Maine Gov. Janet Mills on Monday vetoed a bill that would ban the sale and possession bump stocks, while allowing another bill requiring a 72-hour waiting period between the sale and delivery of firearms to become law without her signature.
The Democratic governor’s Monday actions on the two gun control bills come after she signed her own proposed legislation to expand background checks to advertised firearm sales and strengthen the state’s “yellow flag” law on Friday — her legislative response to the Oct. 25 mass shootings in Lewiston.
The vetoed bill, LD 2086, was introduced by Sen. Anne Carney (D-Cumberland) in January, and was initially aimed at requiring the destruction of all forfeited firearms.
An amendment to the bill put forward by the Judiciary Committee, however, proposed to repeal and replace the definition of “machine gun” in state law to include any firearm that has been modified to “materially increase its rate of fire,” or any device that serves to increase a firearm’s rate of fire.
In her Monday veto letter to state lawmakers, Gov. Mills said the bill’s amendment “relies on broad and ambiguous language,” which she claimed “may unintentionally ban a significant number of weapons used for hunting or target shooting by responsible hun owners in Maine.”
While the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) has adopted a regulation banning bump stocks, the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on a challenge to the regulation in the coming months.
[RELATED: Maine Dems Hold Closed-Door Meeting with ATF Official Amid Push for Stricter Gun Control Measures…]
Mills wrote that “despite the well-meaning nature” of LD 2086, she had concerns over the “novel language” of the bill and the short time period over which it was developed and reviewed.
Despite her veto, Mills affirmed that she strongly agrees that devices whose “sole purpose” is to convert a semi-automatic firearm into the “functional equivalent of a machine gun” should be restricted.
Also on Monday Gov. Mills announced that she has allowed the 72-hour waiting period bill from Lewiston Democratic Sen. Peggy Rotundo to become law without her signature, saying she was “deeply conflicted” about the potential impacts of the legislation.
Sen. Rotundo’s bill, LD 2238, requires a 72-hour waiting period between the sale and delivery of firearms, with certain exceptions for sales between family members, to law enforcement, and sales of antique firearms.
Under the legislation, a seller found to have violated the waiting period may be subject to a fine of between $200 and $500 dollars, and between $500 and $1,000 for subsequent violations.
Mills said she allowed the bill to become law “with some caveats and concerns and with the hope that it can be implemented to accomplish its intended goal of preventing suicide by firearm without overburdening our outdoor sports economy and the rights of responsible gun owners and dealers to engage in lawful and constitutionally protected activities.”
[Editorial: History Shows Gun Control Inevitably Becomes a Political Weapon…]
To address her concerns over the bill, Mills announced that she will be requesting that the Maine Commissioner of Public Safety and Attorney General monitor constitutional challenges to other jurisdictions’ waiting period legislation, as well as to provide guidance to law enforcement and the public on how the law will affect guided hunts, and the ability of Mainers to acquire firearms for personal protection.
While Democratic lawmakers put forth an array of gun control legislation in response to the Oct. 25 Lewiston shootings, the Legislature chose not to take up a a more controversial “red flag” law proposed by House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross (D-Portland) before adjourning on April 18, which aimed at making it easier family or household members, law enforcement agencies, or local police officers to seek a “crisis intervention order” to remove an individual’s access to firearms.
Republican state lawmakers have pointed to the findings of the Independent Commission charged by Gov. Mills with investigating the circumstances surrounding the Lewiston shootings to argue that the state’s current gun control measures would have been sufficient to prevent the tragedy in Lewiston, had the laws been properly enforced.
Abused women will suffer at Janet Mills hand-
every domestic violence injury and death is on Mills’ head. She is a coward and hypocrite, she cares nothing for the people of Maine.
The only thing that can stop a bad guy with a guy is a good guy with a guy. Yesterday 4 really good guys with guns lost their lives to 2 bad guys with guns. There were 4 other good guys with guns that were wounded. Guns are made for one thing only – to kill. Having a gun does not put a force shield around you – if it did then those 8 officers would have gone home last night to enjoy their families. Instead, 4 family’s lives have been changed forever, and planning funerals. Four others are hoping for the best.
Exactly, coward is the perfect word to describe this abomination. Really this was the best choice for governor? How many times has she stood by and done nothing? Her legacy will be known as wishy-washy, spineless wet noodle. She takes the record of cowardness away from Poliqun when he hid in the bathroom. Congratulations.
When does this Legislation become Law ?
Teach your daughter to shoot because a restraining order is just a piece of paper……what’s that governor Mills?… oh never mind.
“While the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) has adopted a regulation banning bump stocks, the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on a challenge to the regulation in the coming months.“
⬇️
Actually, President Trump banned bump stocks following the mass shooting in Las Vegas, “a” U.S Appeals Court already struck it down.
This China hate site thinks its readers are so stupid as to not remember Trump already tried to ban bump stocks!? Mills apparently remembers that and figures it’s not worth the effort.
P.S
Does online purchase of a firearm with 7-10 day delivery to FFL count as a cooling off period or do we still have to wait another 3 days after fbliar background check?
Restraining orders are a violation of our civil rights. Absolutely no evidence or proof is needed to acquire one. Fake tears aren’t even needed. Stupid girls that seek out restraining orders use them as weapons. WEEI out of Boston used to have a sponsor from a law firm that advertised the need for one against her spouse for any women going through a divorce. Sickening.
P.S
A restraining order may or may not bar someone from keeping their firearms but it is required to be listed on fbliar back ground check if purchasing one.
What happens during the 3 days? Does the Justice Dept contact Facebook, Google and Verizon to kindly ask them for the buyer’s online data to assess if they are socially responsible citizens with no right leaning tendencies? Let’s start the campaign to flood Maine with a reminder of this at about hunting season so it fresh on their mind at election time.
How about a 2 week waiting period before you can get a permit to protest? 72 hour waiting period for your lawyer to be present after being questioned by law enforcement.
So I and all my family members will now only purchase guns over the border where there will be no 3 day wait to receive my legally paid in full purchase…Cabelas Kittery TP & small gun shops along with the ME State Wardens should have strongly opposed this garbage regulation… can anyone see that this isn’t about a response to the Lewiston shooter ( who practically begged people to intervene , maybe his psychotic meds???)
This is incrementally taking away your constitutional rights tiny piece by piece.