GOP lawmaker: Maine mass shooting 'consequences' from God for allowing reproductive rights

A Republican member of the Maine House of Representatives is facing backlash after suggesting that last year's deadly mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine — that left 18 dead and more than a dozen wounded — was vengeance from God.

NBC News reported that Rep. Michael Lemelin took to the floor of the house on Thursday to condemn LD 1619, which was legislation expanding privacy rights for abortion patients that passed the same day as the October 25 shooting. He then went on to suggest that the shooting was retribution from God for the bill's passage.

"Meditate on this, Madam Speaker," Lemelin said to House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross (D). "When (L.D.) 1619 passed and went into law on Oct. 25, you told God life doesn’t matter."

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"Keep in mind that the law came into effect on October 25. God heard you and the horrible events on October 25 happened," he added.

Rep. Shelley Rudnicki later endorsed Lemelin's viewpoint, saying on the house floor that "I just want to stand and say that I agree with Rep. Lemelin and everything he said."

Both Democrats and Republicans were appalled by Lemelin's comments. Democratic Rep. Kristien Cloutier, who is the assistant House Majority Leader, condemned Lemelin's "stunning lack of respect, deeply troubling absence of empathy and infuriating disregard for the victims, their families and everyone in our community whose hearts remain shattered by this horrific act of senseless violence."

Meanwhile, Republican Rep. Rachel Henderson leaned on her Christian faith to rebuke Lemelin, saying, "Nowhere in the Bible do I see where the word of God is to be used as a weapon against people, or where we are told to speak on behalf of God to express his wrath to the people."

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The shooting broke out at a bowling alley during a youth event, and then moved to Schemengee's Bar and Grill. Four of those killed at Schemengee's were deaf, and were participating in a cornhole tournament held to benefit the local deaf community. The ages of those killed ranged from 14 to 76 years old.

The perpetrator of the shooting was a 40-year-old Army reservist who had no deployments or combat experience. Prior to the shooting, the US Army sent a letter to the Sagadahoc Sheriff's Office warning that the eventual shooter was on the verge of a mental breakdown and could potentially carry out an act of mass violence. After a 49-hour manhunt, the Lewiston shooter was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

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