Just over a month since a mass shooting in Lewiston claimed the lives of 18 people, independent U.S. Sen. Angus King announced Thursday that he will be introducing legislation aimed at curbing mass killings and gun violence.
The bill, the “Gas-Operated Semi-Automatic Firearms Exclusion (GOSAFE) Act,” increases regulations and restrictions on the sale, transfer, and manufacture of gas-operated semi-automatic weapons.
The legislation is being co-sponsored by two Democratic Senators, Mark Kelly of Arizona and Michael Bennet of Colorado.
“For years, I have said that rather than using the appearance of these guns to restrict them, we should instead focus on how these weapons actually work and the features that make them especially dangerous,” Sen. King said Thursday.
King, who was propelled into his first political office as governor of Maine with the support of an unlikely endorsement from the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, has historically cast himself as an ally of gun owners and Maine hunters.
The GOSAFE Act would establish a list of prohibited firearms, prevent unlawful modifications of permissible firearms, mandate that future gas-operated designs are approved before manufacture, and prevent firearm self-assembly and manufacturing.
Nothing in King’s bill would restrict the firearms, magazines, or ammunition, that federal agents — like employees of the Internal Revenue Service — are allowed to wield.
King says these restrictions address “the lethal capacity weapons like the one used in Lewiston and most of the deadliest mass shootings across the country.”
“Nothing can bring back the lives of our family and friends, but responsible actions moving forward can reduce the likelihood of such a nightmare happening again in Maine or anywhere else,” he added.
The bill would also limit high-capacity ammunition devices — limiting the number of rounds such devices are permitted to carry to 10 rounds or fewer, and would make semi-automatic to automatic conversion devices, including bump stocks and Glock switches, illegal.
King’s GOSAFE Act would limit rifles and shotguns to 10 rounds or less, and handguns to 15 rounds or less.
Under the bill those capacity limitations must be “permanently fixed,” meaning the firearm cannot accept a detachable, high-capacity magazine.
In order to protect Americans’ “constitutional right to own a gun based on a firearm’s established used for self-defense, hunting, and sporting purposes,” certain exemptions are included in the bill based on a firearms’ classification: a rifle, shotgun, or handgun.
Exemptions include:
- .22 caliber rimfire or less firearms
- Bolt action rifles
- Semi-automatic shotguns
- Recoil-operated handguns
- Any rifle with a permanently fixed magazine of 10 rounds or less
- Any shotgun with a permanently fixed magazine of 10 rounds or less
- Any handgun with a permanently fixed magazine of 15 rounds or less
The GOSAFE Act also proposes establishing a voluntary gun buy-back program, allowing firearm owners to voluntarily turn over their firearms that would be non-transferrable as defined by the legislation in exchange for compensation.
“Angus King is attacking the rights of the people he’s getting paid a lot of money to represent. Mainers should speak out against this power grab,” Maine GOP Chairman Joel Stetkis said in a statement on Sen. King’s bill Thursday.
“This bill will not pass for two reasons: Because Angus King is a terrible legislator with no accomplishments, and because attacking the rights of Mainers who want to defend themselves has always been a bad idea,” Stetkis said.
“It’s more likely that Maine gets no snow this winter than Angus King passes any substantial legislation,” he added. “He should resign and let someone who will do literally anything to help Mainers run for his seat.”
This story was updated to include a statement from Maine GOP Chairman Joel Stetkis.
Yet another “useful idiot” speaks.
Agreed .
He’s not interested in saving unborn lives, though. Hypocrisy at its finest.
As the saying goes, “never let a good crisis go to waste”. Our fake independent senator is doing the lefts bidding to take away our constitutional right to bear arms. A right that was put in place as a protection against a tyrannical government. Like the one we have now. There are two issues likely to slip by most I find troubling. If I read it correctly (hopefully I am wrong) the magazine limit on handguns is 15 bullets as long as the magazine is “fixed”. Meaning it cannot be removed. Most handguns other than micro guns have a magazine capacity of 15 to 17 bullets. Meaning, if I am correct, most semi automatic handguns are about to be illegal. The other part most concerning to me is the exception for government employees like our newly created IRS agents. Tyranny at its best. Thanks Brandon. Thanks Angus. Please do us all a favor and at least be honest and declare yourself a demoncrat. Yes, I spelled that as I meant it.
