Signatures have been submitted in Maine for a ballot initiative to establish a process for extreme risk protection orders, a policy related to firearms regulation. The ballot initiative, unless approved by the legislature, would appear on the ballot for Nov. 4, 2025.
The Maine Gun Safety Coalition reported submitting more than 80,000 signatures to the secretary of state’s office on Jan. 23, 2025. At least 67,682 signatures must be valid for the indirect initiative to be certified to the legislature.
The initiative would establish a process for extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs), also known as red flag laws. The process allows for family members, household members, and law enforcement officers to petition a court to restrict an individual’s access to firearms. Currently, 21 states and the District of Columbia have extreme risk laws.
Nacole Palmer, executive director of the Maine Gun Safety Coalition, said, “With such a high documented rate of danger to our communities we need to have every tool in place in order to prevent these tragedies before they happen. We want to make sure there isn’t another gunman who falls through the cracks.”
Laura Whitcomb, president of the Gun Owners of Maine, which opposes the initiative, said, “While the Maine Gun Safety Coalition continues to utilize emotional pleas in an attempt to manipulate the people of Maine, Gun Owners of Maine will stand ready with the facts, and will continue to defend the rights of responsible gun owners in the face of the anti-gun rights lobby’s attempt to turn Maine into states like New York, Illinois and California.”
If enough signatures are validated, the indirect initiative will be sent to the legislature for consideration. The legislature would have until the end of the legislative session to consider the initiative. It could either approve the initiative or, if it rejects or takes no action on the measure, the initiative would be placed on the ballot for voters to decide. Additionally, the legislature has the option to propose an amended version or a substitute measure to be presented to voters alongside the original initiative.
An initiative that would require voter photo identification could also appear on the ballot on Nov. 4, 2025, in Maine, after the campaign supporting that initiative reported submitting 170,000 signatures to the secretary of state’s office on Jan. 6.
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