Jared Golden U-turns on assault rifles, calls for ban from congress

Democratic representative Jared Golden called for a ban on assault weapons on Thursday, 26 October following mass shootings that killed 18 people and wounded 13 more in Maine.

During a news conference in Lewiston, Golden said he had previously opposed a ban on what he described as “deadly weapons of war” out of fear for the lives of his family members.

“I have opposed efforts to ban deadly weapons of war, like the assault rifle used to carry out this crime,” the democrat said. “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 like the one used by the sick perpetrator of this mass killing in my hometown of Lewiston, Maine.”