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Governor Janet Mills Signs Gun Safety Laws Following Deadliest Mass Shooting in State History

The democratic governor Janet Mills has signed into law a suite of gun safety legislation following the deadliest mass shooting in state history. The measures will expand background checks for private sales, bolster the “yellow flag” law, criminalise transferring guns to prohibited people and increase mental health crisis care services. At her State of the State address in October Mills told legislators that doing nothing was not an option after a shooting left 18 dead and injured another 13 in Lewiston on Oct. 25. The bills drew opposition from Republicans who accused Democrats, who control both chambers, of using tragedy to advance proposals previously defeated but Governor Janet Mills has maintained they represent “reasonable reforms” without compromising traditional gun ownership rights or outdoor heritage values. Under the new law private sellers will be required to conduct background checks through licensed businesses such as L.L Bean and Cabela’s if advertising guns for sale online, while changes to Maine’s yellow flag law mean police can now go directly to a judge rather than requiring face-to-face meetings with individuals in psychiatric crisis that are currently necessary under existing legislation. Republicans remain opposed specifically because of the expanded background check proposal which they say will create confusion among law abiding Mainers, while supporters have welcomed its approval as a victory for gun violence prevention advocates and hopeful other new measures approved by legislators may soon become law too. The governor’s office also announced that legal standards for prosecution and penalties would be strengthened to deter people from selling weapons to prohibited buyers making it now a felony crime. Governor Janet Mills additionally proposed the creation of a violence and injury prevention programme which will require Maine’s Centre for Disease Control (CDC) to serve as a clearinghouse for data on law enforcement, hospitals, schools and other sources in order to inform public policy decisions while her proposal for crisis centres would build upon existing facilities already operating in Portland and central Maine.

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