Maine lawmakers will take into account these gun-related payments after the Lewiston capturing
AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine legislative leaders permitted Thursday gun-related payments for consideration in 2024 that can carry additional significance after final month’s Lewiston mass capturing.
The Legislative Council, a 10-member panel of prime lawmakers, met on Thursday to green-light new measures for consideration. In even-numbered years, members can solely submit laws {that a} majority of leaders deems an “emergency.”
Thursday’s assembly was initially scheduled for Oct. 26 however was delayed after a gunman on Oct. 25 killed 18 folks and injured 13 others at a Lewiston bowling alley and bar.
That bloodbath led a number of the Democrats who management the Maine Legislature to drift gun-control measures which have constantly been rejected within the state. Two measures on that topic superior alongside get together strains on the council assembly on the State Home on Thursday.
One from Sen. Anne Carney, D-Cape Elizabeth, would require the destruction of all firearms forfeited to legislation enforcement. Present legislation solely requires the destruction of seized weapons utilized in homicides. The opposite one, from Rep. Vicki Doudera, D-Camden, who co-chairs the Gun Security Caucus. Her invoice would enable folks to place themselves on a listing stopping them from buying firearms, which she mentioned might forestall suicides.
It stays unknown what number of extra payments that lawmakers might have drafted after the capturing that would obtain consideration subsequent 12 months and whether or not they cope with points akin to assault-style rifles or Maine’s “yellow flag” legislation that enables police to grab weapons from folks deemed harmful by a well being skilled and decide.
Legislative employees mentioned it’s confidential what number of payments have been launched within the wake of the capturing that will relate, for instance, to firearms or psychological well being. Prime lawmakers will meet once more in November and December to resolve whether or not or to not enable extra payments in.
A minimum of one after-deadline invoice comes from Rep. Laurel Libby, R-Auburn, and would repeal Certificates of Want laws for inpatient and outpatient psychological well being care suppliers in Maine. Libby argued that within the wake of the mass capturing and warning indicators in regards to the gunman’s psychological state, repealing the laws might present extra care to these in want.
A number of Democrats have argued for banning assault-style weapons and upgrading Maine’s present “yellow flag” legislation to a so-called pink flag legislation that enables household and police to petition a court docket to remove firearms from folks deemed liable to harming themselves or others, whereas gun-rights advocates and a few Maine police chiefs mentioned the yellow flag course of is working.
