AUGUSTA - The Maine House of Representatives voted Thursday to advance a measure sponsored by Rep. Vicki Doudera, D-Camden, to protect Maine children from death and injury from loaded firearms. The measure, LD 759, would amend the child endangerment laws to include unauthorized access to firearms. The vote was 77-67.
Under current law, a person may be found guilty of endangering a child if they knowingly sell, furnish or give away certain harmful items to a child under 16 years of age, including intoxicating liquor, tobacco, air rifles, gunpowder, smokeless powder or ammunition for firearms. LD 759 amends the law to include leaving a loaded firearm where a child can access it. If an adult improperly stores a loaded firearm that can be used by a child, that adult will be considered to have endangered the child and may be subject to committing a Class D crime.
"It is a fact that young Maine children are getting their hands on loaded guns in their own homes, and are injuring themselves and others," said Doudera. "Studies show that approaches like LD 759 motivate adults to safely store their firearms and can prevent up to 32% of firearm deaths, including youth suicide."
Twenty-seven states, including New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, have taken similar actions to prevent children from accessing firearms, which have shown to reduce suicides, unintentional firearm deaths and injuries of children.
"This law is not for the responsible gun owners among us. It is for the children of the people who are not responsible," said Doudera. "Those children need us to make it crystal clear that loaded guns should not be left unsecured."
"We took a stand for Maine's children today," said Assistant House Majority Leader Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland, a co-sponsor of the measure. "I am grateful to Rep. Doudera for her leadership on this issue and to all the parents, grandparents and public health experts for their advocacy to protect our youngest neighbors and family members from gun violence."
During the public hearing, the bill received strong support from the Portland Police Chief, the Maine Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and others who work in law enforcement, education and medicine.
"Before I went to medical school, I served in the U.S. Navy," said Rep. Sam Zager, D-Portland, another co-sponsor of LD 759. "I qualified on several types of firearms, and was around safely stored weapons a lot. It was drilled into us at the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia how important safe storage is, and how a culture of firearm safety is essential. Protecting loved ones throughout Maine by fostering a culture of safer storage is at the heart of LD 759."
Doudera, a member of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee, is serving her second term in the Maine House. She chairs the Legislatures Gun Safety Caucus and represents House District 94, which includes Camden, Islesboro and Rockport.
Talbot Ross is in her third term in the Maine House and serves as Assistant House Majority Leader. She represents House District 40, part of Portland.
Zager, a member of the Health and Human Services Committee, served in the military for over a decade, with training in a variety of weapons, before returning to school and becoming a family physician. He is serving his first term in the Maine House and represents House District 41, part of Portland.
Contact:
Jackie Merrill [Doudera, Talbot Ross, Zager], c. 812-1111