Lewiston’s Democratic congressman reverses opposition to assault weapons ban

Maine Rep. Jared Golden of Maine — one of the rare House Democrats to oppose many gun safety measures championed by his party — came out in support of an assault weapons ban on Thursday, the day after shootings in his hometown of Lewiston left at least 18 dead and 13 injured.

“I have opposed efforts to ban deadly weapons of war,” Golden said at news conference in Lewiston. “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.”