massachusetts 2 - The Latremie Post

Island-wide vote chosen for school building project

Following a contentious discussion on Monday evening, the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School Committee decided to forgo traditional town meetings and instead move forward with an Island-wide vote to fund the renovation and addition project for the regional high school.

The committee convened in the school library to determine which voting process to pursue. Previously, the vote had been postponed from early October, allowing members time to consult with town officials, residents from all six towns, and each other to ensure the best path forward.

“I understand that there’s a lot of trepidation and concern. But I see confidence in our ability to take this vote tonight,” committee member Robert Lionette told the room, which included about a dozen attendees from local town officials to fellow school committee members. He noted the committee had evolved and thoroughly considered the decision. “Because of that, I am fully supportive of one, Island-wide vote,” Lionette affirmed.

### The Voting Options

Two options were on the table for how the Island community would vote on the project:

1. **Traditional Town Meetings:** Residents of each of the six towns would vote individually. However, if even one town rejected the project, the committee would need to return to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA)—the funding body that offers roughly a 30 percent reimbursement on the project cost, which is currently projected at about $334 million. There are no guarantees that MSBA would continue funding if the project was initially voted down in this manner.

2. **Island-wide Vote:** Residents would vote at their respective polling locations with a simple “yes” or “no” ballot on funding the project. Since the project cost will ultimately be distributed among individual taxpayers, approval rests in the hands of the entire Island public.

Committee member Amy Houghton expressed strong support for the Island-wide vote. “There’s no removing the community’s input,” she assured attendees. Houghton shared that some Tisbury residents prefer this method after their own school building project lost approximately $30 million in MSBA reimbursement due to dissenting town voters in the past. “This is a regional school district, and we need to be able to support the school and move the project forward,” she said.

### Concerns and Opposition

Only one committee member, chair Skipper Manter, voted against the Island-wide vote. Manter voiced his belief in the traditional town meeting structure and worried about potential fallout among the towns. “I think, in small town government, there’s nothing more important than town meetings. Everybody gets a fair opportunity to express their views,” he said.

Public opposition to the Island-wide vote echoed Manter’s concerns during the meeting. Richie Smith, superintendent of all public schools on the Island, expressed unease about bypassing town meetings. “I think we need to work within the confines of what we’ve done in a traditional manner,” Smith remarked.

He emphasized the necessity of the renovation beyond simple code upgrades—such as mechanical, central air, and electrical system improvements—that alone would cost about $190 million. The planned renovation and addition are vital for the wellbeing of staff and students, Smith said, and urged the committee to focus on educating the public about the project’s importance to ensure affirmative votes, rather than changing the voting system.

Dion Alley, chair of the school building committee, shared a similar viewpoint: “I would strongly urge you to follow the path we’ve been on. I think you need to put your trust in the community, and I think the community nine out of ten times will do the right thing.”

### Voices from the Towns

Several town officials were present to weigh in on the issue. Chilmark Select Board Chair Marie Larsen voiced support for a town meeting vote. “Doing the nuclear option right off the bat is just not a good thing in my opinion,” Larsen said. “We need to get the Island behind this, and this [choosing the Island-wide vote] is the opposite of that.”

Rachel Orr, a member of Tisbury’s finance and climate committees, expressed ongoing concerns about fairness within the funding formula under an Island-wide vote. With towns paying different rates, she questioned the equity of a regional vote. Tisbury residents and officials have been vocal for months about this issue, as the town is slated to contribute more than others under the current system.

While school committee members noted that the regional agreement and funding formula had previously been approved by Tisbury officials, the reality remains that Tisbury residents face multiple capital project burdens and fear adding another financial strain.

“I had three children go through the school. I’m very grateful for the facility and I love that it’s an Island-wide institution. But there are real winners and losers here,” Orr commented.

### Final Thoughts from Committee Members

School committee member Kathryn Shertzer admitted she had struggled with the decision for months. “There are no guarantees about this project. I really hope this project moves forward regardless of the way it’s voted,” she said.

Citing the Tisbury School project, where MSBA funding fell through and residents paid significantly higher taxes than planned, Shertzer expressed caution. “I can’t fathom our Island making repeated mistakes,” she said before ultimately voting in favor of the Island-wide vote.

