Maine poised to pass gun safety bills after deadliest shooting in state history

Bill strengthens ‘yellow flag’ law, boosts background checks and makes it a crime to recklessly sell guns to a prohibited person

After experiencing the deadliest mass shooting in the state’s history last year, Maine is poised to pass a series of new gun safety bills meant to minimize the chances of an even worse attack occurring in the future.

Maine’s state house on Monday followed its senate in approving the governor’s omnibus gun safety bill that strengthens the state’s so-called “yellow flag” law, boosts background checks for private sales of guns and makes it a crime to recklessly sell a gun to a prohibited person. The bill also funds violence prevention initiatives and opens a mental health crisis receiving center in Lewiston, Maine, where 18 people were killed and 13 others were wounded in a shooting on 25 October.