AUGUSTA, Maine — Democrats are criticizing Maine Gov. Paul LePage's statements about gun control and mental illness related to his order to lower flags to half-staff in honor of the victims of the mass shooting in Roseburg, Oregon.
The flags will be at half-staff until Tuesday at sunset. The Republican governor issued a statement on Monday that faulted politicians for blaming guns when in his opinion, the nation's problem with violence is about people with mental illness getting access to guns.
State Democratic party spokeswoman Rachel Irwin says LePage should expand Medicaid so more Maine residents could access treatment if he was serious about addressing mental illness.
The gunman at Umpqua Community College killed nine people last week.