Committee backs expanded background checks, waiting period for gun purchases

AUGUSTA — A legislative committee voted Wednesday to endorse a package of gun safety bills proposed in the wake of the Lewiston mass shooting last year, including waiting periods and expanded background checks for gun purchases. But the Judiciary Committee’s work isn’t done. A last-minute bill released Wednesday would put in place a new streamlined process for restricting the firearms access for people deemed a threat. The bill is similar to the red-flag process adopted in other states, eliminating the need for a mental health evaluation before guns are seized...