Maine's Yellow Flag Gun Law Falls Short in Preventing Violence Despite Warning Signs, Raises Questions Over Its Effectiveness

Despite warnings about shooter Robert Card's mental state and threats of violence, law enforcement failed to utilize Maine's unique "yellow flag" law, sparking criticism over its effectiveness and calls for more robust gun control measures.

• Maine's unique 'yellow flag' law, designed to prevent individuals in crisis from accessing firearms, did not prevent Robert Card from going on two shooting rampages in October despite clear warning signs and reports on his deteriorating mental state.
• The law prescribes a multi-step process in which the individual has to be taken into custody by law enforcement, evaluated by a medical professional and then reviewed by a judge who can approve an order to temporarily remove the person's access to firearms.
• Critics argue that the law is cumbersome and does not effectively address acute crises, featuring additional hurdles compared to red flag laws of other states, which generally allow anyone close to a dangerous individual to petition courts to revoke their access to firearms.
• Documents reveal that Card's family had reached out to authorities multiple times expressing concerns, but law enforcement relied on them to keep guns away from Card instead of implementing the yellow flag process.
• Maine's yellow flag law has been invoked 80 times since its inception in 2020, mainly used to protect people from suicidal ideation. The point of contention lies in its implementation, raising debates over the efficacy of the law and the need for stronger gun control measures.

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