Prompted by mass shooting, 72-hour wait period and other new gun laws go into effect in Maine

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — With eleventh hour guidance from the state, Maine gun retailers on Friday began requiring a three-day wait period for gun purchases under one of the new safety laws adopted following the state’s deadliest mass shooting.

Maine joined a dozen other states with similar laws, requiring that buyers wait 72 hours to complete a purchase and retrieve a weapon. The law is among several gun-related bills adopted after an Army reservist killed 18 people and injured 13 others on Oct. 25, 2023, in Lewiston.

The new law wouldn't have prevented the tragedy — the gunman bought the rifle legally months earlier — but Friday's milestone was celebrated by gun safety advocates who believe it will prevent gun deaths by providing a cooling-off period for people intent on buying a gun to do harm to others or themselves.

“These new laws will certainly save lives, both here in Maine and throughout the nation,” said Nacole Palmer, executive director of the Maine Gun Safety Coalition.

Gun store owners complained about the guidance, released just Tuesday, and the loss of sales to out-of-state visitors during Maine’s busy summer tourism season. They also said the waiting period will take a toll on gun shows.

In Kittery, Dave Labbe from the Kittery Trading Post said there would be close to zero completed rifle sales at its main store beginning Friday as customers subject to the waiting period will have to return to pick up their firearms. He is worried shoppers won’t buy guns because the waiting period requires them to make an extra trip to the store.

“You can imagine how I feel,” he said.

Unlike other Maine dealers, Kittery Trading Post's out-of-state buyers of rifles and shotguns have the option to move those sales to its New Hampshire facility to complete a same-day purchase. But that increases business costs and inconveniences customers. In some cases, the customer may prefer to ship the firearm to a dealer in their home state, Labbe said.

At the store on Friday, shoppers poured inside on a rainy day to make purchases of clothing and outdoor gear, but foot traffic in the gun department appeared to be slower than usual. A sign overhead alerted buyers to the new law.

Some retailers claimed the guidance was late and vague.

“It’s as clear as mud,” said Laura Whitcomb from Gun Owners of Maine. She noted that gray areas include the legal definition for the “agreement” that must be reached to trigger the waiting period.

Critics of the law have vowed to sue. They contend it harms only law-abiding citizens while doing nothing to stop criminals from accessing weapons illegally. They also contend people who intend to harm themselves will find another way to do so if they are unable to purchase a gun on the spot. Violating the law is a civil infraction with a fine of $200 to $500 for a first offense and $500 to $1,000 for subsequent violations.

The waiting period law went into effect without the signature of Democratic Gov. Janet Mills. It was one of a series of bills adopted after the mass killings at a bowling alley and a bar and grill in Lewiston.

Mills told lawmakers during her State of the State address that doing nothing was not an option after the tragedy.

The laws bolstered the state’s “yellow flag” law allowing weapons to be taken from someone in a psychiatric crisis, criminalized the transfer of guns to prohibited people and required background checks for people who advertise a gun for sale on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace or elsewhere.

Maine is a state with a long hunting tradition and the bills drew opposition from Republicans who accused Democrats, who control both legislative chambers, of using the tragedy to advance proposals, some of which had previously been defeated.

A selection of Sig Sauer pistols are displayed at the Kittery Trading Post, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Kittery, Maine. Maine gun retailers are now requiring a three-day wait period for purchases under a new law that was among several gun safety bills adopted after the state's deadliest mass shooting. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Aaron Fondry, left, is handed a 9mm pistol by Bryan Hodge, asst. manager of firearms, while shopping at the Kittery Trading Post, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Kittery, Maine. Maine gun retailers are now requiring a three-day wait period for purchases under a new law that was among several gun safety bills adopted after the state's deadliest mass shooting. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

A selection of handguns are displayed at the Kittery Trading Post, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Kittery, Maine. Maine gun retailers are now requiring a three-day wait period for purchases under a new law that was among several gun safety bills adopted after the state's deadliest mass shooting. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

FILE - Rain-soaked memorials for those who died in a mass shooting sit along the roadside by Schemengees Bar & Grille, Oct. 30, 2023, in Lewiston, Maine. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)

A customer sights in a long gun while shopping at the Kittery Trading Post, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Kittery, Maine. Maine gun retailers are now requiring a three-day wait period for purchases under a new law that was among several gun safety bills adopted after the state's deadliest mass shooting. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

