Maine shooting: Newsom slammed for immediately criticizing Republicans after attack

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) took to social media moments after reports of a deadly active shooter situation in Maine broke out Wednesday evening, criticizing Republicans for voting down a bill that would have created a waiting period for gun purchases.

Newsom quoted a post on X from MSNBC shortly after the mass shooting, writing, “Republicans in Maine rejected a bill this year that would have required a waiting period for firearm purchases. They seriously could not fathom waiting 72 hours to buy a gun.”

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“Our hearts are heavy tonight. We need immediate action — we cannot sit around and wait for Congress. We need to amend the Constitution to help prevent tragedies like this,” Newsom added.

Users on social media slammed the Democratic governor for politicizing the Maine mass shooting only moments after it happened and while the facts of the case remained unclear.

“Please stay the hell away from our state and stop politicizing the murder of our friends and neighbors for your political agendas,” state Sen. Eric Brakey of Androscoggin, Maine, where the shooting occurred, replied.

Others pointed out how Democrats have retained control of both the Maine House and Senate for years, arguing Republicans don’t hold enough seats to make significant legislative changes.

“Maine is governed by your party @GavinNewsom — as always your thought process is tired, wrong and dangerous,” Orange County Councilwoman Kathy Tavoularis said.

Maine doesn’t require permits to carry guns, and Maine senators voted 24-11 against instituting a 72-hour waiting period for gun purchases in June after it was narrowly rejected by the House. Multiple Democrats in the Senate voted against the bill.

According to the Gun Violence Archive, which classifies mass shootings as four or more victims killed, not including the shooter, California has had 41 mass shootings this year. Maine has had two, including the shooting on Wednesday.

Densely populated states like California and Texas typically see the most mass shootings in almost any given year. However, neither state is among the highest rates in the country when accounting for the number of people who live in each state.

Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME) announced on Thursday morning that at least 18 people were killed and 13 were injured in shootings that occurred at two locations in Lewiston. An arrest warrant with eight counts of murder was issued for Robert Card, the person of interest, who continues to be at large.

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Card, 40, is the person of interest in the shootings, described as a firearms instructor reported to be in the U.S. Army Reserve. The 911 communication center received a call at approximately 6:56 p.m. EDT of a male shooter in Sparetime Recreation, a bowling alley.

Minutes after 7 p.m. Wednesday, another call reported an “active shooter” at Schemengees Bar and Grille, about 4 miles apart from each other.