The Maine Legislature approved sweeping gun safety legislation including background checks on private gun sales, waiting periods for gun purchases and criminalizing gun sales to prohibited people b…
AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine Legislature approved sweeping gun safety legislation including background checks on private gun sales, waiting periods for gun purchases and criminalizing gun sales to prohibited people before adjourning Thursday morning, nearly six months after the deadliest shooting in state history.
The governor’s bill, approved early Thursday, would strengthen the state’s yellow flag law, boost background checks for private sales of guns and make it a crime to recklessly sell a gun to someone who is prohibited from having guns. The bill also funds violence prevention initiatives and opens a mental health crisis receiving center in Lewiston.
Lawmakers pushed through the night and into the morning as they ran up against their adjournment date, which was Wednesday. But it didn’t come without some 11th-hour drama. Lawmakers had to approve a contentious supplemental budget before casting their final votes and didn’t wrap up the session until after daybreak.
Republicans accused Democrats of using the tragedy to play on people’s emotions to pass contentious bills.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Maine rejects sweeping electric vehicle mandate in blow to governor's climate agendaThe State of Maine rejected a sweeping California-style electric vehicle mandate despite widespread calls from climate activists to pursue the regulations.
Read more »
Maine Legislature Revises Budget Proposal in Response to CriticismThe Democratic-led Maine Legislature's spending committee has revised its budget proposal after facing complaints from both Republicans and the Democratic governor. The revised version restores highway funding and pension benefits for retirees. Despite concerns about exceeding the governor's proposed budget update, the new version has her approval.
Read more »
Sweeping gun legislation awaits final votes as Maine lawmakers near adjournmentThe Maine Legislature is nearing adjournment with unfinished business, including final votes on a series of gun safety bills introduced after the deadliest shooting in state history
Read more »
Sweeping gun legislation awaits final votes as Maine lawmakers near adjournmentThe Maine Legislature is nearing adjournment with unfinished business, including final votes on a series of gun safety bills introduced after the deadliest shooting in state history. Legislators faced a Wednesday deadline for completing work.
Read more »
Sweeping gun legislation awaits final votes as Maine lawmakers near adjournmentAUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The Maine Legislature moved in fits and starts toward adjournment on Wednesday, with unfinished business including final votes on a
Read more »
Sweeping gun control bills awaiting final passage as Maine legislative session nears its endThe Maine Legislature is moving toward adjournment as several key proposals await final votes, including sweeping gun control measures introduced in response to the Lewiston shooting.
Read more »