Maine: Judiciary Chair Attempting to Block Vote on Waiting Period Repeal

The Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary, Sen. Anne Carney (D-Cumberland), is attempting to block LD 208, "An Act to Eliminate the 72-hour Waiting Period on Firearm Purchases," and LD 1203, "An Act to Abolish the 72-hour Waiting Period for a Gun Purchase," from receiving floor votes. These bills are scheduled to receive their unprecedented 5^th work session and committee vote today. NRA members and Second Amendment advocates are encouraged to click the TAKE ACTION button below to contact committee members NOW and urge them to send a waiting period bill to the floor for a vote.

Throughout this session, Sen. Carney, who has taken credit for leading the charge to pass Maine's unconstitutional waiting period law, has utilized her position of power to block these bills from receiving a floor vote. Carney has demanded that committee members vote "Ought Not To Pass" on one bill and "Carry Over" the other to next year. Pro-gun lawmakers have rejected this request, citing that they have no interest in voting against a repeal of waiting periods and concerns that the committee has already exceeded the allotted number of bills they are allowed to carry over.

Because these pro-gun lawmakers will not approve of her scheme to block a floor vote on these critical bills, Carney and her anti-gun allies have continued to table these bills so that there can be no discussion or votes on the bills. When asked if the continued tabling of these bills could result in these bills "dying on the table" and blocking a floor vote, Carney, an attorney and long-time chair of the Judiciary Committee, claimed that she "did not know." After reviewing the rules, Republicans confirmed that this rarely used procedure can, in fact, be used to kill bills without ever receiving a vote. 

These types of tactics should come as no surprise, as Senator Carney has repeatedly used her position to tip the scales in favor of gun control legislation. Just a few weeks ago, Senator Carney attempted to block David Trahan, Executive Director of the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine, from providing expert testimony after his presence was requested by lawmakers on the committee. Earlier in the session, she attempted to silence committee members, expert witnesses from the NRA and local federal firearm licensees, and the general public from speaking in support of firearm rights.

The motive for these tactics is clear: Senator Carney and her gun control allies are concerned that their fellow lawmakers will repeal this unconstitutional law. Contact committee members today and urge a vote on LD 208 and LD 1203!