How about GOF…KYOURSAFE you liberal piece of trash.
King is such a do nothing. He knows, just like the rest of us, this is DOA both in congress and the courts. Simple political grandstanding.
As I see it, our elected officials swear an oath to uphold the constitution- damn well past time we take this seriously.
King says these restrictions address “the lethal capacity weapons like the one used in Lewiston and most of the deadliest mass shootings across the country.”
Note to Angus:
Majority “mass shootings” are not people using long guns it’s handguns. He’s literally repeating the incorrect talking points of the gun-grabbers. Also Angus, please explain to everyone about the magical mythical 10 round limit. Here’s a brilliant idea for you Angus, why not go the route of Andy Griffin limiting Barney to 1 round…stored in his pocket?
…Gagnus King is kindly invited to go-phuk-yourself!
Anus king is an idiot, he should stick to screwing over Maine citizens with his windmill projects and leave my guns alone. The only people his “act” will effect is law abiding citizens, the whack job thugs out there don’t care about what the law says!
This non Mainer needs to go back to Virginia from whence he came. Just another friggin carpet bagger in the tradition of the democrat’s party.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) defined mass shooting as someone who kills or wounds four or more people in a single incident (not including himself). Most of what law enforcement define as “mass shooting” occurs in large cities or cities with heavy gang violence. Thugs will spray bullets into a crowd targeting one individual. Chicago (aka Chiraq) regularly makes headlines but it is 100% referred to as “gang violence”.
Street gangs and cartels dont buy their guns at Dicks or Cabela’s. They buy them from the government (fast n furious and Stephen Paddock), rob gun shops, or build ghost guns with CNC. If I want a gun it requires background checks, purchasing a conceal permit (if your state allows), exposure to “red flag” harassing, added to a database, and any felony charge will permanently ban me from ever owning one. Which of those laws do violent criminals adhere? Who would be most affected by this legislation?
Nothing about “gas operated” makes it more dangerous than anything else. He should refer to recent SCOTUS decisions.
Angus King – Saving lives now and in the future except for the unborn
How is this guy a senator? He’s either a moron or he’s a communist. He literally has to take an oath to defend the US constitution when he’s sworn in, then knowingly violates it by sponsoring unconstitutional legislation. This in and of itself should be grounds for impeachment and removal. WTF is going on in America these days.
What this country needs instead of gun control is the death penalty, within two-years of conviction. If the perp dies during the shooting, the nearest relative, (parent or oldest living sibling) stands trial and if convicted, serves minimum five-years, for the poor upbringing of the shooter. Leftist, bleeding heart Democrats have watered down the justice system, including the death penalty. But they don’t blink an eye when it comes to the death penalty of innocent, unborn babies.
I’m from the government and I’m here to keep you safe. Yeah….right….
His weird squint is tighter than Joe Scarborough’s!
Time to feed the hogs.
What part of “…shall not be infringed.” does this leftist idiot not understand?
Moan labe dbag
We have a Constitutional right to the same firepower that anyone form the government has, period. That is to protect us from them. The government is afraid of citizenry, that is why they want to reduce our capacity to defend ourselves.
The government should do what is is chartered to do, that is protect citizens from individuals who are dangerous. That means open up mental institutions and lock people up who are a danger to society. The bs excuse of a red flag low is ludicrous. If a person is too dangerous to posses a gun, then they are too dangerous to be among the citizenry.
I have never seen the streets less safe with homeless, illegal aliens, drug addicts roaming the streets since Democrats have been in power.
I parked at a Dentist appointment in Waterville and was approached by a homeless BUM in my car as I parked. I have never seen this before in Maine. My wife and I have carry everywhere we go now. Shameful.
Thanks Angus and your liberal friends. Great job you idiot.
Angus=Meathead!!
All these politicians, government people, and media try to take our guns. These entities use mass killings by guns as a cause, but in other times there have been mass killings by other ways such as vehicles, planes, and bombs. It is clear by the Constitution and set by the Supreme Court that all US citizens are allowed guns so the question is why are they? I tend to think they are doing it based on history of a unarmed populace cannot fight against what the government decides to do to it.
Demoncrats the gift that keeps on taking.
Save life’s, phfsst, when you stop supporting abortion on demand up to and including after birth, I’ll take you seriously. Not until.
Also thanks the pos Kelly from Arizona!
“…..SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED.”
