Maine State Rep. Michael Lemelin (R) said Wednesday that the Lewiston mass shooting in October, which killed 18 people, was God’s punishment for state lawmakers passing legislation expanding abortion access in the state.
In a fiery floor speech Wednesday, Lemelin warned against enacting LD 227, which would shield persons who receive abortions or gender-affirming care in Maine from legal repercussions in other jurisdictions, stating, “LD 227 will have severe consequences.”
Lemelin warned last year that enacting LD 1619, which extended abortion access, would have five effects. The first four, he claimed, were hurricanes “that wreaked havoc on Maine.” The fifth shooting occurred in Lewiston, Maine.
“Meditate on this, Madam Speaker: When 1619 passed and went into law on October 25, you told God, ‘Life doesn’t matter,'” Lemelin stated this in his floor speech. “Keep in mind that the law took effect on October 25. “God heard you, and the dreadful events of October 25 happened.”
Rep. Shelley Rudnicki (R) stood up and issued a brief statement supporting Lemelin’s comments.
“I just wanted to rise and say that I agree with what Representative Lemelin has said. “Thank you,” Rudnicki replied.
MPs from both sides of the aisle immediately condemned the remarks in the chamber.
State Representative Rachel Henderson (R) later spoke out, calling his words “reprehensible.”
“Although it’s not my place, I apologize to every member who was here and heard that and took offense,” Henderson said in a statement.
“I’m proud of where I am. I am proud of the positions I hold, but tonight I am not proud to be a Republican.” I am not proud to have an ‘R’ in front of my name,” she said.
“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,” Henderson said in a statement. “The statements made today, I will not speak to the character or the motives, but those statements were reprehensible and ones that I do not support, and I do not get behind.”
State Assistant House Majority Leader Kristen Cloutier (D) issued a statement denouncing the two lawmakers’ actions.
“The remarks made on the House floor tonight by Rep. Lemelin and confirmed by Rep. Rudnicki indicating that the Legislature somehow caused the October tragedy in Lewiston are as ridiculous as they are repulsive.” Cloutier stated, “We are disturbed by this astounding lack of respect, this extremely unsettling absence of empathy, and this infuriating contempt for the victims, their families, and everyone in our community whose hearts have been crushed by this awful act of senseless violence.
“I know that I speak for the entire Lewiston House delegation in saying that these sentiments have absolutely no place in this chamber or in our public discourse and should be universally condemned by anyone who has even an ounce of basic human decency,” she said in a statement.
On Thursday, a censure vote against Lemelin and Rudnicki will take place in response to their floor remarks the previous day.
