Roughly 11 months after an Army reservist committed the worst mass shooting in Maine history, the state's two U.S. senators have introduced legislation that could compel the military use so-called "red flag" or "yellow flag" laws in states.
In July of 2023, Robert Card's Army Reserve leaders ordered him to undergo a psychiatric evaluation in New York because of his paranoia and erratic behavior. Both New York and Maine have laws allowing the courts to temporarily confiscate the guns of potentially dangerous individuals. But that never happened in this case, and Card later killed 18 people in Lewiston.
The bill from Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King would require the military to quote "fully utilize" state crisis intervention laws if a service member has been declared unfit to handle military firearms or has been involuntarily committed to a mental hospital.
"By taking such actions, we have a chance to help service members in crisis. We have a chance to help protect our neighbors, our families, our communities," Collins said.
Collins said that she consulted with military officials, veterans organizations and the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine when drafting the bill.
