With eleventh hour guidance from the state, Maine gun retailers on Friday began requiring a three-day wait period for gun purchases under one of the new safety laws adopted following the state’s deadliest mass shooting.
Maine joins a dozen other states with similar laws, requiring that buyers wait 72 hours to complete a purchase and retrieve a weapon. The law is among several gun-related bills adopted after an Army reservist killed 18 people and injured 13 others on Oct. 25, 2023, in Lewiston.
The new law wouldn’t have prevented the tragedy — the gunman bought his guns legally months earlier — but Friday’s milestone was celebrated by gun safety advocates who believe it will prevent gun deaths by providing a cooling-off period for people intent on buying a gun to do harm to others or themselves.
Gun store owners complained about the guidance, released just Tuesday, and the loss of sales to out-of-state visitors during Maine’s busy summer tourism season. They also said the waiting period will take a toll on gun shows.
I am once again asking for recognition that the primary drivers of violence like this are socioeconomic inequality and lack of mental health care
Other nations struggle with those issues too but don’t have the same problem with gun violence. I wonder why?
I agree with you but other nations is vague. If by other nations you are comparing us to other very developed nations (Ex Europe) I would counter that the US has these issues to a way more extreme degree.
If you look at the UK for example, there are areas of high poverty and access to mental health care is practically nonexistent. I wouldn’t describe the difference between the UK and the US on these issues as “way more extreme”.
The biggest difference is access to firearms.
Sure wish the people who wanted to make guns as easy to get as possible weren’t saying the same thing while also stamping out any initiative to address these issues and defunding any existing ones.
Me too, bud. Me too.