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As the project moves ahead with an Island-wide vote, the community awaits a decision on a renovation that has been in the works for about a decade, balancing regional interests with individual town concerns and the vital goal of upgrading a critical educational facility.
https://www.mvtimes.com/2025/11/03/island-wide-vote-chosen-school-building-project/

AGs James, Tong other sue Linda McMahon and her department

**New York and Connecticut Attorneys General Lead Lawsuit Against Department of Education Over New PSLF Rule**

New York Attorney General Letitia James, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, and 20 other state attorneys general have filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts against the U.S. Department of Education and Linda McMahon, in her official capacity as Secretary of the Department of Education.

Linda McMahon, former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in Stamford, is named in the suit concerning a new federal rule restricting eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. The PSLF program allows government and nonprofit employees to have their federal student loans forgiven after ten years of qualifying service.

The lawsuit alleges that the Department of Education’s new rule unlawfully limits eligibility by disqualifying entire state governments, hospitals, schools, and nonprofit organizations if the government unilaterally determines they have engaged in activities disfavored by the previous administration. These activities reportedly include support for immigrants, gender-affirming health care, or diversity programs.

According to the attorneys general, this rule is not only unlawful but also politically motivated. They argue the rule intends to punish states and organizations that the administration opposes.

The PSLF program was established by Congress in 2007. Attorney General James emphasized its importance, saying, “Public Service Loan Forgiveness was created as a promise to teachers, nurses, firefighters, and social workers that their service to our communities would be honored.”

She added, “Instead, this administration has created a political loyalty test disguised as a regulation. It is unjust and unlawful to cut off loan forgiveness for hardworking Americans based on ideology. I will not let our federal government punish New York’s public servants for doing their jobs or standing up for our values.”

The Department of Education finalized the controversial new rule on October 31, with the rule scheduled to take effect in July of next year.

James and the other attorneys general warn that entire classes of public workers—including teachers, health professionals, and legal aid attorneys representing immigrants—could suddenly lose PSLF eligibility despite fulfilling all program requirements.

Highlighting current tensions, James pointed out that earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Justice sued New York over its “Protect Our Courts Act.” This state law ensures that immigration enforcement does not deter individuals from seeking justice in state courts. Under the new PSLF rule, the attorneys general contend that the administration could deem the “Protect Our Courts Act” as having a “substantial illegal purpose” and use that as grounds to deny loan forgiveness to thousands of New York public employees.

The lawsuit underscores that the new rule is flatly illegal. The PSLF law guarantees forgiveness for anyone who works full-time in qualifying public service. It does not grant the Department of Education authority to impose ideological tests or selectively target state policies or social programs while exempting federal agencies from similar scrutiny.

The group of attorneys general is asking the federal court to declare the new rule unlawful, vacate it, and bar the Department of Education from enforcing or implementing it. They stand united in their commitment to protect the promise of loan forgiveness for public servants nationwide.
https://westfaironline.com/fairfield/ags-james-tong-other-sue-linda-mcmahon-and-her-department/

Massachusetts gun violence debate erupts at State House over bill to punish firearms makers

A bill up for consideration on Beacon Hill would open the door for firearm manufacturers and distributors to be sued for the harm their products cause, igniting a debate over what gun violence exactly means.

Backers of the “Gun Violence Victims’ Access to Justice Act” argue that the bill would create a code of conduct to “reduce the likelihood that guns end up in the wrong hands” by holding the firearm industry accountable. Opponents counter that manufacturers and distributors shouldn’t be punished for harm inflicted by those who are behind the gun at the time the violence occurs and that criminals must be prosecuted.

Under the bill, firearm industry members would be mandated to follow safeguards and business practices designed to prevent the sale or distribution of guns to people prohibited from possession under state or federal law or individuals deemed to pose a “substantial risk” of harming themselves or someone else. The “reasonable controls” would also look to restrict the sale or distribution to straw purchasers—someone who purchases or gains a gun on behalf of a third party and isn’t eligible for an exemption—or firearm traffickers.

Ruth Zakarin, chief executive officer of the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, is leading the push for the bill with her umbrella organization, which represents over 120 member groups working to address the root causes of gun violence in the Bay State.

Zakarin argues that the firearm industry is the only industry with “broad protection from being held liable for the harms its products cause.” She notes that nine other states, all controlled by Democrats, have similar laws.

“This lack of accountability has allowed some bad actors to behave irresponsibly and put our communities at risk,” Zakarin told lawmakers on Friday. “This bill would change that.”

