Business was brisk at the final gun show before a new Maine law takes effect, establishing a three-day waiting period for most firearm purchases. The two-day event at the Elks Lodge in Augusta not only attracted many attendees but also doubled as a fundraiser for a legal challenge to the pending law.
Collectors and Enthusiasts Gather
The Elks Lodge banquet hall was packed with people browsing a wide assortment of firearms and knives, ranging from modern to vintage. Randy Shibles, of Hartland, was among the attendees who found a unique purchase—a Yugoslavian Mauser rifle from the post-World War II era.
"I'm kind of trying to be a collector of some older, more unique stuff. So anything I can get my hands on is good for me," Shibles said.
Shibles and others were able to leave the show with their purchases, a convenience that will disappear after August 9 when the waiting period law goes into effect. Maine will join nearly a dozen other states with some form of waiting period on firearms purchases.
Legal Challenge and Fundraising
Gun rights groups, including the Gun Owners of Maine, have vowed to challenge the constitutionality of the new law, alongside counterparts in Vermont, Colorado, and New Mexico. The Augusta gun show played a pivotal role in funding the legal challenge, with organizer Freedom Promotions donating proceeds from the event to the cause.
Ryan Appleby, co-owner of Freedom Promotions, expressed concern about the law’s impact on future gun shows. He fears prospective attendees may be deterred if they cannot leave with their purchases.
"If even 20 percent or so of the customers don't want to deal with that -- even though they know they can, they just don't want to -- that kind of brings attendance down enough at the bigger shows that it's probably not going to be feasible enough to do it," Appleby said.
Response to Lewiston Shootings and Suicide Prevention
The new waiting period law was passed in response to the Lewiston shootings and as a measure to prevent suicide by gun, which accounted for 90% of Maine gun deaths in 2021. Governor Janet Mills allowed the law to go into effect without her signature, citing its potential constitutional issues but recognizing the urgent need for preventative measures.
Gun safety groups champion the law, advocating for a cooling-off period to prevent impulsive purchases during moments of crisis. Activists point out that other states with waiting periods continue to host robust gun shows.
Future Political and Legal Battles
Despite the new law's intended benefits, it has sparked anger among gun rights groups. These organizations have vowed to hold lawmakers accountable in the upcoming legislative elections. Laura Whitcomb of the Gun Owners of Maine is confident in their legal challenge, drawing on the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, which gun rights activists believe limits state restrictions on firearms.
As the law takes effect and the legal battles begin, the future of gun shows and firearm purchases in Maine hangs in the balance.
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