The Maine Gun Safety Coalition says it’s collected 60,000 signatures to get a “red flag law” proposal before voters.
The coalition argues a red flag law could’ve prevented the Lewiston mass shooting last year while opponents say it would restrict Second Amendment and constitutional rights without offering due process.
The Red Flag Law would let families and police ask a court to temporarily remove a dangerous weapon from a family member in crisis.
The state’s current Yellow Flag law requires a mental health evaluation before a weapon can be taken from a person.
The Maine Gun Safety Coalition is headed by executive director Nacole Palmer.
The group launched its Safe Schools, Safe Communities campaign with a goal of creating to creating a Red Flag Law after a state commission investigating the Lewiston mass shooting concluded that local law enforcement failed to enforce the state’s current Yellow Flag Law. The Maine Legislature also failed to pass a Red Flag Law proposal in its last session earlier this year.
Maine Democratic Governor Janet Mills has generally opposed implementing a Red Flag Law, saying the current more stringent law has been effective.
The Gun Safety Coalition will still have to collect more signatures to ensure the proposal can get on the ballot. The number of signatures required to qualify is equal to 10 percent of the total votes cast for governor in the most recent gubernatorial election. That number is 67,682.
The filing deadline for appearing on the November 2025 ballot is 5 p.m. on January 23, 2025, and February 2, 2026, for the November 2026 ballot. The coalition has not decided which election would be better for the Red Flag Law proposal, although the 2026 election would be higher profile, with another governor’s race on the ballot.
