Gun law expert says Maine’s ‘yellow flag’ law ‘useless’ following Lewiston shootings

Maine (WMTW) – Concerns have been raised after body camera footage obtained by 8 Investigates shed light on an interaction between the Lewiston mass shooter and New York State Police last July. The body camera footage depicts the New York State Police interviewing Robert Card at an Army base near West Point.

WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW BETWEEN CARD AND TROOPERS (Warning: The video below is unedited by Maine’s Total Coverage)

Army reservists alerted troopers to Card’s erratic behavior, noting a significant change in his demeanor in the months leading up to the shootings. Additionally, concerns were raised regarding Card’s possession of numerous firearms.

The video has sparked a debate regarding the handling of the situation and whether New York’s “red flag” law should have been invoked. Red flag laws are designed to confiscate firearms from individuals deemed to be a threat to themselves or others.

“It’s very clear in this case that many people did say something. And you know what happened after that? The response from either New York or Maine law enforcement officials led to the tragedy,” said Michael Lawlor.

Lawlor co-authored Connecticut’s red flag law.

“You know, it works and hasn’t been challenged, hasn’t been overturned, and police understand that they use it effectively here. I mean, prevention is the goal,” Lawlor said.

Lawlor was critical of Maine’s “yellow flag” law because it requires a mental health evaluation, which in his view, slows down the process of weapons removals when time is really of the essence.

“If any of these events had transpired in Connecticut, meaning the lead-up events to the shooting, I’m very confident that this person would have been separated from his guns,” Lawlor said.

The responsibility for initiating action to confiscate Card’s firearms remains unclear, something the commission investigating the Lewiston shooting is tasked with uncovering.

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