A press conference was held at 6:00pm EDT on October 26 regarding the horrific mass shooting that took place in Lewiston, Maine. Assembled were US Senator Susan Collins, US Representative Jared Golden and local police / political players. Susan Collins kicked off the press conference by listing about fifteen people who she has talked to since the shooting. I guess this is really important and that SHE is really important to talk to all those people in such a critical time.

In contrast, Jared Golden spoke very briefly and concisely. This is the core of what he said (paraphrased from memory):

I thought our community was above this. I have opposed legislation to ban the military assault weapons used. I now admit my responsibility for these events and will devote the remainder of my time in Congress working to eliminate these weapons.


Collins is Republican. Golden is a Democrat. I don't find any stories indicating Golden was expecting to leave Congress after this term. It isn't clear if his allusion to the "remainder of my time" means he will work on this issue indefinitely or if he expects to lose in 2024 because of this change of heart and the reaction of voters.

It's also worth noting that after Jared Golden's brief statement, the reporters immediately followed up with questions to Collins, who dodged them in three different directions, stating she had not supported some bans because they focused on cosmetics rather than functionality, that she supported the original assualt weapons ban in the 1990s, etc. No explanation as to why she OPPOSED the renewal of that assualt weapons ban, why she opposed high capacity magazine restrictions, etc.

Will voters figure this out and "do the needful" at the ballot box?

WTH