Political leaders from around the nation took to social media following the shootings in Lewiston to express sympathies for the tragedy, and once again call for action on gun safety.
President Biden released a statement Thursday about the mass shooting in Lewiston, which he said likely “reopens deep and painful wounds,” for many who have survived gun violence in this country or have been traumatized by it.
He also called on Congress – and Republicans, in particular – to pass stricter gun laws.
“Today, in the wake of yet another tragedy, I urge Republican lawmakers in Congress to fulfill their duty to protect the American people,” Biden said. “Work with us to pass a bill banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, to enact universal background checks, to require safe storage of guns, and end immunity from liability for gun manufacturers. This is the very least we owe every American who will now bear the scars — physical and mental — of this latest attack.”
Vice President Kamala Harris addressed the Lewiston shootings Thursday at a luncheon with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Harris said she and her husband, Doug Emhoff, were grieving for the victims.
“Doug and I mourn for those who were killed and grieve for those who were injured,” she said.
“We must continue to speak truth about the moment we are in today,” she said, noting gun violence is the nation’s leading cause of death.
On his first full day on the job, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., makes a statement to reporters about the mass shooting in Maine, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. He did not respond to questions. AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
Newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Thursday, “This is a dark time in America. We have a lot of problems. And we’re really, really hopeful and prayerful. Prayer is appropriate in a time like this, that the evil can and this senseless violence can stop.” He did not address reporters’ questions on whether the House take up any gun legislation in response to the shootings.
In response, Maine Rep. Chellie Pingree told CNN, “I certainly want the speaker to know we appreciate his prayer, his thoughts. I know I’m going to meet a lot of families and others that say ‘You’re in Congress. We need more than thoughts and prayers.’”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said Democrats were heartbroken by the tragic shootings and hoped the shooter would be apprehended soon.
“Thereafter, we can enter into a conversation about how we try to confront the gun violence epidemic that continues to devastate community after community after community here in the United States,” he said.
Heartbroken by the news of another deadly mass shooting in Lewiston.
Praying hard for all of the families impacted by this tragedy.
Congress must act to combat the gun violence epidemic and stop the carnage.
— Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) October 26, 2023
Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., said on Thursday at a Washington Post Live event that the shooting in Maine is “just awful,” but said it was “premature” to talk at length about it. Schumer, who helped push an assault weapon ban through Congress in the 1990s that was later allowed to expire, added: “It just breaks your heart. This, we see this all the time.”
After the event, Schumer wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that he ordered flags at the U.S. Capitol to fly at half-staff, and reiterated his call to stop the “epidemic of gun violence in our country.”
I’ve ordered the flags at the U.S. Capitol to half-staff as we remember those we lost to the senseless mass shooting in Maine, those who were injured, all their families, and the people of Maine. We must do everything we can to stop the epidemic of gun violence in our country.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) October 26, 2023
Former President Donald Trump wrote in a post on the social network Truth Social Thursday: “A terrible situation going on in Maine. At least 22 dead. It just seems to never end for the USA!”
California Governor Gavin Newsom tweeted on Thursday saying “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. Maine also does not… – Ban assault weapons – Require permits to carry a gun in public – Require background checks on all gun sales 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. ”
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.
Maine also does not…
– Ban assault weapons
– Require permits to carry a gun in public
– Require… https://t.co/18IoTtYRsY— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) October 26, 2023
Former Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention Nirav D. Shah tweeted: “Tonight, we are all Mainers. As #Maine grieves, so does the nation.”
Tonight, we are all Mainers.
As #Maine grieves, so does the nation.
— Nirav D. Shah (@nirav_uscdc) October 26, 2023
Maine author Stephen King also took to X to post about the recent events. “The shootings occurred less than 50 miles from where I live. I went to high school in Lisbon. It’s the rapid-fire killing machines, people. This is madness in the name of freedom. Stop electing apologists for murder,” he tweeted.
The shootings occurred less than 50 miles from where I live. I went to high school in Lisbon. It’s the rapid-fire killing machines, people. This is madness in the name of freedom. Stop electing apologists for murder.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) October 26, 2023
In Augusta planned Halloween events have been canceled including the Augusta Downtown Association’s widely popular Trick or Treat on Water Street gathering on Saturday. They released a statement on their Facebook page on Thursday saying ” While we are aware that is a trivial matter in the grand scheme of all that has happened, we as a Board cannot in good conscience carry on with our Trick or Treat on Water Street event. We apologize to all who have prepared so diligently, but the safety of our community is our priority. Our prayers remain with everyone in Lewiston and beyond as we move forward with broken hearts.”
Also in Augusta, Viles Arboretum is still contemplating but has yet to decide if they will cancel their Trail of Treats in partnership with the Children’s Discovery Museum on Saturday. They posted a comment on the event’s Facebook page saying “At this time we have not made a decision about canceling Saturday’s event. We expect to make that decision tomorrow and will communicate here and through email with registered attendees.”
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