Maine Legislature Holds the Line Against Attacks on Lifesaving Gun Safety Laws; Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action Respond

AUGUSTA, ME - The Maine chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety's grassroots network, issued the following statements today celebrating the conclusion of the 2026 legislative session. Despite efforts by extremist lawmakers to roll back the state's critical gun safety protections, the Maine legislature successfully defeated attempts to repeal the 72-hour waiting period law and the newly enacted "Red Flag" law-an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) policy approved by over 63% of Maine voters via ballot initiative last November.

Both of these lifesaving measures were championed by advocates and survivors following the 2023 mass shooting in Lewiston, which claimed 18 lives and injured 13 others. The failure of these repeal efforts ensures that Maine remains on a path toward progress rather than returning to a status quo of inaction.

"Attempts to gut these common-sense laws were a slap in the face to survivors of the deadly mass shooting in Lewiston, and every family in Maine that has been touched by gun violence," said Lindsay Harford, a volunteer with the Maine chapter of Moms Demand Action. "While we are relieved these rollbacks failed, the reality is that we never should have had to fight this battle in the first place. Mainers have made it crystal clear-at the ballot box and in the halls of the State House-that they want stronger gun safety laws, not fewer. We are especially grateful to our champions in the House who stood firm against extremist pressure to dismantle the protections we fought so hard to secure."

"For my generation, gun violence isn't a political debate, it's a constant threat that we've spent our lives organizing against," said Jaidyn Stultz, a volunteer with the Freeport High School group of Students Demand Action. "Mainers have made it crystal clear that we want stronger gun safety laws, and we are relieved to see that our leaders chose to respect that mandate. It is exhausting to have to defend basic safety measures that the majority of our state already agreed on, but we'll continue to show up at the State House to make sure Maine never moves backward."

While the session featured moments of uncertainty, the final outcome reinforces Maine's commitment to evidence-based gun safety. Research consistently shows that states with waiting periods and extreme risk laws see lower rates of gun-related tragedy.