U.S. Representative Jared Golden from Maine’s 2nd District has publicly expressed his opposition to Governor Janet Mills’ primary response to the recent shooting incident in Lewiston. According to Golden, the measures proposed by the governor would not have made a significant impact in preventing this tragic event.
The bill’s critics revealed a clear division among Maine’s prominent Democrats, highlighting the contrasting viewpoints on the matter. Moreover, the governor’s office and the leader of a prominent gun-rights organization strongly condemned his remarks. These reactions demonstrate that the congressman, now in his third term, holds a unique stance on the contentious issue of guns.
Golden, who has previously voted against his party’s favored gun restrictions in Congress, had a change of heart after the tragic shooting in his hometown on October 25. The incident resulted in the loss of 18 lives and left 13 others injured. Consequently, he now supports a ban on what is commonly referred to as assault weapons. Republicans see this shift in stance as an opportunity to remove him from the conservative-leaning district during the upcoming November elections.
In her State of the State address last month, Mills unveiled her response to the tragedy by proposing several measures. These include expanding background checks for advertised gun sales, empowering the police to take individuals in protective custody under her “yellow flag” law, and imposing stricter penalties on those who sell firearms to ineligible individuals.
In an interview with WGAN on Wednesday, Golden expressed his criticism of the background check portion. However, he further elaborated on his concerns in a statement issued on Thursday. Golden highlighted that the shooter, Robert Card II, had passed a background check when purchasing the gun he used in the shooting back in July. He emphasized that merely making adjustments to the yellow flag law would not necessarily prevent future mass shooters.
In his statement, he expressed his opposition to a broad expansion of gun control that would impact all firearms and gun owners. Instead, he advocated for a thoughtful and essential dialogue on the lethality of specific types of firearms and the individuals who should be allowed access to them.
Both Mills and Golden have previously voiced their concerns regarding comprehensive background check proposals. Governor Mills discouraged members of her party from pursuing such measures in the years leading up to the shooting incident. Similarly, Congressman Golden diverged from his fellow Democrats on this issue shortly after taking office in 2019.
Mills acknowledged the critics on her left during her speech in January, stating that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to gun violence. However, she emphasized that her ideas were innovative and specifically designed to address the issue at hand. Currently, 29 states go beyond the federal law that requires licensed gun dealers to conduct background checks. However, no state restricts these mandates solely to advertised sales.
According to the governor’s spokesperson, Scott Ogden, Golden seems to have a limited understanding of the proposal. Ogden mentioned that only a small number of gun owners would be impacted by the restrictions on private sales. Additionally, he pointed out that if the amendments to the yellow flag law had been implemented earlier, the police might have been able to detain Card before the shooting incident took place.
Golden’s apparent opposition to these measures has left many puzzled, as expressed by the individual.
Card, a 40-year-old Army reservist from Bowdoin, had been experiencing a deterioration in his mental health for several months prior to the shooting incident. Law enforcement had received two separate complaints regarding his behavior. However, the Sagadahoc County sheriff’s office stated that they lacked sufficient information to utilize the yellow flag law, which permits police to consult with a mental health expert before seeking judicial approval to confiscate firearms from individuals deemed to be a threat.
The events leading up to the shooting are currently under investigation by multiple entities, including the Army, its inspector general, and a state commission comprised of members appointed by Mills and Attorney General Aaron Frey. In the coming month, Card’s Army colleagues will provide public testimony to the state commission.
The shooting in Maine has had a profound impact on the conversation surrounding guns in the state. Despite being controlled by Democrats, Maine has notably loose gun laws. However, this tragic event has prompted the Maine Gun Safety Coalition, a gun control group, to advocate for a comprehensive set of bills. Their proposed measures include an assault weapons ban, restrictions on high-capacity magazines, and universal background checks.
After his shift, Golden has proposed implementing a gun registration system similar to the one utilized in the Lewiston shooting, which involved a firearm akin to an AR-15. The two Republican candidates competing against him in the upcoming November elections, state Representatives Austin Theriault of Fort Kent and Mike Soboleski, have voiced their disapproval. Theriault emphasized the importance of prioritizing mental health in a statement released on Thursday.
In a meeting with the board of the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, Congressman Golden shared his perspective on Thursday. Golden emphasized that he recognizes the importance of protecting gun rights, a stance that aligns with the views of the organization. However, David Trahan, the executive director of the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, pointed out that Golden’s stance overlooks the fact that gun control groups are advocating for more significant restrictions, which Mills’ proposal could help mitigate.
According to Trahan, Jared has taken a stance in support of an extreme gun control measure, which contrasts with the governor’s more moderate approach. Trahan expresses confusion over Jared’s intentions, as he criticizes the governor’s measured approach.