AUGUSTA – Legislative Republicans issued the following statement in response to the tragedies in Bowdoin and Yarmouth.

“We are outraged by this senseless tragedy and extend our sincerest condolences to the victims and their families and loved ones. Incidents like this remind us of the depravity of some in our community who harm others. Yet, we’re also heartened by the response of our communities to pull together in trying times such as these, and the bravery and quick actions of our first responders to bring a chaotic situation across multiple jurisdictions to a close and apprehend the suspect.

“As authorities seek answers as to why this happened, the question of how this happened is just as important. Current federal and state laws should never have allowed a person with an extensive criminal history to obtain the firearm he used to commit these heinous acts. We look forward to our excellent law enforcement personnel providing us with answers.”