Maine Governor Janet Mills, who’s now gunning for a U.S. Senate seat, dropped a bombshell on MSNBC’s The Weeknight Friday, calling for a full funding freeze on ICE and DHS until questions are answered. Her remarks came amid the fallout from the horrific Lewiston mass shooting, where an illegal immigrant with a known history of mental health red flags slipped through the cracks—allegedly because federal agencies like ICE dropped the ball on detaining him despite a murder warrant from the Army. Mills’ demand isn’t just political theater; it’s a direct shot at the very enforcement arms that keep our borders secure and track down threats, including those who flout federal gun laws.
For the 2A community, this is a flashing red warning light. Mills, a Democrat with a track record of pushing Maine’s assault weapons ban post-Lewiston, is playing a dangerous game of defunding the feds who actually enforce existing firearm prohibitions on prohibited persons—like felons, fugitives, and non-citizens. Remember, ICE and DHS are the muscle behind operations that have seized thousands of illegal firearms from border crossers and gang members annually (DHS reported over 1,200 gun seizures at the southwest border in FY2023 alone). By starving them of funds, she’s effectively kneecapping tools that prevent bad actors from arming up, all while her party ramps up rhetoric for universal background checks and red flag laws that burden law-abiding gun owners. It’s classic misdirection: blame the tools of enforcement for failures born of lax immigration policies, then use the chaos to justify more gun control.
The implications for gun rights advocates are stark—Mills’ Senate bid could amplify this anti-enforcement populism in a purple state where 2A support runs deep (Maine’s CCW reciprocity and constitutional carry make it a haven). If she pulls off the upset against Sen. Collins, expect her to champion budget riders that hobble ICE/DHS, indirectly flooding communities with unvetted individuals who skirt NICS checks. 2A warriors should rally now: highlight how robust federal enforcement protects the right to keep and bear arms from those who abuse it, and demand Mills answer her own questions—starting with why she wants to disarm the good guys while letting threats roam free. This isn’t just about borders; it’s about preserving the Second Amendment in an era of open chaos.
