Maine Gun-Control Proponents Unmoved by Recent Legislative Failures

[Charlie T Waite]

Gun-control advocates in Maine recently pledged to continue pushing for stricter legislation after the Maine Legislative Council voted against many gun-control proposals on Oct. 23.

Rep. Vicki Doudera (D), who proposed a pair of gun-control bills, “is disappointed the bills didn’t move forward,” but believes that proponents of gun control “will regroup,” reported The Associated Press.

The Maine chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America criticized the legislative council, saying the results could have “deadly consequences.”

Despite having a Democratic majority, the Maine Legislative Council voted against the majority of restrictive gun-control proposals and tabled one other. Each requires approval from the 10-member council, comprised of legislative leadership from both parties, in order to move forward to the full legislative session that begins in January.

The proposals included “anti-gun schemes such as banning commonly-owned firearms, requiring gun owners to purchase mandatory liability insurance, expanding arbitrary zones where law-abiding citizens are left defenseless and imposing one-size-fits all storage requirements that render firearms unavailable for self-defense,” as reported by the NRA Institute for Legislative Action.

David Trahan, executive director of the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, told the AP “the pushback against new controls shows Maine’s current laws are already working in the state.”

Gov. Janet Mills (D) spoke earlier this year about previously proposed gun-control bills, including those regarding background checks, saying that the voters have already spoken. The governor was referencing a 2016 ballot referendum that would have required background checks on virtually all firearms transfers; it was rejected by voters.