State Rep. Steven Xiarhos, a Cape Cod Republican who served 40 years with the Yarmouth Police Department, pressed Zakarin during the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security hearing.

“You mentioned gun violence many times. What is it?” Xiarhos asked.

Zakarin responded, “It is when guns are used to harm or hurt people in the Commonwealth.”

Xiarhos shared his perspective, saying his understanding of gun violence, gained over decades in law enforcement, is that “most of the deaths from people with guns are suicide. The rest, or many of the rest, are accidental.”

“There are very few that happen by people with guns,” Xiarhos added, “and those who have guns that commit crimes are mostly criminals.”

Under the proposed bill, firearm industry members include those who manufacture, distribute, import, market, or sell guns. They’d be required to take “reasonable precautions” to ensure that firearms aren’t designed, sold, or advertised in ways that promote the conversion of legal products into illegal ones or target minors or individuals prohibited from possessing guns.

A person who suffers harm due to a firearm industry member failing to follow code-of-conduct protocols could bring a civil action forward in court. The Attorney General could also civilly sue whoever in the industry the victim deems responsible for the incident.

“The ability to sue is long overdue for victims of gun violence and their families,” said Elizabeth Ryan, policy counsel for the group Every Town For Gun Safety. “The gun industry should and must face people it has harmed in court when its own bad acts are responsible for injury and death.”

Ramya Swami, policy counsel for the national organization Brady: United Against Gun Violence, pointed to a “crime gun trace report” published by the state Executive Office of Public Safety and Security in 2022. The analysis found that four of the 329 firearm dealers in the Bay State were responsible for “25% of the problem,” Swami said.

Advocates are backing the bill amid ongoing tensions with Second Amendment proponents. State Sen. Peter Durant describes recent firearms legislation as “one of the most significant infringements on the rights of law-abiding gun owners that we’ve seen in Massachusetts in decades.” Durant refers to Chapter 135, a landmark firearms law enacted last year by Beacon Hill Democrats and Gov. Maura Healey.

Durant, a Spencer Republican, is pursuing bills to repeal that legislation, in part or in full. Regarding the Gun Violence Victims’ Access to Justice Act, he expressed concern that the bill seeks to punish manufacturers for how someone uses their products.

“That’s the biggest difficulty I have here,” he said at Friday’s hearing. “We don’t do that in so many other industries. If someone takes a car and drives through a crowd of people, we don’t sue Ford for that. We prosecute the crimes where they occur.”

Citing Massachusetts’ strict gun laws, gun manufacturer Smith & Wesson relocated to Tennessee in 2023 after moving from its longtime Bay State home. The company had been located in Springfield, Massachusetts, since the mid-19th century, but officials said legislative proposals would prohibit them from manufacturing certain weapons.

State Rep. David Linsky, a Natick Democrat, argued that in “virtually every other industry,” individuals can sue companies over business practices.

“If General Motors makes a defective car, you can sue General Motors,” he said. “If one of those industries uses a deceptive advertising method… you can sue.”

Linsky drew jeers from the public gallery during Friday’s hearing when he said statistics show Massachusetts as the “safest state… as far as gun violence goes.”

John Green, education director for the Gun Owners Action League of Massachusetts, appealed for Bay Staters and gun control advocates to “stop referring to it as gun violence.”

“There is no such thing as gun violence,” Green said. “If there were, there would also have to be car and truck violence, knife violence, medicine violence.”

“Let’s admit to the fact: Violence perpetrated with a gun, that is what it is called,” he added. “Using such terminology is making smart people sound ignorant.”
https://www.bostonherald.com/2025/11/01/massachusetts-gun-violence-debate-erupts-at-state-house-over-bill-to-punish-industry-members/

Endangered North Atlantic right whales are making a slow comeback

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**Slow but Steady: North Atlantic Right Whale Population Shows Signs of Recovery**

The North Atlantic right whale (*Eubalaena glacialis*) is one of the most endangered large whales in the world. Their very name reflects their tragic history: these whales were considered the “right” whales for whalers to target, as they floated after being killed, making them easier to harvest.

Today, their biggest threats are ship collisions and entanglement in fishing gear. However, for once, there’s some good news from the marine conservation community.

According to a statement from the New England Aquarium, estimates for North Atlantic right whale populations are slowly increasing. Researchers from the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium, New England Aquarium, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimate that, in 2024, there were around 384 individuals—a 2.1 percent increase from the previous year’s count.

