Maine Voters Approve New Red Flag Law
Above: Guns for sale in Augusta, Maine, on Jan. 16, 2016. Image copyright: Whitney Hayward/Portland Portland Press Herald/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Maine's current "yellow flag" system is already one of the most effective in the country, and has been used over 1,100 times to remove weapons from dangerous situations. Question 2 will complicate this by introducing a confusing process that places families in danger by forcing them to navigate court systems alone, instead of letting trained police handle these incidents.
Establishment-critical narrative
The Lewiston mass shooting exposed fatal gaps in Maine’s yellow flag law that cost 18 lives despite so many seeing the warning signs. Question 2 will equip families with vital tools to respond when their cries for help are overlooked in the current system and will adhere to the same standards of due process that Maine courts have effectively implemented for years.