop the sale of weapons to prohibited buyers, making it a felony. The governor’s office said in a statement that the new approach “means the transfer of firearms to a family member or trusted friend, which is common in Maine, will not change, but will encourage checks against the (National Instant Criminal Background Check System). It will happen,” he said. Non-advertised private sales to unknown individuals that threaten increased risk of prosecution or imprisonment. ”
Mr. Mills approved the gun proposal a day after a special committee he convened interviewed Card’s fellow reservists who warned of Card’s increasingly erratic behavior. After an extensive search, Card was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the aftermath of the shooting.
Sean Hodgson, one of the reservists interviewed Thursday, told his superiors in September that he believed he was going to open fire and cause a mass shooting.
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Mills also announced a new law on violence and violence that would require the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention to serve as a clearinghouse, gathering data from law enforcement, hospitals, schools and other sources to inform public policy decisions. Suggested the creation of an injury prevention program.
Meanwhile, her proposal for a network of crisis centers would build on the first similar facility already operating in Portland and a second facility under construction in central Maine.