So far, 2025 has also shown promise. Heather Pettis, senior scientist at the New England Aquarium, shared with *Popular Science* that there have been 11 known calf births, zero detected deaths, and notably fewer significant entanglements and vessel strikes this year.

“The population increase is really good news, and so far, what we’ve seen in 2025 is also encouraging,” Pettis explains. However, she cautions, “We’re talking about a population of 384 individual whales—that’s still incredibly low. Yes, we’re seeing increases. They’re small, and we still are seeing injuries to animals from human activities. So, I say that we’re cautiously optimistic.”

Pettis emphasizes that conservation efforts must continue with urgency. Both regulatory processes and initiatives beyond regulation are essential. Creative industry solutions and public awareness campaigns play a critical role in protecting these whales.

In Massachusetts, for example, Cape Cod has implemented fishing limits during times when right whales are known to be present as part of its mitigation strategy.

One promising innovation involves new on-demand fishing technology currently being trialed in the U.S. and Canada. This technology aims to prevent whale entanglements by keeping vertical ropes—those that connect traps on the seafloor to buoys at the surface—out of the water column until fishermen need to retrieve their gear.

“Removing those vertical ropes from the water is a huge conservation benefit to right whales,” Pettis explains.

When it comes to reducing ship collisions, many stakeholders are exploring ways to better connect with mariners, informing them when they are entering areas where slowing down would benefit the whales.

Another potential avenue is related to right whale eyesight. A study on humpback whales published earlier this year suggests that their vision may be poorer than previously thought, meaning they might not see fishing gear until it’s too late to avoid it.

While similar studies on right whale eyesight haven’t been published, Pettis notes that there are discussions about which colors right whales might see better underwater. “Are there ways in which we could alter the color of ropes? Might that help? So that’s a lingering question,” she says.

As the North Atlantic right whale population slowly recovers, ongoing efforts combining science, technology, and community engagement remain vital to ensuring its future survival.
https://www.popsci.com/environment/endangered-north-atlantic-right-whales-are-making-a-slow-comeback/

Man killed in multi-vehicle crash in Lakeville

LAKEVILLE, MASS. (WHDH) — Police are investigating a crash in Lakeville that occurred on Saturday night, resulting in the death of a 66-year-old man and leaving two other people hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

Officers responded to a reported crash near 164 County Road around 7 p.m. Upon arrival, they found a two-vehicle collision that took place between Highland Road and Freetown Street, according to Lakeville police.

The 66-year-old man from Lakeville, whose name has not been released, was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. The occupants of the other vehicle were also hospitalized with injuries that are not considered life-threatening.

The investigation into the crash is ongoing. Lakeville Police are being assisted by the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, the State Police Crime Scene Services Section, and State Police detectives assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office.
https://whdh.com/news/man-killed-in-multi-vehicle-crash-in-lakeville/

Obituary: Helen M. Ludwig

**THOMASTON — Helen M. Ludwig, 86, passed away peacefully on October 10, 2025, at her home in Thomaston, surrounded by her loving family.**

Helen was born on April 7, 1939, in Camden to Fred Leland and Theresa Gray Leland. She grew up in Camden and Rockport, graduating as the Valedictorian of Rockport High School’s class of 1957.

In 1957, Helen married Raymond Ludwig. The couple lived in Massachusetts for ten years before moving back to Maine, residing in Brunswick and Durham. Helen pursued higher education and earned a degree in education from the University of Southern Maine in 1975.

Helen dedicated 28 years to teaching third grade in Brunswick until her retirement in 2003. She was a proud member of the Maine State Teachers Association. After retiring, Helen and Ray moved back to Thomaston, where she devoted her time to crafting, quilting, and caring for her home.

Helen was predeceased by her parents; daughter Laurie Ludwig; sister Betty Lord; sister-in-law Kathryn Archer; brother-in-law John Ludwig; and nephew Michael Archer.

She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Raymond Ludwig of Thomaston; sons Kurt Ludwig of Thomaston and Edward Ludwig of Naples, Florida; and grandchildren Brent St. Pierre of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Matthew St. Pierre of Baker, Florida, Zachary Ludwig of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Brittany Ludwig of Fallbrook, California, and Kendra Ludwig. Helen also leaves behind her brother-in-law George Baines of Durham; several great-grandchildren; niece Diane Lord of Northport; nephews Scott Archer of Palm Coast, Florida, and Thomas Archer of Warren; along with extended family.

