In a response to a deadly mass shooting incident in October 2023, the Maine legislature approved several expansive pieces of gun control legislation this week. These measures include increased waiting periods, expanded background checks, and an enlarged scope for court-ordered firearm forfeiture. The legislation also toughens the prohibition of selling firearms to individuals who aren’t legally permitted to carry them.
The first bill to gain approval, known as “Act to Strengthen Public Safety by Improving Maine’s Firearm Laws and Mental Health System,” was enacted by the Maine House of Representatives on Tuesday and passed by the Maine Senate on Thursday. Notably, this piece of legislation will make it a Class C crime for anyone to recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally sell firearms to someone who is prohibited from owning such weapons. It will also mandate background checks for firearm purchases, such as those at gun shows or in private sales.
The second bill, the “Act to Address Gun Violence in Maine by Requiring a Waiting Period for Certain Firearm Purchases,” was passed by both the House and Senate. This law stipulates a mandatory 72-hour waiting period for most firearm transactions, with exemptions given for sales to licensed gun dealers or those required to carry guns for work, like corrections officers or security professionals.
The “Act to Amend the Law Governing the Disposition of Forfeited Firearms,” was the final gun control measure approved this week. With this law, the range of firearms that must be surrendered to the state as part of a criminal sentence is expanded to include firearms that are rightfully owned by another person.
During the proceedings, criticism emerged from those claiming that the tragic Lewiston shooting was being used to advance a political agenda. In response, Senator Anne Carney (D) – a sponsor of one of the bills – emphasized that the legislation was looking forward, seeking to prevent future acts of violence and suicide.
It’s worth noting that these legislative efforts were originally introduced by Maine’s Governor Janet Mills in the wake of the Lewiston shooting, the deadliest in the state’s history, claiming 18 lives. Now, the newly-approved legislation is set to travel to Governor Mills’ desk, where she is widely expected to sign the bills into law.
Meanwhile, gun control remains a highly contentious issue across the US, with a range of different responses and initiatives being seen at the state level. From Virginia’s Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoing 30 pieces of gun regulation-related legislation to Delaware’s House approving tighter requirements for handgun purchases, we are seeing myriad approaches to this politically-charged issue. These levels of activity are not confined to individual states; federal courts are also playing their part, with several California laws facing defeat earlier this year.
You can read further details of the Maine legislature’s recent decisions here.