Good morning from Augusta, where a high-profile bill in the Maine Legislature that would allow courts to temporarily take guns away from potentially dangerous people may be on its last legs after the sponsor made changes in an attempt to get it passed.
The bill would create a new “community protection order” allowing police or family members to ask judges to take guns from people who may be a danger to them. The so-called “red flag” bill is sponsored by Sen. Mark Dion, D-Portland, who is also running for governor. It had a bipartisan list of co-sponsors, including six Republicans.
Dion’s bill had a public hearing earlier this month, where it was backed by police chiefs. That included Ellsworth’s Glenn Moshier, who said it may have helped his department after a 19-year-old student who had access to guns was charged after he allegedly threatened a school shooting.
Moshier said in testimony that the student’s mother now claims to have sold the guns, but that can’t be verified. The bill was opposed by gun-rights groups including the National Rifle Association, which has opposed similar bills nationwide, and the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine.
The County is pleased to feature content from our sister company, Bangor Daily News. To read the rest of “Compromise on latest Maine gun control effort faces long odds,” an article by contributing Bangor Daily News, please follow this link to the BDN online.
