BANGOR – A group of Senate Democrats came out firing Wednesday against a plan from one of their own to enact a statewide assault weapons ban similar to the federal ban that expired this month.

“Maine doesn’t need this bill,” said Sen. Stephen Stanley, D-Medway, one of a handful of rural Democratic candidates who, locked in tough campaigns that could help determine control of the Senate, came out to oppose the proposed ban at a Bangor news conference.

“We should only pass laws that are needed and will be effective. The proposal … is neither,” said Stanley, who because of redistricting is facing another incumbent, Sen. Paul Davis, R-Sangerville, who also opposes the ban.

The legislation, proposed last week by Sen. Ethan Strimling, a Portland Democrat, would be similar to the federal ban, which outlawed 19 types of military-style semiautomatic weapons and certain types of ammunition for those weapons.

Strimling, getting married in Italy on Wednesday, was unavailable for comment. In a previous interview, he said there was widespread support for the ban, the extension of which was backed by several local law enforcement officials.

“Our people wanted to make it clear to voters where they stood on this issue,” said Benjamin Grant of the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee.

Among those races expected to be close is Stanley’s race against Davis, who has been endorsed by the National Rifle Association. Davis on Wednesday called Strimling’s proposal “stupid” and predicted it wouldn’t make it out of committee.

Sen. Pam Hatch, D-Skowhegan, also attended the Bangor news conference, contending the federal ban was not effective and there was no need for such a ban in Maine, where gun violence is not as prevalent as other parts of the country. Hatch is running against Republican Peter Mills of Cornville.