Maine Senate and House Adjourn After Sending Lifesaving Gun Safety Bills to Governor Mills’ Desk; Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action Respond 

AUGUSTA, ME – The Maine chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, released the following statements applauding both chambers of the Maine legislature for sending critical gun safety measures to Governor Mills’ desk for signature. The gun safety bills that now await the Governor’s signature would require background checks on advertised sales and gun show sales, increase funding for mental health resources across the state, and strengthen provisions in the yellow paper law. Lawmakers also passed measures to implement a 72-hour waiting period between the purchase and transfer of a firearm, and prohibit the possession, sale, and transfer of bump stocks, auto sears, and other devices. This victory comes nearly six months after the deadliest mass shooting in Maine’s history killed 18 and wounded 13 others in Lewiston. 

“After the devastating mass shooting in Lewiston last year, Mainers called for real progress on gun violence prevention and our legislators delivered,” said Kathleen McFadden, a volunteer with the Maine chapter of Moms Demand Action. “The tragedy in Lewiston awoke something in all of us to fight to keep guns out of the hands of those who could be a danger to themselves or others. Although we had hoped that crisis intervention orders would make it to the finish line this session, we applaud our lawmakers for making swift and historic progress on gun safety. We’re calling on Governor Mills to sign these bills on her desk into law so that Mainers will have access to a new set of tools to prevent gun violence.” 

“This is a big deal. After the mass shooting in Lewiston, we promised to do everything in our power to get major gun safety laws to the Governor’s desk. Just six months later, and with the help of advocates and our legislative champions, we delivered,” said Lianna Holden, a volunteer leader with the Freeport High School Students Demand Action chapter. “Every new gun safety law we pass takes us one step closer to a future where young people can grow up free from the threat of gun violence – and that’s exactly what we’ve done here today. But, make no mistake, the legislature could have also passed legislation to create crisis intervention orders. We won’t be deterred, we’ll be back next session and we’ll fight until we get this lifesaving law on the books too.”

These lifesaving measures sent to Governor Mills’ desk today include: 

• LD 2238, SP0958, which establishes a 72-hour waiting period between the purchase and transfer of a firearm,
• LD 2086, SP0879 which includes a provision to prohibit the possession, sale, and transfer of bump stocks, auto sears and other devices whose sole purpose is to enable semiautomatic firearms to fire like machine guns, 
• LD 2224, SP0953, also known as the “Governor’s Bill,” includes provisions to require background checks on advertised sales and gun show sales, increase funding for mental health resources across the state, and strengthen provisions in the yellow paper law. 

Of note, lawmakers adjourned without sending a measure to create crisis intervention orders, also known as a Red Flag law, to Governor Mills’ desk despite the tireless advocacy of volunteers this session. 

Experts believe that a comprehensive crisis intervention order, or Red Flag law, could have helped prevent the tragic mass shooting in Lewiston. In March, the Lewiston Commission released preliminary reports that reinforced the need for a crisis intervention order to make sure that families and law enforcement can get in front of a court to disarm someone in crisis as soon as possible. Advocates have been calling for a crisis intervention order that would make sure that families and law enforcement can get in front of a court as soon as possible to separate someone in crisis from firearms, and they will continue to advocate for one in future sessions. 

In an average year, 163 people die by guns in Maine. 89% of gun deaths in Maine are by firearm suicide. Gun violence costs Maine $2.3 billion each year, of which $17.3 million is paid by taxpayers. More information about gun violence in Maine is available here.