In her letter published May 11, Sheila Richardson repeats the familiar mantra that “more gun laws would only limit law-abiding people,” not those who don’t obey the rules (“More mental health support needed, not more gun laws“).
To an extent that is true, but even though no one “gun law” will solve the problem of mass shootings, school shootings, accidental household shootings, and firearm suicides, that should not be reason enough to dismiss laws that will take small steps to counteract this national public health problem.
Ms. Richardson is justifiably concerned about mental health and worries about individuals who might be “about to blow up.” What better reason to pass a “red flag law?” Maine has a “yellow flag law,” touted by the Sportsmans Alliance of Maine as the answer to the problem, but it is not as effective and expeditious, requiring the time-consuming involvement of health care providers rather than direct contact with a judge.
In a column dated May 15, Paul Waldman of The Washington Post wonders “how many more guns will it take to make us safe?” Isn’t there just maybe some direct relationship between the ever-increasing number of gun sales and the ever-increasing number of gunshot deaths?
Our state representatives should resist green light laws, such as the one that would loosen stand-your-ground requirements.
They should also support orange light laws (background checks and waiting periods), and should replace the yellow flag with a red one.
Edward Walworth, Lewiston
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