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Maine people were deeply affected by the Lewiston tragedy two years ago. It didn’t have to be that way.
The Independent Commission to Investigate the Facts of the Tragedy in Lewiston final report in its discussion and observations section on the law enforcement response on Oct. 25, 2023, stated: “Some members of the judiciary and law enforcement expressed frustration with the yellow flag process. Law enforcement officers reported that the process was too burdensome and took too long, placing outsized burdens, especially on smaller law enforcement agencies forces.”
The frequent pleas for help from the family members of Robert Card went unanswered. If a red flag law had been in effect, the family could have gone directly to court to petition for an extreme risk protection order, which, if approved by a judge, would have allowed for the temporary removal of weapons from Card.
The Card family did not have that option. A red flag law would have given them that option, potentially sparing 18 lives.
The red flag law would not replace our current yellow flag law, but most importantly would provide an additional, less burdensome and more timely path to protect individuals and the public from people who are at risk of significant harm to themselves or others.
Joel B. Russ
Walpole
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