The Maine Legislature is set to continue debate over LD 168, a bill that would require a “federally licensed firearms dealer” to facilitate “the sale, transfer or exchange” of a firearm unless the buyer and seller are family members.
Originally, the bill would have also allowed buyers and sellers to alternatively satisfy this requirement by obtaining a criminal background check from a “law enforcement agency,” but a House amendment struck this provision from the legislation.
The House narrowly approved the bill as amended by a roll call vote of 70-65. No Republicans voted for the bill.
Six Democrats joined the Republicans opposition: Rep. Ron Russell (D-Verona Island), Rep. Adam R. Lee (D-Auburn), Rep. H. Scott Landry Jr. (D-Farmington), Rep. Michel A. Lajoie (D-Lewiston), Rep. Jessica L. Fay (D-Raymond), and Rep. James F. Dill (D-Old Town).
On Tuesday, the Senate rejected the bill in a roll call vote of 13-21.
Consequently, LD 168 will be sent back down to the House where representatives will once again consider the measure.
The Maine Gun Safety Coalition testified in support of the bill before the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety.
“We support responsible gun ownership and many among us are gun owners ourselves. Our focus in on preventing injury and death; especially for our children. Our current laws allow domestic abusers to purchase guns without a background check. Unrestricted gun sales increase domestic violence deaths, homicides, and suicides,” they said.
The National Rifle Association testified in opposition to the legislation.
“Universal background check measures target law-abiding citizens. Criminals will violate these laws,” they said. “According to federal studies done by the Department of Justice of how prison inmates acquired firearms, less than 1% reported acquiring them at gun shows, and the vast majority acquired firearms on the black market, by straw purchase, or by theft.”
Several representatives spoke during the bill’s floor debate in the House.
Rep. Donald J. Ardell (R-Monticello) spoke in opposition to the bill.
“I thoughtfully ask this body to consider that if we want to force our constituents, Mainers, to ask permission to exercise our right to self defense in way that would only burn the law abiding and made no provision to affect crime or those who are prohibited from arms,” said Rep. Ardell.
Rep. Chad Richard Perkins (R-Dover Foxcroft) expressed a similar sentiment.
“LD 168 would result in further regulation of only law abiding Maine citizens while having no impact on public safety, violent crime, or gun deaths.
Rep. Perkins said multiple studies on the implementation of universal background checks show that such laws have no impact on their violent crime or firearm homicide rates alone.
California, Colorado, Delaware, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington currently require that all firearm sales and transfers be processed by a licensed dealer.
Additionally, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, and Virginia have variations of this law that ultimately result in a background check requirement for the vast majority of gun sales – and in some cases, gun transfers – occurring within the state.
I’m good with this, but where were all the Senate votes when it comes to murdering innocent babies for baby parts? The vote was the exact opposite in numbers. Anyone else notice that?
Concise & unbiased reporting. Thanks.
However ….
The important context that Maine is & has been always in the top safest states for “gun crimes” , per UCR, should have been noted.
An utterly unnecessary bill & waste of legislative time & citizens tax $ 💵.