Title: Maine Congressman Jared Golden Supports Assault Weapons Ban After Deadly Shootings in Hometown
In a heartfelt news conference held in his hometown of Lewiston, Maine, Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat, expressed regret for his past opposition to an assault weapons ban and announced his newfound support for such a prohibition. This change in stance follows the horrifying shooting incident that claimed the lives of at least 18 people and left 13 others injured on Wednesday night in Maine.
Golden, who had previously enjoyed an A+ rating from gun rights advocates, acknowledged his failure and called upon the United States Congress to take immediate action in banning assault rifles. Speaking to the victims and their families, he humbly asked for forgiveness and support as he seeks to put an end to these devastating incidents.
Expressing shock and disbelief, Golden admitted, “I had the false confidence that our community was above this.” He added that he never believed a mass killing like the one that occurred in his hometown could happen in Maine, a state known for its remarkably low violent crime rate.
Last year, House Democrats narrowly passed an assault weapons ban for the first time in approximately three decades. However, Golden, who represents a competitive swing district and belongs to the moderate group of Blue Dog Democrats, was among five House Democrats who voted against the ban. Unfortunately, the legislation never made it to a Senate vote.
Given the current political scenario in the Republican-led House, it seems unlikely that a similar ban would move forward in this Congress. However, Golden’s change of heart on the issue has received praise from fellow Democrats. Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), who previously organized with the gun control advocacy group March for Our Lives, commended Golden’s courage in admitting his past mistakes.
Meanwhile, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) was pressed at the news conference about her stance on an assault weapons ban. Collins responded by stating that she believes it is “more important” and more effective to ban “very high-capacity magazines.”
The recent shooting incident has brought Maine’s loose gun laws into question, with renewed focus on the state’s yellow flag law, which allows temporary firearm confiscation in high-risk situations. Collins revealed that a yellow flag should have been triggered in the suspect’s case if he had been hospitalized for two weeks due to mental illness. She emphasized that he should have been separated from his weapons.
As the search for shooting suspect Robert Card continues, Maine remains in shock over the deadliest shooting incident in the United States this year. The shootings occurred at Just-In-Time Recreation, formerly known as Sparetime Recreation, and Schemengees Bar and Grille, located about four miles apart.
The troubling incident has stirred public debate and called attention to the urgent need for stricter gun control measures. Rep. Jared Golden’s change of heart on the issue serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating consequences of America’s ongoing gun violence epidemic.