By Dave Workman

Editor-in-Chief

Maine’s Democrat Gov. Janet Mills has signed what ABC News is describing as “a suite of gun safety legislation” passed by the Democrat-controlled legislature in response to last October’s mass shooting incident in Lewiston.

It was just over one week ago the legislature passed bills requiring background checks for private sales on the Internet, plus changes to the state’s “yellow flag” statute.

In a statement from the Governor’s Office, Mills said, “This law represents important, meaningful progress, without trampling on anybody’s rights, and it will better protect public safety by implementing reasonable reforms and by significantly expanding mental health resources. One day after the six-month anniversary of the tragedy, I am proud to say that we have taken this prudent action.”

Eighteen people were murdered last October by a man armed with a semiautomatic rifle at two separate locations. The killer subsequently took his own life.

Maine Lawmakers Pass Gun Control Bills Including 3-Day Wait

Gov. Mills also signed a supplemental budget which includes $100,000 to “enhance the promotion of Maine’s Safe Homes Program, which encourages Maine people to safely store firearms and highlights programs that make safe storage more affordable, like the tax exemption, passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor, for devices specifically designed to secure firearms.” The Safe Homes Program was created by in 2022.

Maine is a state with a deep tradition of gun ownership and hunting. The full political ramifications of this move may not be known until November, but as noted by Yahoo News and the Associated Press, the legislation was opposed by Republicans.

Gun control proponents have called Mills’ action a “victory for the gun violence prevention movement.”