Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
The Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine (SAM) has announced plans to file a lawsuit against the state following Gov. Janet Mills’ decision to let a bill instituting a 72-hour waiting period for gun purchases become law without her signature.
The governor, who has collaborated with the Alliance’s executive director, David Trahan, on gun policy issues recently, opted neither to veto nor to sign the bill, effectively allowing it to pass.
Trahan expressed his surprise and disappointment over the governor’s decision, highlighting the significant impact he believes the new law will have on both public safety and the local economy.
“It impacts potential victims of crime, our economy, and outfits like Kittery Trading Post, Old Town Trading Post that will be severely impacted,” Trahan told News Center Maine.
He added, “We might as well say we’ll never have another gun show in Maine.”
SEE ALSO: Al Capone’s Favorite Gun Hits the Auction Block
While the new law has sparked controversy and legal action, Bloomberg-funded supporters claim that it will save lives by reducing violent crimes and suicides in Maine.
“Waiting periods before firearm purchases becoming law today builds on our victory from last week – both which are crucial steps forward to keep Maine safer from gun violence,” said Alisa Conroy Morton, a volunteer with the Maine chapter of Moms Demand Action in a press release obtained by GunsAmerica.
Mills this week also vetoed a bill that sought to ban the possession and sale of bump stocks and auto sears.
But last week she signed legislation to require background checks for all advertised sales and purchases at gun shows. The state will also spend $127.4 million to create a “violence prevention office.”
In a statement explaining her neutral stance on the waiting period bill, Gov. Mills (D) expressed her hope that the law would achieve its intended purpose.
Mills wrote, in part, “I hope it can be implemented to accomplish its intended goal of preventing suicide by firearm without overburdening our outdoor sports economy and the rights of responsible gun owners and dealers.”
Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine is actively seeking donations to help fight this waiting period law. Those interested should send money to:
- SAM ILA
- 205 Church Hill Road
- Augusta Maine 04330
In the memo line put “Challenge 72 hour.”
*** Buy and Sell on GunsAmerica! All Local Sales are FREE! ***
I do believe The sportsman’s alliance of Maine helped draft Maines yellow flag law. Looks like their appeasement didn’t work. Their governor and legislative buddies turned on them.
As far as a 72 hour waiting period goes it won’t do a thing to stop crime or suicide. Most every household in Maine has at least one gun. How is waiting 72 hours going to prevent them from using the one they already have. Not to mention a good number of our suicides are from people jumping off bridges.
Just how rampant is the ownership of auto-sears in Maine that the need a specific law for them? Isn’t the ATF regulation enough?
Here in Washington State we have a similar law. No firearm can be transferred until a 10 working day period has elapsed. This means that you must wait over two weeks for a firearm. So if I purchase a gun on Monday the 1st, I can not take possession until Tuesday the 16th, that is as long as there are no holidays during that period.
When this law first went into effect a local Gun Shop, that is out of business now, transferred a gun on the 10th day instead of the 11th. The new owner went home and promptly killed himself with the firearm. An investigation by Local and Federal agencies determined the firearm was transferred illegally. Does anyone actually believe the outcome would have been any different if the individual received the firearm a day later? The individual gets home with his new gun on the 11th day and decides; “I am so glad that I didn’t get this gun yesterday, if so I may have killed myself with it”.
The law isn’t a cooling off period it is a deterrent/roadblock to exercising your 2nd Amendment rights.
Serious question:
How does a waiting period prevent any crimes or suicide?
It doesn’t, but it makes lefties all warm and fuzzy inside.