Carney

The Oct. 25, 2023, massacre in Lewiston turned out to be the deadliest mass shooting of the year, and in the top 10 deadliest mass shootings in our nation’s history. The Lewiston shooting cost 18 lives, and inflicted physical and emotional injuries to many. Tragedies remind us that Maine often feels like one big town and as we contemplate the one-year anniversary, we will reflect as individuals and communities on these losses.

In my role as state senator, I feel a profound responsibility to support the people of Lewiston and also to respond to your concerns and anger over gun violence in our state and community. As Senate Chair of the Maine Legislature’s Gun Safety Caucus, I have a leadership role in advocating for gun safety legislation to address the risks and reality of gun-related injury and death in our homes, schools and public spaces.

When the Legislature convened in January 2024, my colleagues and I committed to enacting the most protective legislation we could into law. We passed three crucial pieces of legislation; L.D. 2224, expanding the requirements for background checks to all advertised sales; L.D. 2238, requiring a 72-hour waiting period to receive a gun after purchase; and a portion of L.D. 2237, legislation aimed to create additional crisis receiving centers across the state and expand Maine’s Mental Health and Crisis Response Services, which was incorporated into the FY 2025 supplemental budget. These funds will be used to create an Office of Violence Prevention with a goal of early interference for those at risk as well as educating communities on gun safety.

I am thankful to everyone who called, wrote and testified in support of common sense gun safety legislation. I realize that for many of you the legislation we passed seems too little and too late. As the final report of the independent commission investigating the Lewiston shooting makes clear, our existing laws were not effective to prevent serious and obvious risks of violence. I was especially moved by the repeated efforts of Robert Card’s family to get law enforcement, and the Army Reserve, to respond to the threats of violence.

Additionally, just a few months into the school year, we’ve already seen schools closed due to threats and our children terrorized by fear of gun violence when they should be excited to learn. It is clear the laws we passed are basic building blocks, and that we need to continue our efforts to enact laws that are proven to reduce gun violence.

Maine has a natural resource-based economy. Hunting and outdoorsmanship are important to family traditions, dinner tables and budgets. Common sense gun safety legislation does not stand in the way of these traditions.

My Maine Senate Democratic colleagues and I have read the Lewiston commission report closely, and I sincerely hope all legislators will read it in preparation for the next session. While the report does not make policy recommendations, it does draw conclusions about our existing laws and can inform our next steps. I hope residents of Senate District 29 also read the report and share concerns and suggestions with me. Your participation is a crucial part of the legislative process and helps me ensure that your voice is heard in the State House.

Anne Carney represents Maine Senate District 29, which consists of Cape Elizabeth, South Portland and part of Scarborough. She can be reached at 207-287-1515 or Anne.Carney@legislature.maine.gov.