Title: Maine Governor’s Administration Opposes "Red Flag" Gun Control Proposal Ahead of November Vote
AUGUSTA, Maine — Governor Janet Mills’ administration has firmly stated its opposition to a proposed "red flag" gun control measure during a recent public hearing before it heads to voters in November. The hearing, which took place late in the legislative session, was prompted by concerns from gun-rights groups threatening legal action if more public discourse did not occur.
The initiative gained attention in the wake of the tragic Lewiston mass shooting in October 2023, the deadliest in the state’s history. Opponents, including Mills, argue that the proposed law would undermine a previous "yellow flag" compromise enacted in 2019, which allows police to take individuals deemed dangerous into protective custody for mental health evaluations before a court decides on firearm access.
Maine State Police and Mills’s top lawyer expressed concerns that the red flag law could escalate dangerous situations for police tasked with serving such orders. Currently, Maine’s yellow flag law has been used over 800 times since its introduction.
Supporters of the red flag law argue it fills critical gaps, allowing family members to take quicker actions when a loved one is deemed a threat. Arthur Barnard, whose son was killed in the Lewiston shooting, stressed that family members often recognize early signs of potential violence.
In a push for public support, a coalition led by the Maine Gun Safety Coalition gathered over 80,000 signatures to qualify the proposal for the ballot. As the state grapples with this contentious issue, the outcome of the November referendum may shape Maine’s approach to gun safety and mental health intervention in the years to come.
BDN writer Michael Shepherd contributed to this report.
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