I support the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms, and I respect Maine’s longstanding tradition of responsible gun ownership and use. I also support the current law requiring background checks on firearms purchases from licensed dealers.

I would support extending the requirement for background checks to private sales (except between family members) and sales at gun shows if the State of Maine were to provide a system for checks that would eliminate unnecessary delays and unreasonable costs and burdens on sellers and buyers. For example, the state could provide a toll-free number that sellers could call to obtain an immediate background check on a buyer over the phone prior to consummating the sale.