Maine Reviews Gun Laws Following Lewiston Mass Shooting; Calls for Implementation of Red Flag Law Intensify

Multiple signs of shooter's deteriorating mental health ignored; current Yellow Flag law reportedly ineffective in preventing tragedy.

Robert Card, the shooter in the Lewiston massacre, was noted by various people including his family and Army Reserve unit members as showing signs of mental health deterioration and potential danger to himself and others. Despite this, he was allowed to possess multiple guns, including powerful assault weapons.
Key points highlighted by various articles depict the ineffectiveness of Maine's current yellow flag gun law. Despite multiple 'warning signs', no actions were taken that could have potentially prevented the tragedy. A potential miscommunication or lack of awareness about the existing yellow flag law needs to be addressed by authorities.
Governor Janet T. Mills of Maine is establishing an independent commission to delve into what measures could have been taken to prevent the tragedy, focusing more on strengthening Maine's gun laws and potentially implementing a red flag law.
Maine's yellow flag law, which does not necessarily hinge on diagnosable mental health issues, seems to have been applicable in the case of Card, yet was not utilized. This raises questions about its effectiveness and implementation. On the other hand, red flag laws, enforced in 21 states and the District of Columbia, have been proven to prevent mass shootings, according to studies by the Center for Gun Violence Solutions at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Beyond the implementation of red flag laws, there’s further call for extensive gun safety measures in Maine, including universal background checks, limits on magazine size, waiting periods for purchasing weapons and a ban on assault weapons. These measures aim to strengthen state firearm regulations without significantly hindering lawful citizens from owning firearms.