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GIFFORDS Responds to Maine Governor Vetoing Commonsense Gun Safety Bill

Washington DC — Today, GIFFORDS, the national gun violence prevention organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, expressed disappointment in Maine Governor Janet Mills for vetoing a commonsense gun safety bill that would have banned machine gun conversion devices, including bump stocks and autosears.

Emma Brown, GIFFORDS Executive Director

“In the months that followed a mass shooting in Lewiston where 18 people were killed, Mainers across the state said enough was enough. We were proud to work with them to pass multiple meaningful reforms that will save lives in Maine. But Governor Janet Mills fell short by vetoing a ban on devices that turn semi-automatic rifles into machine guns. Machine guns have no place on the streets of Maine. We know the gun safety victories from this session will propel us toward a red flag law and a bump stock ban in the future.”

Congresswoman Giffords had urged Governor Mills to take clear action, including signing the bump stock ban bill. The bill (LD 2086) would have applied to machine gun conversion devices, including bump stocks and autosears, that are designed to bypass laws that restrict automatic weapons. The bill was introduced after Mainers demanded action in the wake of the mass shooting in Lewiston.

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