Any bets that his name is in Epstein’s black book? They reason they refuse to release it is they are using it for blackmail.
Mainers, please don’t elect fools like King. You have thousands of law abiding gun owners. Take this crap to the courts today.
How would you reload a glock or any other handgun with a fixed magazine?
Here we go AGAIN.
Qualified immunity is the true curse of this nation. Winning a popularity contest to govern should not be a license to defecate on the Law of the Land, sworn to uphold, and implement whateverhoweverwhenever tyranny with impunity.
The remedy is plain: those who egregiously and aggressively conspire and attack the plain, enumerated civil rights of American citizens should be imprisoned or executed for their seditious, anti-constitutional crimes.
Unless or until these punishments are applied, we are simply engaged in repeated political m*st*rbation before the courts as these seditious, anti-constitutional actors continue in their crimes against American citizens.
That is my TED talk. Thank you.
Hey Angus King, FU@K YOU!
How about focusing on the person pulling the trigger instead of a hunk of metal. Need to reopen mental institutions, keep criminals behind bars instead of letting them out before the police report is even finished. Make parents responsible if their precious little one shoots or robs or kills someone.
Molon labe Senator …
Professor John Frary once said Angus King’s intellect is a mile wide and 1/4 inch deep.
Sen King better worry about his angus when he ends up at Gitmo. He is totally involved in targeting speech of Americans online and there is sauce that proves his violation of the 1st Amendment. I wonder what dirt the DS has on him? Maybe he is worried, like Durdin, of the Epstein contacts being released. All of these asshats are “Compromised” and it’s only a matter of time before they are exposed for all to see. NCSWIC
First this is a Privileged Person, best home, best schools. Majors in basket weaving finger painting degree for a BA then Law school..right in the middle of the Vietnam war. Did he get an educational deferment while your under privileged kid was killed? Note: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. Apparent Law schools do not teach the constitution.
The only thing that makes firearms dangerous are the criminals who use them. We don’t need more gun control, we need more criminal control.
KING IS A COWARD
He should have held a Maine town hall on his assault on America.
Well we had 50+ Mainers killed by his open border policy just last month alone. Our politicians Collins, King, Pingree and Golden are responsible for the mass murders of Mainers every day. They do not care about saving lives, only enriching themselves.
My aunt was his eldest childs teacher. When he left his first wife and kids the mom sent a note informing her that her son was the new man of the house. Such a stand up guy. Trump#1 Epstein didn’t kill himself 😊
Do you know the difference between Angus King and a horses’ arse?
Who voted for this guy? He just wants his picture and proposal out in the media. He and his staff’s attitude is just so cold and calculating. He is yet another person I’ve known since the 80’s. This press release was based on “poles” not on what is right or wrong. It’s designed to garner votes which means there are a lot of Mainers who agree and will vote for him So we have lived and are living through a gut wrenching tragedy and he is looking for votes. Very cold
Yo Dingus…..enforce the laws that are ALREADY on the books.
Go grandstanding on some other issue.
Had enough yet? ………..
KING IS A COWARD
He should have held a Maine townhall detailing his assault on America
Maine’s constitution states clearly that a right of a citizen to keep and bear arms SHALL NEVER BE QUESTIONED. Perhaps it is time to amend this part of our constitution to include that any public servant, and I use that term very loosely where it concerns King, will immediately be removed from office for not upholding their oath to both the federal, and/or state constitutions.
I would add as well that I have heard the audio recordings of this shooting, and the weapon used was operating in three burst mode which means that the shooter either had a automatic weapons license, or had modified the rifle illegally. Either way existing laws were violated.
King’s legislation does not address the real issue in the Lewiston shooter case which was his mental condition which again was suppose to be addressed within the yellow flag laws that the state currently has in place. Why is it every time the government fucks up what they are suppose to do that the law abiding citizen is the one who is expected to pay the price?
Kenneth Felton on December 1, 2023 11:41 PM
The only thing that makes firearms dangerous are the criminals who use them. We don’t need more gun control, we need more criminal control.
Amen!
Bob on December 1, 2023 8:48 AM
Anus king is an idiot, he should stick to screwing over Maine citizens with his windmill projects and leave my guns alone. The only people his “act” will effect is law abiding citizens, the whack job thugs out there don’t care about what the law says
AMEN again
Where is Preston Brooks when we need him?
Sic semper tyrannis!