Sen. Millett testifies in favor of “red flag” bill

Posted: April 04, 2018 | Senator Millett

Sen. Rebecca Millett, D-Cape Elizabeth, testified in favor of legislation to increase the identification of high-risk individuals and increase the capacity of communities to address these risks at a public hearing before the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee on April 3.

LD 1884, “An Act To Create a Community Protection Order To Allow Courts To Prevent High-risk Individuals from Possessing Firearms,” sponsored by Sen. Mark Dion, D-Portland, offers an avenue for law enforcement or concerned individuals to petition the courts to temporarily remove weapons from a high-risk individual, who potentially poses a threat to others or themselves. This proposed legislation comes in response to recent school shootings and a heated debate about gun violence across the state and country.

“This bill may only be one part in a multi-pronged approach to solving the problem of gun violence in our schools and our society more broadly, but it is a critical aspect of that overall work,” said Sen. Millett. “Too many times we’ve heard that people had some concerns about a school gunman. And maybe this bill wouldn’t have stopped every one of them. But if it stopped just one. If it saved just one teacher’s life, one child’s life, it would be worth it to have passed it.”

A copy of Sen. Millett’s full prepared remarks is available here. Video of a portion of her testimony is available on the Maine Senate Democrats’ Facebook page.

The Community Protection Order would permit the court to temporarily remove weapons from an individual, who has demonstrated a clear, pattern of concerning behavior that seems to escalate. After 21 days, the individual would appear in court for a hearing. The order is designed to ensure that temporary removal of weapons would be directed and vetted solely by the court.

Six Republicans and four Democrats have signed onto the legislation as cosponsors.

LD 1884 will be subject to a work session in the Judiciary Committee in the coming days.