A private family graveside service will be held at Sea View Cemetery in Rockport. Arrangements are entrusted to Hall Funeral Home and Crematory, located at 78 Main Street, Thomaston.
https://www.pressherald.com/2025/10/17/obituaryhelen-m-ludwig/

For Mainers impacted by gun violence, red flag referendum is personal

James LaPlante remembers hearing how Robert Card was experiencing paranoia in the months before he killed 18 people and injured a dozen more in the Lewiston mass shooting. It sounded familiar.

Three years earlier, LaPlante’s brother, Stephen, was worried his friends were spreading lies that he was a pedophile and that a grocery store clerk who giggled was in on the rumor. Card had made similar claims to friends and family.

LaPlante contacted police after his brother started stockpiling guns, but police said there wasn’t enough evidence for them to intervene, and LaPlante was unable to get his brother the help he needed to stop him from acting on his worst impulses. In 2020, Stephen died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

His brother’s death is the reason LaPlante now supports a red flag law in Maine—a proposal that would allow family members, in addition to police, to initiate a weapons removal process if a person poses a risk to themselves or others. The law also would eliminate the requirement in Maine’s existing yellow flag law that a person first be taken into custody for a mental health evaluation.

“The big thing for the red flag law for me is it enables family members to take action,” said LaPlante, who lives in South Portland. “And family members are the ones who are going to know if someone is in a mental health crisis.”

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### Growing Support for Red Flag Laws in Maine

LaPlante is among dozens of Mainers who have pleaded with lawmakers over the last two years for stronger gun control. After the Legislature failed to take up a red flag proposal last year in the aftermath of the Lewiston mass shooting, gun safety advocates organized a signature gathering campaign to get a citizen’s initiative on the ballot.

That measure will now go to voters statewide on Nov. 4 as **Question 2**.

Many people directly impacted by gun violence support a red flag law—family members like LaPlante, friends who have lost loved ones to gun suicides, survivors of the Lewiston shooting, and victims of other crimes involving firearms.

Opponents, some of whom also survived the mass shooting, say it weakens due process for gun owners and have argued that a red flag law already in place in 21 other states would not have prevented what happened in Lewiston.

“They could have used the yellow flag here in Maine and they never did,” Destiny Johnson, a Lewiston survivor, says in a campaign video released this week urging people to vote no on Question 2.

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### ‘It Could Have Allowed Me to Go to the Courts’

LaPlante encouraged his brother to move in with their mother in Naples after he got caught up in drugs and was “hanging with the wrong crowd” in Massachusetts, where the brothers had grown up.

At one point, he said, Stephen was voluntarily committed to a mental hospital after attempting suicide. The move to Maine was good for Stephen at first, LaPlante said, but he still struggled with bipolar disorder that prevented him from working. His mental health worsened when the pandemic hit.

He stopped playing guitar and started focusing on collecting replica and BB guns, and eventually real firearms.

“During COVID, his paranoid ideations very quickly went to, ‘Society is going to collapse and I have to be ready for it, and people are after my stuff,’” LaPlante said. “He started to just amass weapons.”

LaPlante said he got particularly concerned after his brother woke their mother up in the middle of the night while he was on the roof with a rifle looking for people he thought were coming to take their belongings.

Around the same time, he said Stephen became convinced friends of his from Massachusetts were spreading rumors that he was a pedophile.

“Being in that scenario was really hard,” LaPlante said. “I felt stuck.”

LaPlante said he contacted police but was told there wasn’t much they could do unless Stephen committed a crime.

In his research on the yellow flag law, which had just taken effect in July 2020, he found that police were struggling to arrange the mental health assessments needed to confiscate firearms. Stephen died in September.

LaPlante said he believes the outcome could have been different had a red flag law been in place.

“It could have allowed me to go to the courts and say as a family member that I’m concerned he has been suicidal in the past,” he said.

Supporters of the red flag law say it could be especially helpful in reducing firearm suicides, and research has shown that red flag laws in other states can be an effective part of suicide prevention.

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### Lewiston Survivors’ Views

While police initially struggled to connect with medical practitioners to conduct the required mental health assessments in the early days of the yellow flag law, a telehealth contract with the Portland nonprofit behavioral health provider Spurwink has since helped streamline the process.

