In 2022, 85% of firearm deaths in Maine were suicides, according to state data.

Given that the vast majority of firearm deaths in Maine are suicides, it only makes sense to allow family members and housemates to go directly to a judge to request that firearms be temporarily removed from someone expressing suicidal thoughts or actions.

In situations where every minute counts, direct petitioning of the court could save lives by acting faster than current procedures that require law enforcement to initiate the process. This proposed Red Flag Law wouldn’t replace existing options — it would simply create an additional, life-saving pathway.

No matter where you stand on gun ownership, this measure is about protecting people — not taking sides. It’s about giving families and friends a way to step in before it’s too late. A “yes” vote on Question 2 is a vote for compassion, prevention, and the chance to save one life, or more, when it matters most.

Vote YES on 2 — because saving even one life is worth it.

Mary Orear lives in Rockport