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Maine Lawmakers Ask Kittery Store To Stop Selling Assault-Style Rifles

Three southern Maine lawmakers are asking the Kittery Trading Post, to "take meaningful action" to restrict or end sales of assault-style weapons.

In a letter to the company, Democratic state Reps. Deane Rykerson, Lydia Blume and Patty Hymanson say that after the February school shooting in Parkland, Fla. in which 17 people died, large retailers like Dick's Sporting Goods and Walmart either limited sales of those guns, or stopped them.

But Rykerson there's been no action from Kittery Trading Post.

“They're really a centerpiece in our community as far as business goes. So I find it disappointing that in this one area they're really unresponsive,” says Rykerson.

Additionally, Rykerson says the store has kept a spotlight on assault-style weapons.

“In the front of the gun floor is not hunting rifles or target pistols, but semi-automatic weapons,” Rykerson says. “So the first thing you see in the gun department is these weapons of war.”

Rykerson says it's not clear what will happen next if the store doesn't respond, but that it's very likely further action on the issue will come from the grassroots, if not the legislature.

The store did not respond to a message seeking comment.

Nora is originally from the Boston area but has lived in Chicago, Michigan, New York City and at the northern tip of New York state. Nora began working in public radio at Michigan Radio in Ann Arbor and has been an on-air host, a reporter, a digital editor, a producer, and, when they let her, played records.