New Bill Mandates Army Compliance with State Crisis Intervention Laws

Legislation introduced after Maine mass shooting aims to improve coordination between military and civilian law enforcement to prevent future tragedies.

• The Armed Forces Crisis Intervention Notification Act, sponsored by Sen. Susan Collins, requires the Army to follow state crisis intervention laws to disarm service members posing a serious threat.
• The bill addresses gaps in communication that were highlighted after the October 2023 mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, where 18 people were killed and 13 injured by Army reservist Robert Card.
• Card had been hospitalized and deemed psychotic, but only had his access to military weapons restricted, leaving his privately owned firearms untouched.
• The legislation mandates the military's participation in state crisis actions, including red flag or yellow flag laws, which allow temporary confiscation of firearms during psychiatric emergencies.
• Investigations revealed that multiple missed opportunities and communication failures contributed to the tragedy, prompting the introduction of this bill to prevent similar incidents.

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