When I wrote about this issue initially, my discussion included the following parragraph.“I understand weapons and their correct application as a retired Army officer. I firmly believe in the 2nd Amendment and support citizens’ right to keep and bear arms. That opinion also includes reasonable limitations on that right. Some of our citizens should not share in our 2nd Amendment rights. Unfortunately, the process for determining who should, and more importantly, who should not share in the right, is flawed and needs to be updated. Those who decide who may legally purchase and possess a firearm need access to HIPAA information to identify anyone with significant mental issues that would prevent them from owning a gun.” Apparently this paragraph has caused some confusion so I will try to clarify my comments. As a lifelong Mainer, I recognize and respect Maine’s rich heritage of safe and responsible firearm ownership. As a 30-year veteran of the U.S. Army, an Airborne Ranger, and a qualified Green Beret, I have spent decades serving our great nation to protect the freedoms we hold dear.
After the Lewiston tragedy, there have been sweeping calls for gun control in Maine and America. Punishing law-abiding Mainers, turning them into criminals overnight, will not reduce violent crime or prevent another tragedy. At every level of government, our system failed.
Our state and nation face a mental health crisis. The procedures that we already have in place to ensure that relevant mental health records are entered into the firearm background check are inadequate. I support efforts to close these gaps, to ensure that the mental health records of individuals struggling with severe mental health issues, or are in the midst of crisis, are entered into our background check system.
As a veteran myself, I understand the need to balance the privacy and protection of civil rights for all people – especially our military veterans. However, for individuals like the Lewiston shooter, we must have a system in place to ensure that individuals who intend to harm themselves or others get the appropriate care they need.
I oppose any and all effort to impose burdensome gun control regulations on law-abiding citizens, and I will advocate for more resources to treat those individuals struggling with mental health issues.