Then, a state investigation into the Lewiston shooting—which found the yellow flag law could have been used by law enforcement— increased awareness and training among police, and its use has skyrocketed.

State officials recently announced the law has been used more than 1,000 times, all but 81 of those coming after the Oct. 25, 2023, mass shooting.

But some survivors still say a red flag law would be beneficial.

Among the most vocal is Arthur Barnard, whose son Artie Strout was killed at Schemengees Bar & Grille. Barnard has lobbied at the State House in favor of the law and last month appeared in an ad on behalf of the Yes on Question 2 campaign.

“Nobody knows if a family member is off-kilter faster than a family member,” Barnard said in an interview. “I believe that. Who knows that person better than their family?”

Jennifer Zanca of Auburn, who was shot in the left shoulder at Schemengees, is also in favor of a red flag law.

Zanca said that while she generally favored gun safety laws prior to the shooting, it made her think harder about what can be done to prevent such violence.

“I just feel like what we’re doing is not working,” she said. “It’s getting worse.”

The red flag proposal offers a more streamlined alternative and gives families a way to remove weapons from a person in crisis, she said.

“I feel safe knowing there are laws in place to take away guns from people who are having a mental health crisis, or who have gone psychotic and their family members see that,” Zanca said.

She was part of a group of four friends who went to Schemengees for dinner following a golf outing the night of the shooting. Among them was Johnson, the woman who recently appeared in the video for Protect Maine − No Red Flag, a group opposing Question 2 that is led by the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine with a powerful lobby.

In testimony before the Legislature last spring, Johnson elaborated on her opposition to a red flag law, saying Mainers need to be able to defend themselves in public places.

“Why would the state of Maine put a red flag law in place now, when they never enforced the yellow flag law to begin with?” she said in written testimony.

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### Is Maine’s Current Law Enough?

David Trahan, executive director of the Sportsman’s Alliance, who worked with Gov. Janet Mills to pass the yellow flag law, is a leading opponent of Question 2.

He said he empathizes with anyone impacted by gun violence, including the many victims and survivors who have testified to lawmakers in support of a red flag law.

“But I’d love to sit down and talk with some of them because I believe our (yellow flag) law is better than red flag, and so does the governor, and so do state police,” Trahan said, referring to Mills’ and Maine State Police’s opposition to the red flag proposal.

State police have said that family members can already initiate weapons removal by contacting law enforcement and have expressed concerns that it will be more dangerous for them to try and remove weapons because the changes could mean someone is not already in protective custody when police go to remove their guns.

Supporters of the red flag law refute the idea that weapons removal would be more dangerous, saying law enforcement have inherently dangerous jobs and red flag laws are already working safely in several other states.

Mills has said that the yellow flag law, which she helped draft with gun rights and safety groups, has already proven effective, while also protecting Second Amendment rights. She has argued it’s important for police to be involved in navigating what can be a confusing court process and that it’s the responsibility of law enforcement, not private citizens, to protect the public.

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### Advocates Speak Out

LaPlante says he doesn’t see the option to use red flag as something that would be burdensome for family members and said it is set up to work more quickly than the existing law.

“You’re giving people the opportunity to seek help,” LaPlante said. “That’s not a burden.”

He and other proponents acknowledge that it’s not a guarantee to prevent a loved one’s suicide or another mass shooting, and point out that there are other steps Maine could also take to improve gun safety, such as closing background check loopholes and improving access to mental health care.

But they said it’s a step in the right direction and that there’s no harm in giving families the choice of another tool.

“This law is about preventing gun tragedies and saving lives,” said Judi Richardson, whose daughter, Darien Richardson, died after she was shot in a home invasion in Portland in 2010.

Richardson and her husband, Wayne, are gun owners who didn’t think too much about whether Maine’s laws could be improved prior to their daughter being killed, she said.

Then they started connecting with other families around the country who had been impacted by gun violence, and said it opened their eyes to the need for change.

While the home invasion and homicide are still unsolved, Richardson said she can’t say if a red flag law would have helped in her daughter’s case. But she said it can generally improve safety.

“It may not pertain in my situation, but if we can prevent other injuries and deaths, that’s what we’re advocating for,” Richardson said.
https://www.sunjournal.com/2025/10/16/for-mainers-impacted-by-gun-violence-red-flag-referendum-is-personal/