The Maine House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a proposal to implement a required 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.
The bill from Sen. Peggy Rotundo (D-Lewiston), LD 2238, would require that a seller of a firearm not deliver a firearm to a buyer sooner than 72 hours after the sale agreement.
Under the proposed 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.
As set forth in the bill, the waiting period would not be required on firearm sales to law enforcement or corrections officers, contracted or private security guards, sale agreements between family members, or on the sale of curio, relic, or antique firearms.
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The waiting period would also not apply to sales for which a background check is not required under federal or state law.
A proposed amendment to the bill, sponsored by Rep. Adam Lee (D-Auburn) and Passamaquoddy Tribal Rep. Aaron Dana, would have added an exception for the waiting period requirement for buyers who are the plaintiffs in a protection from abuse or protection from harassment proceeding.
The House voted 74-73 Tuesday to pass the bill without the additional exception for protection order plaintiffs.
Just four Democratic Representatives voted against the bill: Reps. James Dill of Old Town, Scott Landry of Farmington, Ronald Russell of Verona Island, and Allison Helper of Woolwich.
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While proponents of the bill argue that the 72-hour waiting period will help prevent suicides, opponents claim that the bill would hinder victims of domestic violence and Mainers generally to defend themselves, and ignores the broader mental health issues underlying suicide.
Palermo Republican Rep. Katrina Smith said Tuesday that she “cannot in good conscience tell a woman who fears for her life that she has to wait 72 hours to feel safe.”
“I cannot tell her that she has to wait 72 hours to be able to defend her life, the lives of her children,” Rep. Smith said. “I cannot sleep at night knowing that I had any part in removing anyone’s right to defend their own life, especially knowing that they have already passed a background check.”
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“This [bill] here today is a facade,” Rep. Laurel Libby (R-Auburn) said in her remarks. “Allowing folks to pat themselves on the back for a job well done, that we’re doing something meaningful, meanwhile we are ignoring the festering wound that is mental health here in Maine.”
Several House Republicans spoke in opposition to the bill also due to a potential unintended consequence to Maine’s guided hunting industry, arguing that if the bill becomes law people from out-of-state would face an unnecessary hurdle to purchasing a firearm in Maine for their hunt.
Speaking in favor of the bill as a measure to reduce gun violence, Rep. Margaret Craven, D-Lewiston, said Tuesday that “sadly, the powerful gun lobby seems to have convinced people that access to guns is not the problem.”
“But I believe access to guns is the problem,” Rep. Craven said.
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In his floor remarks in opposition to the bill, Republican Rep. Steven Foster of Dexter said “in checking my State of Maine Constitution, I see that ‘every citizen has the right to keep and bear arms, and this right shall be questioned for 72 hours’ is not how it reads.”
The bill was also advanced through the Maine Senate on Friday by a single-vote margin, 18-17, with four Democratic Senators joining all Republicans in voting against its passage.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="27475 https://www.themainewire.com/?p=27475">8 Comments
We service Domestic Violence victims the same day they contact us when possible after our application process is completed.
911 didn’t save the day the first time; what makes Democrats in Augusta think 911 and a Protection of Abuse Order will protect them a second time?
Will asprin, knives, cast iron pans and hammers be next?
This is an incentive for Maine citizens to buy their firearms online ( Sale Agreement ), then go directly to their local FFL, who would’ve made the sale, to get the NICS check done once the firearm arrives 3, or 4 days later, and take it home ( Delivery ). The only thing this does is punish local gun dealers who would’ve otherwise made the sale as well. Apparently this democRAT administration won’t be happy until EVERYONE in Maine is on welfare ? Nice job dimwits !! Anyone else miss Paul LePage yet ? I sure do ! These democRATS HAVE TO GO.
Curious, how many shootings in Maine were by people who had bought a firearm within the last 72 prior to the crime? Your tax dollars at work.
All this does is screw law abiding citizens. Criminals will always get their guns. They couldn’t care less about a waiting period.
The few gun crimes that occur in Maine do not warrant such severe limits on the ability of law abiding citizens to exercise their Second Amendment rights. The Second Amendment is a right not a privilege.
Idiotic move by the Maine Legislature. Focusing on MENTAL HEALTH is what’s needed. This won’t stop gun violence in any way. It will cause more Mainers to lose jobs/businesses and drive out and away the sportsmen/sportswomen and vacationers that the state depends on for its livelihood. I hear MANY people say they won’t vacation here anymore because of the stupidity of the Maine Legislature and the TREASONOUS governor Mills, and I don’t blame them one bit. The anti-gun lobby got their foot in the door, and now Maine is screwed.
The method by which it passed reminds me of an AC-DC song “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”. Thank you Dim-ocrats!!