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In response to the recent column in the Bangor Daily News, “We have an obligation to work together to keep our communities safe,” I wish to thank Nacole Palmer for her inspiring words about the need for new gun safety laws in Maine. In my personal view, her column demonstrates more leadership on this issue than we’ve seen from our disengaged politicians in Augusta. It’s been three months since the mass killing in Lewiston. Respectfully, I believe the apparent lack of urgency from our state representatives to address gun violence is beyond the pale.
Gov. Janet Mills has said she wants to hear from Mainers on solutions to the gun violence epidemic. I sincerely wonder if she’ll read Palmer’s OpEd commentary. I wonder if Mills listened to the 1,000 people who spoke up on Jan. 3 in the State House about the dire need for new gun safety laws. Everyday Mainers are easy to find.
I wholeheartedly agree with Palmer that Maine should have background checks on all gun sales, a 72-hour waiting period to buy a gun, an assault weapons ban, and a stronger “red flag” law. In my view, I believe we need to contact our state representatives to let them know that people throughout Maine want the aforementioned new gun laws to protect our loved ones.
Aaron Bergeron
Portland
