Maine sister mass shooting victim calls lawmakers' 11-hour push for red flag law 'disgraceful'

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The sister of one of the victims of the deadliest shooting in Maine history accused lawmakers of acting “disgracefully” by pushing for a so-called red flag bill in the 11th hour of the legislative session Adoption could take guns away from someone experiencing a psychiatric crisis. Others said such a law could have saved lives.

The testimony extended into a second day as a legislative committee heard public testimony Tuesday on the proposal, which aims to allow family members or others to petition a judge to begin the process of temporarily removing a person's guns person during a psychiatric crisis rather than having the police handle the process The state's existing “yellow flag” law.

Jill Walker, a licensed clinical social worker whose brother Jason was killed in the mass shooting, made an impassioned appeal to lawmakers to reject the proposal. She said the yellow flag process was appropriate if used correctly.

“I am disturbed that some members of the Maine Legislature have seized the opportunity to shamefully exploit the October 25 tragedy for political ends,” Walker told the Judiciary Committee. “Personally, I think this was rushed,” she added.

But a statement read on behalf of Jennifer Zanca, who was shot in the arm while trying to escape the carnage, suggested she believes a red flag law could have made a difference.

“I realize this is a sensitive issue and my friends have different opinions, but here I stand: States that have safe gun laws, including waiting periods, background checks, and warnings, are the least likely to have it Armed force. The statistics are clear. It seems reasonable that we take these measures because they work,” Zanca’s statement said.

The Red Flag bill, which will be heard publicly Friday and Tuesday, is among a series of proposals introduced in response to the Oct. 25 shootings by an Army reservist at a bowling alley and bar and grill in Lewiston . The army and police were aware that the 40-year-old gunman had become paranoid and delusional, which led to his hospitalization. A fellow reservist warned that he could commit a mass shooting.

An independent commission said existing Maine law would have had to be invoked to confiscate Card's guns. The Yellow Flag Law requires police to begin the process of removing a person's weapons in a crisis by taking the person into protective custody, having them evaluated and presenting the results to a judge. “Red flag” proposals allow a person to go directly to a judge to begin the process.

Critics claim that taking police out of the equation could trample on someone's rights.

Kathleen Szostek of Dixfield told the committee that the red flag proposal “lulls us into thinking we are doing something about gun violence while potentially trampling on the rights of law-abiding citizens.”

“This nation was founded on innocents until proven guilty. This bill is so wrong. “Imagine how it could be weaponized in this divided environment,” said Szostek, who claimed that the existing law “would work well if followed.”

Sheldon Bird of Bath has called out lawmakers for inaction on gun violence.

“The basic opening argument against any kind of firearms restriction is this: 'Guns don't kill people, people kill people,'” Bird said. “This is specious at best, fraudulent at worst.” If it were valid, we would have no higher mortality rate than any other civilized country. Guns are a unique factor in the violent situation in the United States.”