SENATE REJECTS OPTIONAL BACKGROUND CHECKS

AUGUSTA—In a vote of 16 -19, the Maine Senate failed to support voluntary background checks for sellers who transfer ownership of a firearm in a private sale, which account for an estimated 40 percent of gun sales.

“Let’s stop trying protect people who can’t pass background checks,” said Senator Stan Gerzofsky of Brunswick, the chair of the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee. “This is a common-sense bill that will protect people who sell firearms so that they can be reassured they are not selling to someone prohibited under the law.”

The bill, if passed, would have imposed a civil fine of $500 if the seller does not perform a background check and the buyer is later discovered to be a prohibited person. Subsequent incidents would be considered misdemeanors, as would knowingly and intentionally selling to a prohibited person.

Nearly all background checks can be performed in less than 90 seconds and nearly 99 percent of Mainers live within 10 miles of a licensed gun dealer who can perform the check.

“No one who is legally able to have a gun will be prohibited from doing so,” Sen. Gerzofsky added. “This bill would have helped keep guns out of the hands of those who should not have them.”

LD 1240, “An Act to Promote the Safe Use and Sale of Firearms,” was previously passed by the House in a 78-66 vote and will now go to the House in “non-concurrence.”

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