Jared Golden, a Democratic congressman representing a predominantly rural district in Maine, has revised his stance on gun control measures following a mass shooting in Lewiston, his hometown. The tragic incident that claimed 18 lives made Golden reassess his previous opposition to a ban on semi-automatic weapons. He has now labelled his previous stance as a “failure”.
Golden, a former Marine Corps veteran, had been one of the few remaining Democrats in Congress who objected to extensive gun control measures. His district, which had twice voted for Donald Trump, was converted to a Democratic stronghold after his election in 2018.
Upon his arrival on Capitol Hill, Golden voted against numerous gun control measures, despite these being proposed by his own party. In fact, he was among the five Democratic representatives who stood against a proposed ban on assault-style weapons, passed by the House of Representatives in 2022. This proposed ban, however, did not become law.
Contrasting his previous position, Golden now urges the United States Congress to prohibit assault rifles, like the one used in the tragic event in Lewiston. He has requested “forgiveness” for his past resistance to gun control. Looking at the future, Golden has expressed a willingness to collaborate with any colleague to ensure stricter gun control measures are implemented during his remaining tenure in Congress.
On the other side, Maine’s moderate Republican Senator Susan Collins advocates for less drastic gun control measures, such as limitations on high-capacity magazines. US President Joe Biden, however, has urged his Republican colleagues, who hold the majority in the House, to prioritise the safety of the American citizens.
Historically, Biden, during his time as a Senate committee chairman, had spearheaded a campaign to restrict semi-automatic rifles in 1994. However, this ban expired after a decade and its effectiveness has been a topic of debate ever since.
In 2019, Maine implemented a “yellow flag” law, granting police officers the authority to request the removal of firearms from individuals perceived as a threat to themselves or others. This law, which requires a medical evaluation and the person to be taken into protective custody, is narrower in scope than “red flag” laws. The latter also allows family members, teachers, and others to make similar requests.
The application of the “yellow flag” law in relation to the suspect in the Lewiston shooting, reported to be suffering from severe mental health issues, remains unclear. According to a local newspaper, The Portland Press Herald, the law has been exercised 58 times over the past three years.
The right of Americans to own guns is protected under the Second Amendment of the US Constitution.
