In the wake of the Lewiston Commission report, supporters begin gathering signatures to prevent future tragedies
PORTLAND – Today the Maine Gun Safety Coalition and allies launched the Safe Schools, Safe Communities citizen initiative to pass an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) law in Maine to help protect our kids, families, and communities from another tragedy like Lewiston. The campaign is a coalition effort by gun responsibility advocates, health care and mental health professionals, faith leaders, teachers, gun owners, veterans groups, and other advocates.
Supporters are kicking off the campaign in the wake of the Lewiston Commission report, which made it clear that Maine’s current law is weak, ineffective, and cumbersome. In 2019 legislators failed to pass an ERPO proposal, instead passing a “yellow flag law.” Maine is the only state in the nation with a yellow flag law, while 21 other states and Washington, D.C. have Extreme Risk Protection Orders. As the Lewiston report detailed, the consequences of Maine’s weak law were dire.
“In the aftermath of last year’s tragedy in Lewiston, people in communities across Maine have asked what could have been done differently,” said Nacole Palmer, executive director of the Maine Gun Safety Coalition and one of the citizen petitioners. “The Lewiston report laid bare the inadequacies of the half-measure lawmakers passed in 2019. The commission did its part, and now the rest is up to us. It’s time to protect Maine’s schools and communities with an Extreme Risk Protection Order law.”
The key difference between ERPOs and Maine’s current law is that under an ERPO law, family members – often the first ones to know if a loved one is in crisis and potentially a danger to themselves or others – are able to directly petition a judge to temporarily limit someone’s access to dangerous weapons when they’re in crisis, after due process. Family members are powerless under Maine’s current law.
“In the year since I lost my son, we went to Augusta and tried to get lawmakers to do the right thing and tighten this law up, and they fell short,” said Arthur Barnard, father of Lewiston victim Arthur Strout and one of the sponsors of the citizen initiative. “Now we’re taking this common sense proposal directly to the people of Maine. If Extreme Risk Protection Orders could prevent just one more family from ever having to experience what I’ve gone through – what my grandchildren are going through every day – it’s worth it.”
The burden of proof under an ERPO law is high for a court to temporarily remove someone’s access to dangerous weapons. Any family member seeking a risk protection order is required to present sworn evidence in a court of law, and misusing the law incurs severe legal penalties, which prevents abuse.
Extreme Risk Protection Orders provide a much-needed tool for families and law enforcement to intervene before a crisis becomes a tragedy. 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. Additionally, these types of laws are effective in reducing incidents of suicide – the leading cause of firearm death in Maine, especially among men.
The six citizen petitioners for Safe Schools, Safe Communities are:
Nacole Palmer (Bowdoin), executive director of the Maine Gun Safety Coalition
Arthur Barnard (Topsham), father of Lewiston victim Arthur Strout
Joe Anderson, D.O. (Portland), pediatric hospitalist in Lewiston
Cathy Harris (Mechanic Falls), retired teacher
Lisa Durkee (Blue Hill), minister
Doug Rawlings (Chesterfield), veteran
The Safe Schools, Safe Communities campaign has already been endorsed by a growing list of organizations, including:
Congregation Bet Ha'am
Episcopal Diocese of Maine
Healthy Acadia
Maine Association of Psychiatric Physicians
Maine Medical Association
Maine Osteopathic Association
Maine Providers for Gun Safety
Maine Public Health Association
Maine Summer Camps
NASW - ME Chapter
Physicians for Social Responsibility Maine
Responsible Gun Owners of Maine
The campaign has already begun reaching out to supporters and signing up volunteers for signature gathering, intended to begin on Election Day of this year. For more information please go to safecommunitiesmaine.org.
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