Maine’s Yellow Flag law could have let the sheriff confiscate the gunman’s weapon before he tragically took 18 lives, according to a report
Maine’s Missed Opportunity: A Law Unenforced, Lives Unsaved
In a riveting account that has shaken the state to its core, a Maine panel has revealed a harrowing truth: a mass shooting that claimed 18 lives in Lewiston might have been prevented. Maine’s “yellow flag” law, designed to act as a safety valve before tragedies strike, was pointedly disregarded in a devastating oversight.
The Dark Prelude to Tragedy
Months before the bloodshed, alarm bells were already ringing. The family of U.S. Army reservist Robert Card feared for his mental stability and alerted local authorities. Despite owning up to 10 firearms, Card was a ticking time bomb in plain sight. Maine’s yellow flag law stood as a bastion of hope—a chance to intervene and disarm him before it was too late.
Local law enforcement had “several opportunities that, if taken, may have changed the course of events.”
Five months prior to the massacre, as Card’s mental health spiraled, his family’s plea was clear. Yet, the response from the sheriff’s office was a dangerous silence. The law was there, but the will to enforce it lay dormant.
The Panel’s Findings: A Potential Turn of Fate Ignored
Gov. Janet Mills and AG Aaron Frey composed a panel to dissect the failings of the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office. Their findings are a stark expose—a narrative of missed checks and unused power amidst looming threats.
- The law, passed in 2019, stood as guardrails against the misuse of the personal right to bear arms.
- Efforts to tighten gun policy, like background checks and waiting periods, stagnated, creating a porous safety net.
- Card’s mental state had already deemed him unfit for Army duty, a red flag dismissed with dire consequences.
The report condemned the non-action as an abrogation of responsibility, a lapse that allowed Robert Card to carry out Maine’s deadliest shooting. The panel spotlighted a daunting “what if”—had authorities stepped in, seizing Card’s guns, deflating his capacity for harm, could lives have been saved?
The Unfolding Horror: A Sequence of Loss
On a fateful October 25th, the warning signs culminated in a rampage. Starting at a bowling alley, Lewiston became the stage for a senseless slaughter. Card’s spree didn’t relent until 18 innocents had fallen, with 13 others wounded, marking an unprecedented scar on Maine’s history. The narrative came to a close with Card’s own life, ending at a recycling facility where his story first began taking form.
The report stands as a somber testament to opportunities foregone and emphasizes a dire need for vigilance. It’s a clarion call for action, not only in Maine but nationwide, echoing the critical importance of enforcing laws designed to prevent such catastrophes. Maine’s tragic oversight is a lesson that cautions us all: when warning flags are raised, action must follow.
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