I was in the ER on the night of Lewiston. I’m voting yes on Question 2.

By Dr. Joe Anderson

Dr. Joe Anderson, a pediatric hospitalist in Lewiston, is the advocacy chair for the Maine Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the founder of Maine Providers for Gun Safety.

On the night of Oct. 25, 2023, I stood with my colleagues in the emergency department as victims of Maine’s deadliest mass shooting began arriving. The chaos, confusion, grief and helplessness I witnessed that evening will stay with me forever.

That night marked a turning point. I had long advocated for common-sense gun safety as a pediatrician, but after Lewiston, the urgency became unbearable. Along with several fellow pediatricians, I helped form Maine Providers for Gun Safety. Within weeks, more than 500 physicians and other health care professionals and health care associations joined our call. We understand that gun violence is a public health crisis requiring a multifaceted response.

One proven approach, supported by nearly every major medical organization in the country from the American Medical Association to the American Academy of Pediatrics, is the extreme risk protection order (ERPO) law. That’s why as a doctor and someone who witnessed the tragedy of Lewiston close-up, I plan to vote “yes” on Question 2 this November.

Continue reading here at the Bangor Daily News.