FAQ

Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) empower families to intervene when a loved one is in crisis by going directly to a court and temporarily preventing someone, who a court deems dangerous, from accessing deadly weapons. When a person is in crisis and threatening to harm themselves or others, they often exhibit clear warning signs that family members are the first to see. But Maine’s current law gives them no way to take action. Yes on 2 would change that.

Maine’s current law is ineffective and failed to prevent the tragedy in Lewiston. The gunman’s family knew he posed a threat and repeatedly asked the police for help, but Maine’s current law gave them no way to take action. If this measure had been in place, perhaps one of the many warnings could have prevented the shooting.

Our current law gives family members, who are often the first to notice if a loved one is in crisis or danger, no way to take action themselves. After the tragedy in Lewiston, a state investigation found that Maine’s laws were too burdensome and weak to prevent this tragedy or tragedies like it. Passing a true ERPO law would empower both families and law enforcement to go directly to a judge when they know someone with access to deadly weapons is in crisis, cutting red tape while maintaining a high burden of proof, which will help save lives and prevent future tragedies.

No, Question 2 does nothing to repeal Maine's current law, commonly referred to as the 'yellow flag' law. Question 2 simply adds a tool that empowers families to go directly to a court when a loved one is in crisis and may be a danger to themselves or others, and ask a judge to temporarily restrict their access to firearms.

No. Question 2 empowers family members and law enforcement to go directly to a court and ask a judge to temporarily prevent someone, who a court deems dangerous, from accessing deadly weapons. Under Question 2 if a neighbor actually saw concerning behavior, like someone in crisis outside with a firearm, their recourse would be to call the police, just like under Maine's current law. From there law enforcement would determine the best course of action.

Yes – ERPO laws exist in 21 other states and Washington, D.C., where they have been used effectively to disarm people who threatened mass shootings, including school shootings. Additionally, they’ve been proven to reduce suicide, the leading cause of firearm related deaths in Maine.

Firearms are now the leading cause of death for American children and teens. Other states have used these laws to disarm people who threatened school shootings. In fact, a study of six states with ERPOs found that the extreme risk laws in these states prevented more than 650 potential mass shootings. Additionally, these types of laws are effective in reducing incidents of suicide – the leading cause of firearm death in Maine.

This measure ensures due process by requiring anyone seeking an Extreme Risk Protection Order to present sworn evidence in court. Someone can't just make something up and use this measure to get back at someone else, and if they lie, they would face serious legal penalties.

Hunting and gun ownership are traditions in Maine, and part of that tradition is believing that with gun rights come responsibilities like keeping firearms out of dangerous hands. This measure closes loopholes in our current laws, allowing us to prevent tragedies while respecting our Second Amendment rights.

Yes! We know that the vast majority of Maine gun owners are responsible gun owners who believe that gun rights come with responsibilities, like protecting our kids and communities by keeping guns out of dangerous hands. Our coalition includes many gun owners who support this initiative that empowers family members to get help for their loved ones, preventing tragic loss of life that devastates our communities.

This campaign is backed by the Maine Gun Safety Coalition and supported by a broad coalition of gun responsibility advocates, health care and mental health professionals, faith leaders, teachers, gun owners, veterans groups, and other advocates.

You can volunteer by reaching out to us at volunteer@safecommunitiesmaine.org. To learn more or join our email list, visit www.safecommunitiesmaine.org.