Rep. Jared Golden of Maine Calls for Ban on Assault Rifles Following Lewiston Mass Shooting

At a news conference on Thursday, Rep. Jared Golden of Maine announced a major shift in his stance on gun control legislation. Golden, who previously opposed efforts to ban assault weapons, now called on the United States Congress to ban assault rifles like the one used in the mass shooting in his hometown of Lewiston, Maine.

“I have opposed efforts to ban deadly weapons of war, like the assault rifle used to carry out this crime,” Golden said. “The time has now come for me to take responsibility for this failure, which is why I now call on the United States Congress to ban assault rifles like the one used by the sick perpetrator of this mass killing in my hometown of Lewiston, Maine.”

The mass shooting in Lewiston left at least 18 people dead and has sparked a renewed debate on gun control legislation. Golden discussed his previous stance on legislation largely backed by fellow Democrats that would prohibit assault weapons and said he was wrong to oppose those measures.

“I have heard the voices of my constituents and I have heard the voices of the victims of this tragedy,” Golden said. “I now believe that we must take action to prevent these tragedies from happening again.”

Golden’s announcement comes as the nation continues to grapple with the aftermath of the two mass shootings in Lewiston. While the details of the shootings remain unclear, Golden’s call for a ban on assault weapons has been met with support from both sides of the aisle.