AUGUSTA, Maine – Maine lawmakers returning to work at the state House are facing the aftermath of the deadliest mass shooting in Maine’s history. The tribute to the victims of the Lewiston shooting will set the tone for the upcoming session, which will address various gun safety proposals. The Maine Gun Safety Coalition is planning a demonstration in the Hall of Flags to express support for the victims and their families.
The first order of business for lawmakers returning to work at the state House is to honor the victims, survivors, and first responders following the deadliest mass shooting in Maine’s history. The Lewiston shooting tribute is expected to set the tone for a session that will include several gun safety proposals, including potential changes to the state’s so-called yellow flag law, which allows a judge to remove guns from someone in a mental health crisis. The Maine Gun Safety Coalition planned a demonstration in the Hall of Flags to show support for victims and their families.
Also on the agenda for lawmakers is a request to impeach Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, who denied Republican former President Donald Trump a spot on the state’s primary ballot over his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. It was unclear how the impeachment process would play out in the Democratic-controlled Legislature, with a vote to proceed in the House being the first hurdle and a trial in the Senate in the unlikely event there were enough votes to proceed.
Lawmakers planned to consider bills carried over from the last session, including a proposal to give greater sovereignty to Native American tribes in the state and another to amend the Maine Constitution to enshrine the right to an abortion, along with hundreds of other old and new bills. They also will have to decide how to deal with a supplemental budget that’s expected to top $100 million.
In conclusion, the Maine lawmakers are returning to address the aftermath of the deadliest mass shooting in the state’s history, along with a range of gun safety proposals and other legislative matters on the agenda. The session will also include considerations for impeachment and various bills carried over from the last session.