In the aftermath of the tragic mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, the state’s conservative Democratic representative, Jared Golden, stunned constituents by reversing his stance on an assault weapons ban. This move has shifted the focus onto Maine’s senators, Susan Collins (a moderate Republican) and Angus King (a Democrat-leaning independent), both of whom are skeptical about banning military-style rifles.
Golden’s change of heart has increased pressure on the senators, known for their centrist positions and past bipartisan compromises, including gun safety legislation passed after the Uvalde, Texas tragedy. While Collins has faced criticism from Democrats regarding her moderate stance, King has stood with Republicans on certain gun control issues.
In response to the shooting, King proposed legislation that focuses on the functionality of guns rather than their appearance. His bill mandates that semiautomatic rifles have a fixed, permanent magazine with a capacity of no more than 10 bullets, preventing shooters from using high-capacity magazines. Additionally, King’s legislation aims to permanently ban “bump stocks” and explores bullet design modifications to reduce a rifle’s lethality.
Collins, the last Republican senator to support near-universal background checks in 2013, remains opposed to the assault weapons ban currently pending in the Senate. She does, however, advocate for banning bump stocks and high-capacity magazines. Maine, despite being a state with high gun ownership, has a “yellow flag” law allowing law enforcement to detain mentally ill individuals deemed a threat. However, Collins highlighted a need to examine why this law didn’t prevent the Lewiston tragedy.
While discussions about an assault weapons ban continue, the political landscape currently favors gun rights, with the Senate’s majority held by Democrats and Republicans controlling the House. The recent vote limiting the secretary of veterans affairs’ authority to refer veterans’ mental health issues to the background check system indicates the prevailing sentiment against gun control.
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