Maine Gov. Janet Mills on Friday signed into law her proposed legislation to expand background checks to advertised firearm sales and strengthen the states “yellow flag” law.
The bill, LD 2224, entitled “An Act to Strengthen Public Safety by Improving Maine’s Firearm Laws and Mental Health System,” was announced by Gov. Mills during her January State of the State Address as her proposed legislative response to the tragic Oct. 25 mass shootings in Lewiston.
While state law formerly only mandated background checks for sales conducted through federally licensed dealers, the governor’s legislation now expands background checks to be legally required for all private gun sales advertised online or in print, including Uncle Henry’s and online market places.
[RELATED: Firearm Industry Threatens Exodus Over Proposed Maine Bill Allowing Lawsuits Against Manufacturers…]
Mills’ legislation also makes a change to Maine’s “yellow flag” law, which came under close scrutiny after the Lewiston shootings, that will allow law enforcement to seek a protective custody warrant signed by a judge in “unusual circumstances,” in order to take “dangerous people” into custody and remove their weapons.
The Democratic-controlled Legislature stopped short of taking up a “red flag” law proposed by House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross (D-Portland) before adjourning last week, which would have even further empowered the state to remove a person’s access to firearms.
The Independent Commission charged by Gov. Mills with investigating the circumstances surrounding the Lewiston shootings found that law enforcement had “sufficient probable cause” to take the shooter, Robert Card, into protective custody, but failed to do so.
Republican state lawmakers pointed to the Independent Commission’s findings as evidence that the state’s current gun control measures would have been sufficient to stop the Lewiston shooting had the laws been properly enforced.
Mills signed the legislation just one day after the six-month anniversary of the Lewiston shootings, calling the measures taken by her bill “practical” and “common-sense.”
“Violence is not a simple problem, nor is the remedy a single, simple measure. The measures in this law are not extreme or unusual, or a cookie cutter version of another’s state’s laws,” Gov. Mills said Friday. “They are practical, common-sense measures that are Maine-made and true to our culture and our longstanding traditions while meeting today’s needs.”
“This law represents important, meaningful progress, without trampling on anybody’s rights, and it will better protect public safety by implementing reasonable reforms and by significantly expanding mental health resources,” Mills said. “One day after the six-month anniversary of the tragedy, I am proud to say that we have taken this prudent action.”
[RELATED: Cases Less Severe Than Robert Card Triggered Maine’s Yellow Flag Law Firearm Restrictions…]
Other measures included in the bill and funded through the supplemental budget are establishing an “Office of Violence Prevention” at the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC), that will work as a central data hub about suicides and homicides statewide to inform prevention measures, as well as the construction of three new crisis receiving centers in Lewiston, Penobscot County and Aroostook County.
Still awaiting possible signatures from Gov. Mills are two other gun control measures proposed by Democratic lawmakers during the second legislative session — a 72-hour waiting period on firearm purchases, and a bump stock ban.
This is gay as hell.
OF course the dems closed down AMHI in Augusta decades ago which was where the nuts used to be sent and cared for so that now they just roam the streets. So now they are going to piss money away on building “receiving centers” along with creating another useless gov’t entity called Office of Violence Prevention. Like more pinhead bureaucrats are going to accomplish anything except to chip away at your rights. Of course there are more gun control laws being considered. What else would you expect.
This DemoRat/Marxist is not going to sign or veto the 72 waiting period because she is a coward and does not give a damn about the people of Maine.
… it’s called the ‘yellow flag’ law for a reason. Law enforcement, the military and a plethora of Drs had ample opportunity to take action against the Oct 25 shooter. They didn’t. Maybe they were afraid to engage him before his actions…yellow!
By now Mills and her Socialist cadre in Augusta have passed all the gun control they dare ram through. So what is THE COMMISSION for? Mills had The Commission’s final report written the day she convened it! This was all a CYA move by Mills to enact more useless draconian infringements on Maine’s 2nd Amendment Rights. Nothing more.
The Socialist Democrats in Augusta need to lear that Maine’s Citizens are NOT their subjects to be ruled over like sheep!
Democrats have openly stated that this is their pathway to “Red Flag” laws in Maine – which will eventually happen. This will allow family members or others to bypass law enforcement and allow them to contact the Government to seize your weapons for up to 1 year – which can then be petitioned even longer after that.
Democrats are getting what they wanted.
How about expansion of Boarder checls.
H Clinton aid who had secrit info her phone and was married to the perp A. Winner is now keeping company with A. Soris son of George Soris Also donators via Tides founation to our staff in DC. All in bed to gerther. Jarid in distric 2die you get of Gerorages money?
Why did you move to Maine if you did not like the laws that we already had? Time for ‘real’ Mainers to stand firm and fight these Democrat lawmakers every step of the way. We will NOT be bullied into going along with ‘your’ plans!
Why follow any laws in this state? Legislature doesn’t, why should you. Live in one town but run for office in another, commit perjury on bank documents then try to defend these crimes by claiming retardation? Control NGO funding then award to a family member and when questioned play the race card? Have a brother who works to settle illegal Chinese grow operations that are protected by the governor? Do what you want it is officially the Wild West.
Like most flowery feel good creations by government both fed and local, they only end up feeling good to the government…since 1913
As near as I can find, absolutely none of these new laws would have, and/or did not, stop the Lewiston killer. But that’s not what these laws are for now, is it…??
Let’s pass more anti-gun laws in Maine, the state with the fewest gun crimes in the nation. Let’s pass them simply because WE DON’T LIKE GUNS!
How did the ATF 4473 form Hunter Biden filled out to purchase his gun work out? How about mandatory drug testing requirements for all welfare recipients?