red flag

Several dozens of supporters and opponents of the proposed "red flag" gun law laid out their arguments for a legislative committee.

The Legislature's Judiciary Committee now plans to hear testimony on the issue starting at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, June 11.

The Democratic co-chairs of the Legislature's Judiciary Committee have argued that, despite a state law requiring a hearing, the best and most direct way to hear from the public is to allow the issue to go to voters this fall in a referendum.

The Democratic leaders of a legislative committee say a public hearing isn't required under Maine's Constitution. But that runs contrary to state law, which requires lawmakers to hold hearings on citizen-initiated ballot questions.

Maine already has a "yellow flag" law allowing police to seek a court order forcing someone to give up their guns if they pose a danger to themselves or others. But a ballot initiative headed to voters this fall would institute a broader "red flag" law in Maine.

Mills authored the state's novel "yellow flag" law with a prominent gun rights group. She says a red flag proposal that would allow family members to petition a judge to remove a loved one's guns undermines that law.

The Maine Gun Safety Coalition says it collected more than 80,000 signatures for a bill that would allow family members to petition a judge to remove a loved one's guns if they're considered dangerous.

Fifteen states currently have a Red Flag law, which permits police or family members to petition a court to order the temporary removal of guns from any…