Voters in Maine will decide whether or not to adopt a "red flag" law when they head to the polls this year, and the gun control lobby is pouring a ton of money into the state in support of the measure.
Gov. Janet Mills has come out in opposition to the proposal, arguing that the state's "yellow flag" law is a better way to address individuals who might pose a danger to themselves or others, and groups like the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine have also been forcefully speaking out against the "red flag" language. Republicans wanted to offer a competing measure for voters as well, but they were stymied by the Democrats in control of the legislature, who also refused to hold a public hearing on the "red flag" referendum as required by the Maine Constitution until the NRA, SAM, and others threatened to file a lawsuit over their obstinance.
According to CentralMaine.com, the gun control lobby has "raised seven times more and spent 10 times more than opponents" in support of the proposed Extreme Risk Protection Orders, which would allow private individuals, not just law enforcement, to file petitions to remove someone's legally owned firearms. Unlike the "yellow flag" law already in place, the "red flag" proposal has no mental health component to it either, leaving it up to a judge to determine someone's dangerousness without any evaluation from a mental health professional.
Safe Schools Safe Communities has raised $407,000, including $300,000 last quarter, while spending $322,000 in the campaign. They reported having $175,000 in cash on hand.
“We’re entering the final month of the campaign with strong support from Mainers throughout the state,” Yes on 2 campaign manager James Stretch said in a written statement. “We know that our opponents have the backing of the national gun lobby and their deep pockets, so our campaign to pass this life-saving law depends on our donors.”
Safe Schools Safe Communities got a big boost from wealthy donors last quarter, including from author Stephen King, who donated $20,000.
Susan Crimmins, of Portland, has donated more than $30,000, while Carol Wishcamper, of Freeport, has donated at least $25,000. And Gideon gave $33,000 from her 2020 campaign.
The Alliance for Gun Responsibility Fund, a Seattle-based advocacy group, contributed $65,000.
The group also received a $190,000 loan from the Maine Gun Safety Coalition and has $20,000 in debt, primarily for TV, cable and other media advertisements.
It's absurd for Stretch to talk about the "deep pockets" of the national gun lobby when more than half of the money his group has raised has come from the gun control lobby, but this kind of false narrative is hardly unusual from the anti-gunners.
While the anti-gunners have a large spending advantage, that doesn't necessarily translate to success on Election Day. In 2016, Maine voters rejected a "universal" background check referendum despite the gun control lobby outspending opponents of the measure by about 8-to-1. We could see a similar result this November, and groups like Gun Owners of Maine and SAM are doing a lot of grassroots work to warn Mainers about the dangers of adopting a "red flag" law, in addition to Governor Mills' public opposition.
I haven't seen any polling on the issue, but I'm not sure it would provide an accurate snapshot of voter preference anyway. In 2016 the few polls that were taken showed broad support for the background check initiative, but it was still defeated by an almost 4-point margin when the actual votes were counted.
I suspect this year's referendum will also be close, and "red flag" opponents, even those who live outside of Maine, should lend their support to Protect ME -No Red Flag and Keep ME Safe if they can. Second Amendment supporters in the state, meanwhile, should be talking to friends, family, neighbors, and fellow gun owners about the problems with Question 2 and the "red flag" process it would create if adopted.
