Federal legislation does not go far enough

While the first federal gun legislation in 30 years is a significant step for the country, the age of the 18 year old perpetrators in Buffalo and Uvalde is noteworthy. The new law increases the scope of, and time to complete, a background check for those 18-20 years old purchasing a firearm, but few states ban the purchase of long guns for this age group. Maine is not one of them. According to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence 18-to-20-year-olds account for 4 percent of the U.S. population but 17 percent of known homicide offenders. Prefrontal cortexes, responsible for impulse control, don’t finish developing until the mid-20s. The law also encourages states to explore red flag laws. See Maine’s Yellow Paper Law version of an extreme risk protection order.