Gun reform advocates packed the Maine State House for the first day of the legislative session
The Lewiston mass shooting sparked a renewed push for stronger gun control in Maine
The Lewiston mass shooting sparked a renewed push for stronger gun control in Maine
The Lewiston mass shooting sparked a renewed push for stronger gun control in Maine
Gun reform advocates packed the halls of the Maine State House for the first day of the legislative session, pushing for change in the wake of the Lewiston mass shootings.
Meanwhile, the Maine State Senate started the day by honoring the victims of the Lewiston shooting, setting the tone for this session, as multiple gun reform bills are expected to go before lawmakers.
"This is not about taking guns, OK? " said Arthur Bernard, whose son, Arthur Strout, died at Schemengee's Bar & Grille. "This is about doing the right thing and finding the right politicians who are willing to do the right thing, more than they're afraid of losing their jobs."
The Oct. 25 shooting was the deadliest on record in the U.S. last year, killing 18 people and injuring 13 more.
The mass casualty sparked a renewed push for gun reform in Maine.
Advocates are pushing for a red flag law, which would go beyond Maine's existing yellow flag law, making it easier to remove someone's weapons if they're deemed a safety risk. They're also calling for an assault weapon ban, a 72-hour waiting period for gun sales, and universal background checks, which would close a loophole for private sales.
"One of them could have gone down and taken his guns, but five minutes later, he could have gotten in his car and gone down to Dunkin Donuts or 7-Eleven or any of these places and bought one privately," Bernard said, regarding Lewiston shooter Robert Card.
Gun rights advocates held a counter-protest, defending Second Amendment rights in response. They believe the focus needs to be on expanding mental health care and enforcing the existing laws, rather than enacting new restrictions.
"If we take care of all the problems and we enforce the laws that we already have, we would be far and away better than trying to institute a bunch of new legislation that are really only going to infringe on the right of the law-abiding," said Gun Owners of Maine president Laura Whitcome.
Advocates on both sides of the issues spent time inside the state house, trying to have one-on-one conversations with lawmakers in hopes of influencing their votes during this session.