Maine's New 'Red Flag' Gun Law Takes Effect This Weekend

The law, approved by voters in November, allows for the temporary removal of weapons from people deemed a risk to themselves or others.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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A new gun safety law in Maine that allows for the temporary removal of firearms from individuals deemed a threat to themselves or others takes effect this weekend. The so-called 'red flag' law was approved by Maine voters in November following a referendum campaign that came after lawmakers failed to pass a similar proposal. The law gives police and family members the ability to petition a judge for a temporary weapons removal order, unlike the state's existing 'yellow flag' law which requires a mental health evaluation.

Why it matters

The new red flag law is seen as a key response to the 2023 mass shooting in Lewiston, where 18 people were killed. Supporters say the law will simplify the process for removing weapons from those in crisis, while critics argue the evidence standards make it too easy to take someone's guns. The law's implementation will be closely watched, as past opposition from law enforcement raises questions about how often it will be used compared to the existing yellow flag law.

The details

Maine's new red flag law allows police and family or household members of the person in crisis to petition a judge for a temporary weapons removal order. Unlike the state's yellow flag law, it does not require a mental health evaluation before the order can be approved. Supporters say this will streamline the process, while critics argue the law's standards make it too easy to take someone's guns. The law was approved by 63% of Maine voters in a November referendum, following a campaign where supporters far outraised opponents, with about 40% of their nearly $900,000 coming from out of state.

  • The new red flag law takes effect on Saturday, February 22, 2026.
  • The Lewiston mass shooting that helped spur the law's passage occurred in October 2023.

The players

Nacole Palmer

Executive director of the Maine Gun Safety Coalition, a group that advocated for the new red flag law.

David Trahan

Executive director of the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine, a leading opponent of the red flag law who says the group is considering a legal challenge.

Robert Card

The shooter in the 2023 Lewiston mass shooting that left 18 people dead.

Janet Mills

The governor of Maine who has included funding for implementing the new red flag law in her supplemental budget proposal.

Barbara Cardone

Director of legal affairs and public relations for the Maine Judicial Branch, which says it is ready to implement the new law.

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What they’re saying

“Last November, Maine voters rejected repeated false claims from the gun lobby and opponents and overwhelmingly voted in favor of this commonsense law that will save lives.”

— Nacole Palmer, Executive director, Maine Gun Safety Coalition (centralmaine.com)

“I'm continuing to hear over and over again this is confusing. It's dangerous and it wasn't well thought-out. I think it was an out-of-state effort to rush something through because they wanted a victory on guns.”

— David Trahan, Executive director, Sportsman's Alliance of Maine (centralmaine.com)

“We are going to continue to closely monitor it, and nothing is off the table.”

— David Trahan, Executive director, Sportsman's Alliance of Maine (centralmaine.com)

“We anticipate that as it is implemented, we will gain a better understanding of how the process will work. Therefore, changes or refinements will be made along the way based on the feedback we receive.”

— Shannon Moss, Spokesperson, Maine Department of Public Safety (centralmaine.com)

“We're very used to it. We know what the next steps are. It's a controlled environment. We're going to try and steer them towards that... I think you're going to find most police officers are going to try and stick with the yellow flag.”

— Mike Edes, Executive director, Maine Fraternal Order of Police (WVOM radio)

What’s next

The judge in any red flag law cases will decide whether to allow the temporary removal of firearms from individuals deemed a threat.

The takeaway

Maine's new red flag law, approved by voters in November, represents a significant shift in the state's approach to gun safety, providing a new tool to temporarily remove firearms from those deemed dangerous. However, its implementation will be closely watched, as past opposition from law enforcement and concerns about the law's standards raise questions about how often it will actually be used compared to the existing yellow flag law.