FILE - The Statehouse is seen, Feb. 4, 2014 in Augusta, Maine. (AP Photo/Joel Page, File)

Customers shop in the firearms section at the Kittery Trading Post, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Kittery, Maine. Maine gun retailers are now requiring a three-day wait period for purchases under a new law that was among several gun safety bills adopted after the state's deadliest mass shooting. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

A variety of AR-15-style rifles are displayed under an American flag at the Kittery Trading Post, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Kittery, Maine. Maine gun retailers are now requiring a three-day wait period for purchases under a new law that was among several gun safety bills adopted after the state's deadliest mass shooting. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

CLEVELAND (AP) — Lane Thomas and José Ramírez hit back-to-back eighth-inning homers and Joey Cantillo pitched five scoreless innings as the AL Central-leading Cleveland Guardians beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-1 on Saturday night.

The Guardians remained three games ahead of second-place Kansas City in the division with 13 games remaining. Cleveland has the best home record in the AL at 44-27 and is 85-64 overall, second in the league to the New York Yankees.

Josh Naylor’s two-run single through a drawn-in infield ignited a three-run sixth that extended Cleveland’s lead to 4-0. David Fry added a sacrifice fly off Tyler Alexander (6-5), scoring Ramírez, who had been intentionally walked for a franchise-record 88th time.

Thomas and Ramírez tacked on solo homers in the eighth against Hunter Bigge.

Cantillo (2-3) gave up three hits, walked one and struck out six in his sixth start in the majors. The left-hander threw 6 2/3 perfect innings — and worked a career-high seven — in earning his first win Monday at the White Sox.

Junior Caminero had a career-high three doubles for Tampa Bay, driving in the team's only run in the eighth. The Rays fell to 4-5 on a 10-game trip through Baltimore, Philadelphia and Cleveland and are six back for the third AL wild card.

Cleveland went ahead 1-0 in the sixth on Brayan Rocchio’s double to right, scoring Andrés Giménez. Jhonkensy Noel also attempted to come home, but was thrown out on a relay from second baseman José Caballero.

Tampa Bay appeared to score in the fifth on Jose Siri’s single, but a replay review overturned the safe call at home on Josh Lowe. Thomas’ throw and Austin Hedges’ tag just beat Lowe’s left hand to the plate.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rays: 2B Christopher Morel (right Achilles discomfort) was held out of the lineup one day after being removed in the third inning in Cleveland. Manager Kevin Cash said Morel “feels better now than he did when he came out of the game.”

Guardians: OF Steven Kwan (mid-low back tightness), who was a late scratch Friday, is considered day to day and will not be placed on the injured list. The All-Star left fielder underwent medical tests that revealed no structural damage.

UP NEXT

Rays RHP Taj Bradley (6-10, 4.40 ERA) takes on Guardians RHP Ben Lively (11-9, 4.01 ERA) in the four-game series finale. Lively was struck on his right leg by Dominic Fletcher's liner in his last start Tuesday at the White Sox, exiting after 1 2/3 innings.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Tampa Bay Rays' Drew Rasmussen pitches in the first inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Tampa Bay Rays' Josh Lowe, left, is tagged out by Cleveland Guardians catcher Austin Hedges, right, in the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Tampa Bay Rays' Josh Lowe (15) steals second base under a tag by Cleveland Guardians second baseman Andres Gimenez, front left, in the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Tampa Bay Rays' Jose Caballero tosses his bat after striking out in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians' Jhonkensy Noel, left, is tagged out at home plate by Tampa Bay Rays catcher Logan Driscoll, right, in the fifth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Tampa Bay Rays' Tyler Alexander pitches in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians' Joey Cantillo pitches in the first inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Tampa Bay Rays' Junior Caminero, left, gestures from second base after hitting a double in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Cleveland. Guardians second baseman Andres Gimenez, right, looks on. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians' Jose Ramirez, left, scores behind Tampa Bay Rays catcher Logan Driscoll, right, in the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians' Lane Thomas, left, gestures from second base in front of Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Jose Caballero (7) after hitting a double in the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians' Josh Naylor, right, hits a single in front of Tampa Bay Rays catcher Logan Driscoll, left, in the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)