AUGUSTA (NEWS CENTER Maine)-- The gun control advocacy group Moms Demand Action took their cause to the Maine State House in the form of an informational advocacy day for open discussions with lawmakers to urge them to enact common sense gun laws. However, not all lawmakers believe their fight is grounded in Maine's best interest.
The Maine chapter of MDA is calling for Maine legislators to ban bump stocks, enforce background checks, and support a bill set for public hearing on Tuesday. The community protection bill, referred to as the "Red Flag" bill and backed by Sen. Mark Dion (District 28), would allow a court to seize a person's firearms for a temporary period of time if it can be proven that person poses a danger to other or him or herself.
However, Sen. Eric Brakey (District 20) said Maine is already one of the safest states in the country and he attributes part of the reason for that safety to the legal ability of it's citizens to keep and carry firearms. Brakey said gun restrictions would harm more law-abiding gun owners than it would stop criminals from causing harm.
Brakey said the second amendment is about "law-abiding citizens being able to defend themselves."
He added, "When we take those rights away, we're not taking them away from criminals because criminals don't care what laws we pass."
A public hearing on the "Red Flag" bill be held at 1pm at the State House on Tuesday.