Gun violence is a public health issueā€”take action in the new year

Maine AllCare has signed on as a supporting organization of the Maine Gun Safety Coalition‘s 2024 campaign for four pieces of common sense gun-safety legislation:

  • Implementing universal background checks
  • Ending the sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines
  • Putting in place a Red Flag law
  • Establishing a 72-hr waiting period for gun purchases

Because of the recent mass shootings in Lewiston, substantive gun safety legislation has never had a better chance of passing in Maine than it does right now.

What does gun safety legislation have to do with Maine AllCare’s mission of advocating for publicly funded universal health care? We know that mental health services are one essential component of a comprehensive strategy to reduce gun violence. In a universal health care system, with a focus on covering everyone and putting people over profits, mental health services would receive higher priority and better funding, and people who need these services would be better able to get them. Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP) also has resources on their website on gun violence and universal health care.

Over the next legislative session we will pass along to you information about the Maine Gun Safety Coaltion’s campaign and calls to action.

First opportunity:

Maine Gun Safety Day of Action
Maine State Capitol, Augusta
January 3, 2024
9:30 amĀ 
More information and link to sign up

Please mark your calendars for a Gun Safety Day of Action, when Mainers from across the state will demand that our legislators pass strong gun safety legislation this year. It’s time for our legislators to hear from the vast majority of MainersĀ who want these bills. Showing up in numbers that display the breadth and diversity of voices on our side will be vital to passing these bills, and YOUR presence is requested!

Save the date, and talk 5-10 of your friends into coming, too. Maine can’t wait for another mass shooting to happen before we pass gun safety bills that are vital to public health. The time is now!

Directions and parking information for the state house

Second opportunity:

Contact your state legislators now and ask them to support legislation that includes the gun safety priorities below:

You can find your legislators’ information here. Use the sample email text below to contact them.

Email Subject: 4 Gun Safety Priorities for Maine

Dear Senator _____ & Representative ______,

My name is _____ and I live in _________. Iā€™m writing as a constituent to urge you to support the following evidence-based policies this session that will protect our communities from gun violence by:

  • Implementing universal background checks
  • Ending the sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines
  • Putting in place a Red Flag law
  • Establishing a 72-hr waiting period for gun purchases