AUGUSTA - Tomorrow, March 5 at 9:30 a.m., House Democrats will hold a press conference in the Hall of Flags to rally for a safer Maine. The event will highlight the importance of enacting meaningful gun safety reform and public health measures this session, as the Legislature holds public hearings this week on a suite of legislation.
Together, the proposed legislation introduced by legislative Democrats last week seeks to build a safer Maine, both in response to the recent mass shooting in Lewiston and ongoing gun violence event's including suicide, homicide and violent crime. Those bills include:
- LD 2237, An Act to Strengthen Public Safety, Health and Well-being by Expanding Services and Coordinating Violence Prevention Resources, sponsored by House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross
- LD 2086, An Act to Amend the Law Governing the Disposition of Forfeited Firearms, sponsored by Sen. Anne Carney
- LD 2238, An Act to Address Gun Violence in Maine by Requiring a Waiting Period for Certain Firearm Purchases, sponsored by Sen. Peggy Rotundo
- LD 2224, An Act to Strengthen Public Safety by Improving Maine's Firearm Laws and Mental Health System, sponsored by Sen. Peggy Rotundo (Governor's bill)
The event's speaking lineup will include remarks from Speaker of the House Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland, Assistant Majority Leader Kristen Cloutier, D-Lewiston, and Rep. Vicki Doudera, D-Camden, House chair of the Legislature's Gun Safety Caucus, as well as advocates and individuals affected by gun violence.
WHAT:
House Democrats rally for a safer MaineWHO:
WHEN:House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross Assistant House Majority Leader Kristen Cloutier Representative Vicki Doudera Greg Marley, NAMI Maine senior clinical director of suicide prevention Arthur Barnard, whose son, Arthur Strout, was killed in the Lewiston mass shooting Tuesday, March 5 at 9:30 a.m.WHERE:Hall of Flags, Maine State House, Augusta, ME 04333Contact:Mary-Erin Casale [Talbot Ross], 207-415-4965
Brian Lee [Cloutier, Doudera], 305-965-2744