Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine), who previously opposed an assault weapon ban, has now changed his stance following the deadly mass shooting in his state. The shooting, which occurred on Wednesday, resulted in the death of at least 18 people.
During a news conference on Thursday, Golden stated, “I have opposed efforts to ban deadly weapons of war. The time has now come for me to take responsibility for this failure. For the good of the community, I will work with any colleague to get this done.”
Golden: I have opposed efforts to ban deadly weapons of war like the assault rifle he used to carry out this crime. The time has now come for me to take responsibility for this failure. Which is why I now call on the United States congress to ban assault rifles pic.twitter.com/0k60XJQoaB
— Acyn (@Acyn) October 26, 2023
Golden, a Marine Corps veteran, represents a centrist district in Maine that includes Lewiston. The city is in shock after a gunman opened fire at a bowling alley and a restaurant, resulting in the deaths of at least 18 people and injuries to several others. Robert Card, the alleged perpetrator, is currently at large. An arrest warrant has been issued for him on multiple counts of murder.
The incident has reignited the debate on gun reform, as the assailant was seen carrying what appeared to be an AR-15-style rifle. Last year, the House passed legislation to ban certain types of semiautomatic firearms, but the proposal did not advance in the Senate.
Golden was one of only five House Democrats to vote against the ban last year. His change of heart comes as a surprise during this tragic time. He now urges the United States Congress to ban assault rifles, echoing his earlier statement that he had opposed such weapons.
Sen. (R-Maine) also addressed the press conference, emphasizing that she would not support an assault weapons ban. Collins, a centrist Republican, pointed out that Maine has a high rate of gun ownership but a relatively low rate of violence.
Collins stated, “What makes this crime so heinous is that in a typical year, Maine might have 22 murders, and last night we almost approached the number for the entire year.”
Instead, Collins will advocate for a ban on “very high capacity magazines” for firearms. She played a significant role in bipartisan negotiations on a gun safety bill last year following the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
Collins concluded, “There’s always more that can be done.”
