Pro-gun congressman reverses course: 'The time has come for me to take responsibility for this failure'

Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) is reversing his long-held opposition to gun reform following the recent deadly mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine that left 18 dead and 13 injured.

On Wednesday night, suspected gunman Robert Card — a 40-year-old Army reservist and firearms instructor who family members say recently underwent a significant mental health episode — allegedly carried out the massacre with an AR-15-style rifle at a bowling alley and a restaurant. During a Thursday press conference, Rep. Golden joined the Biden administration's call for a renewed assault weapons ban.

"I have opposed efforts to ban deadly weapons of war like the assault rifle he used to carry out this crime," Golden said of his prior legislative record. "The time has now come for me to take responsibility for this failure. Which is why I now call on the United States congress to ban assault rifles."

POLL: Should Trump be allowed to hold office again?

While Democrats are typically more inclined to support gun reform legislation compared to their Republican counterparts, Golden — who represents a rural district with a high rate of gun ownership — has bucked his party on the issue in the recent past. In March of 2021, Golden released a statement on his congressional website explaining his opposition to two bills that would have enhanced background checks for gun purchases.

"Many of my constituents have a proud tradition of responsible gun ownership. For us, firearms are a part of daily life. From hunting to competitive shooting to self-defense, we believe that law-abiding citizens have a constitutional right to access and possess firearms," he stated. "I voted against today's bills in February of 2019, and they remain unchanged since that time."

Maine has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the US, with roughly 48% of the state's residents telling the RAND Corporation in 2020 that they lived in households with at least one firearm. And prior to Wednesday night, Maine also had one of the lowest rates of gun-related deaths in the US, with the CDC reporting 12.6 gun deaths per 100,000 residents.

The manhunt to apprehend alleged shooter Robert Card is still ongoing.

READ MORE: Maine shooting suspect an Army reservist who liked 'right-wing posts' by Tucker Carlson and GOP: CNN