In a perfect world, the strong would protect the weak, violence would be unheard of and all would be peace and harmony.
That is, of course, wishful thinking. All too often, the strong take advantage of their position and push their demented will onto others. Violence, which should be rare to nonexistent, becomes part of a good person’s daily life and threats must be dealt with.
For many Maine lawmakers, the perfect world fantasy apparently exists.
How else can Gov. Janet Mills’ (D) signature on a new 72-hour waiting period to purchase a firearm be explained? Some mistakenly describe this as a “cooling off” period, but the violent threat does not go away because the intended victim is forced to “cool off.”
Now, a lawsuit against Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey seeking declarative and injunctive relief from the arbitrary waiting period has been filed. One female plaintiff is a cautionary tale against such a restriction.
Andrea Beckwith of the East Coast School of Safety is the perfect example of why such laws harm the very people they claim to protect. She is a domestic abuse survivor who dedicated her life to empowering women who face what are often lethal threats.
Her mission is to empower women attempting to escape dangerous situations. Before the law, she was able to ensure the potential victim was equipped to face the threat head-on.
Now, according to the lawsuit, “she must send them home unarmed for three days — three days in which their abusers now know that they cannot legally secure the means to defend themselves.”
The suit further notes that “many firearms purchasers are repeat customers, buying [at least] their second firearm; if one of them is bent on violence or self-harm,” the restriction does “little to prevent it.”
The plaintiffs added that the supposed “cooling off” period has no basis in the history and tradition of firearm laws in the nation. This mandatory waiting period, according to the lawsuit, “has no historical pedigree whatsoever.”
Instead, it forces Beckwith and others who attempt to arm victims and potential victims of domestic violence to wait an inexcusable amount of time.
This is despite the mere minutes it usually takes for a law-abiding citizen to pass the required criminal background check.
Lawrence G. Keane is the senior vice president and general counsel for the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF). He flatly declared that the law is wholly ineffective in protecting the innocent and merely deprives them of their Second Amendment rights.
“This law is nothing more than an attempt to deny law-abiding Mainers their constitutional rights while doing nothing to stop criminals who ignore these ineffective laws,” Keane explained. “Rights delayed are rights denied, and this law, signed by Gov. Janet Mills, is exemplary of the efforts by gun control advocates who only wish to put in place roadblocks for law-abiding citizens who wish to exercise their Second Amendment rights.”
Keane added that too many Americans are subjected to an arbitrary time constraint when their very lives could be at stake.
There are also practical implications to consider.
Gun sales suffered a massive dropoff in the months since the waiting period was enacted. One Maine retailer reported that overall sales are down 50%, with rifle sales falling 25% as buyers look for options that do not require an arbitrary pause in the transaction.
The lawsuit notes that many gun sales in the northern part of the state are to hunters who traveled to the region to engage in this pastime.
They find out that they do not have the right weapon, their rifle is damaged or they have forgotten it altogether. At this point, they would generally patronize a local business and continue their excursion.
This controversial new law makes that solution impossible. For this and much more serious reasons, this lawsuit bears close watching by Second Amendment advocates.
The Anti Anti-2A Social Club is more than a name—it’s a stand against misinformation, double standards, and the relentless attacks on our rights. It’s for those who are done being quiet and ready to push back against a narrative that seeks to misrepresent and marginalize us.
They say the first step to solving a problem is admitting there is one. But here’s the thing: we’re not trying to “solve” anything. We’re here to embrace our rights, to stand firm, and to protect what’s ours.
This isn’t just another t-shirt; it’s a symbol of defiance and a call to action for everyone who refuses to be silenced. The Anti Anti-2A Social Club T-shirts, hats, and drinkware represent a movement that knows our rights are non-negotiable and proudly defends them.
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