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Maine voters approve red flag gun law after mass shooting that killed 18
Maine voters approve red flag gun law after mass shooting that killed 18
✍️By ZRIntel Editorial Team📍Portland, Maine
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) Two years after the deadliest mass shooting in state history, Maine residents voted Tuesday to make it easier for family members to petition a court to restrict a potentially dangerous persons access to guns. A ballot question asked residents if they wanted to build on the states yellow flag law, which allows police officers to initiate a process to keep someone away from firearms. Approval adds Maine to more than 20 states that have a red flag law, which empowers family members to take the same step. Gun safety advocates began pushing for that after 18 people were killed when an Army reservist opened fire at a bowling alley and a bar and grill in Lewiston in October 2023. An independent commission appointed by Maines governor later concluded that there were numerous opportunities for intervention by both Army officials and civilian law enforcement. The yellow flag law requires police to take the potentially dangerous person into protective custody and hold them for a mental health evaluation. Gun control proponents characterized that law as too weak and difficult to implement. Maine voters have taken the safety of our communities into our own hands by passing common-sense, responsible gun legislation that will save lives and help keep our kids and families safe, not just from the horrors of a tragedy like Lewiston, but from the devastating impacts of everyday gun violence, said Nacole Palmer, executive director of the Maine Gun Safety Coalition, which sponsored Tuesday's proposal. Opponents of the red flag law said Tuesday that the states yellow flag law, which they consider more effective, is still state law. "We are glad that Maines yellow flag law remains intact, and we look forward to continuing to work to improve our states safety. Were going to be reviewing all options to keep Mainers safe as we move into the future of the state, the No on 2 Coalition said in a statement. In the aftermath of the Lewiston shooting, law enforcement officers testified before the independent commission that they had difficulty implementing the states existing yellow flag law, which they described as cumbersome and time-consuming. The campaign in favor of the red flag law released an ad this fall in which Arthur Barnard, father of Lewiston shooting victim Artie Strout, said the stronger law could have saved his sons life. People who are having a mental health crisis need help, not easy access to guns, Barnard said in the ad. Maines laws were too weak to save my sons life. Vote Yes on 2 to change that. The red flag proposal encountered resistance from Republicans, hunting groups, gun rights organizations and some Democrats. Maine is a state with relatively low crime where gun ownership is common, and the states laws should reflect that, opponents have said. Maine Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, opposed the ballot question. She said in October that the yellow flag law was carefully crafted with Maine in mind, and it remains the right law for the state. On Tuesday, Mills said she would "work with law enforcement and the public to implement this new law, along with our existing extreme risk protection law, to best ensure the safety of Maine people. The ballot question campaign came as the legal aftermath of the Lewiston shooting is still unfolding. The survivors and family members of victims of the deadly shooting have sued the U.S. Army and the Department of Defense, seeking unspecified damages and arguing the U.S. Army could have stopped Robert Card, the reservist, from carrying out the shootings. They also point to a Department of Defense watchdog report issued in September that faults the U.S. Army for a high rate of failure to report violent threats by service members. The report specifically mentions Card, who died by suicide two days after the shootings. It says failure to consistently report violent threats could increase the risk of additional violent incidents by service members, such as what occurred with SFC (Sgt. 1st Class) Card. Card was in the midst of a mental health spiral that was known to many, and that led to his hospitalization and left him paranoid, delusional and expressing homicidal ideations, attorneys for the victims have said. With the recent approval of the red flag law, Maine joins a growing list of states making legislative changes aimed at preventing further tragedies. Early reports suggest that while this law is seen as a proactive measure, the debate between advocates and opponents will continue, particularly regarding its implementation and effectiveness. Advocates emphasize the need for mental health support and reducing access to firearms in crisis situations, while opponents remain concerned about potential abuses and the implications for responsible gun ownership. As the legal ramifications from the Lewiston tragedy continue, the focus will likely shift toward how both the yellow and red flag laws will be approached by law enforcement and the communities they serve, raising important questions for gun owners, hunters, and the broader 2A community in Maine and beyond.