Maine

In Your State

Maine

Maine has had three mass shootings since 2020. Lawmakers must do more to keep kids safe from gun violence. Learn more about what you can do to help in your state and community.

Take Action Now

Join us right now and urge your representatives to make Maine safer by passing Temporary Transfer Laws.

Maine had the

37th

highest firearm death rate in the U.S. in 2021.

Maine had the

37th

highest firearm death rate in the U.S. in 2021.

Take Action Now

Join us right now and urge your representatives to make Maine safer by passing Temporary Transfer Laws.

Increase School Violence Prevention

After the tragic school shooting in Parkland, Florida, bipartisan legislators from both sides of the aisle came together to prevent school shootings by passing the STOP School Violence Act. It supports and funds lifesaving violence prevention programs. Because of this law, students around the country have access to no-cost suicide prevention and violence prevention training.

Every year, Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund asks Congress to continue funding this program. Without the STOP School Violence Act, more children are at risk. You can help make sure your elected officials support school safety.

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158

Mainers died by suicide with a firearm in 2021.

mass shootings in 2023.

Mass Shooting in Maine

While Maine has among the lowest death rates due to gun violence, it has not been spared from mass shooting tragedy. On an October night in 2023 in Lewiston, Maine, a man opened fire at a bowling alley and a bar, killing 18 people, law enforcement officials told The Associated Press. Dozens of people were also wounded.

The alert for Lewiston was made shortly after 8 p.m. as the sheriff’s office reported that law enforcement agencies were investigating “two active shooter events.” Prior to the incident, Sean Hodgson watched and worried as his best friend of nearly two decades unraveled. His former roommate and fellow U.S. Army reservist’s anger and paranoia were mounting, he had access to guns, and he refused to get help. So Hodgson did the hardest thing of his life: He sent a text about Robert Card to their Army supervisor. “I believe he’s going to snap and do a mass shooting,” he wrote on Sept. 15.

Six weeks later, Card fatally shot 18 people at the bowling alley and Lewiston bar.

Read our Statement

Gun Laws in Maine

Enhanced background checks

Restricts certain semi-automatic rifles

Secure storage

Temporary transfer

Our Impact in Maine

Throughout Maine, Sandy Hook Promise has engaged youth & adults in our mission and prevention programs.

19072

Supporters in the state

Volunteer Promise Leaders who help raise awareness & engage communities

47k

Trained students and adults in 151 schools to Know the Signs and prevent violence

239

Students involved in 21 SAVE Promise Clubs throughout the state

Prevent gun violence in Maine

You can help make Maine a safe place for kids and for your whole community. We urge the legislature to pass proven policy solutions, including emergency temporary transfer and closing the stranger-to-stranger loophole to prevent gun violence and tragedy. These policies keep the public safe from harm while protecting individual rights.

State Issue

Pass Temporary Transfer Laws

Everyone experiences temporary moments of crisis. When that crisis is combined with a firearm, the outcomes can be deadly. Temporary transfer supports gun owners in crisis while protecting their rights and gets them help before things turn tragic.

Take Action

State Issue

Close Dangerous Loopholes

A deadly loophole allows guns to be sold between a seller and a buyer who don’t know each other – and no background check is required. Maine can close this “stranger-to-stranger” loophole and expand background checks to prevent dangerous people from buying guns.

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“We are proud to work with the bipartisan champions to ensure we're doing everything we can to protect our kids and that millions more students will be trained to know the signs of violence and act to save lives. Our work does not end here, we will continue to bring our prevention programs to schools and communities across the country and advocate for life-saving policies.”

Mark BardenSandy Hook Promise Co-Founder and Co-CEO