Maine Republicans Hope to Repeal Waiting Limit on Gun Purchases

“I’m sorry, but there’s a 72-hour waiting period on new and used car sales. Too many drunk drivers, you understand.”

Think of how insane that would sound if you were trying to buy a car. You’re not a drunk driver, after all, so why are you being punished for the actions of others?

However, Maine did that recently with their response to Lewiston. They enacted a 72-hour waiting period for gun purchases, which is weird since the Lewiston killer had owned his guns for years–which just goes to show you that the “response” to mass murders is really just the stuff anti-gun lawmakers wanted all along.

Now, though, a couple of Maine lawmakers are hoping to undo that particular wrong.

Republican lawmakers in Maine, led by House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham, are advocating for the repeal of the state’s 72-hour waiting period for firearm purchases.

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Faulkingham and other Republican representatives, including Donald Ardell, argue that the waiting period infringes on Mainers’ rights to own and bear arms.

“This is a part of a playlist to attack our gun rights,” Ardell said.

Gun rights groups, such as Gun Owners of Maine, support the repeal.

“Gun Owners of Maine is in full support of the proposed legislation to repeal the unconstitutional 72-Hour Waiting Period law that was passed last legislative session. Seven out of ten people purchasing a firearm already have one in their possession, so the argument that this law prevents suicide and other acts of violence is absurd. When a Maine resident passes a background check, making them wait an additional 72 hours to take possession of their legal purchase is an infringement on their rights and we strongly oppose such a wait.”

Despite the push for repeal, the law was initially passed with bipartisan support. Dave Saint Laurent, a Lewiston native, believes the law is beneficial.

“Anything that we can do to prevent people from hurting other people is a beneficial thing for all of us,” Saint Laurent said.

Proponents also claim that it’s meant to reduce suicides, though at best it’ll just push someone to try another method of taking their own life, so I’m unconvinced that this remotely has a real impact on suicides at all.

Still, let’s talk about Saint Laurent’s argument here. The idea that anything we can do to prevent people from hurting others is worthwhile.

That’s a complete and absolute load of BS.

I mean, on the surface, sure, but gun control doesn’t do that. A waiting period doesn’t actually do that.

Most mass murders, for example, aren’t spur-of-the-moment decisions. They’re planned out well in advance. The individuals who carry these out are more than willing to wait 72 hours or even longer. Hell, Virginia Tech was a mass murder where the killer bought two handguns for the “event” in a gun-rationing state. He had no problem waiting a month for the second handgun.

All this law does is make it harder for law-abiding folks to get guns. There are better ways to accomplish literally everything this law is supposed to do, and do so without trampling on people’s rights.

While Maine has a long history as a blue state, it also had a long history of being pretty good on guns. Some lawmakers may decide they were wrong and vote to repeal the measure. It’s not likely, though, considering how the Democratic Party is these days.

I wish them luck, though. I hope they’re successful.