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Last year’s “ERPO” bill was vetoed by Paul LePage, but a new bill, LD 1312, has just been introduced. Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO) reduce gun-related suicides and domestic violence homicides by temporarily suspending access to firearms for people who are a danger to themselves or others. Submit testimony in support of the bill and contact your legislators and Gov. Mills!<\/b><\/p>\n
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Last year, in response to the Parkland school shooting, Maine legislators introduced <\/span>LD 1884<\/span>, an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) bill. The bill was vetoed by then-Gov. LePage, but now a new and improved LD 1312: An Act Regarding Access to Firearms by Extremely Dangerous and Suicidal Individuals<\/a>\u00a0has been introduced.\u00a0<\/span>Like the Parkland shooter, many of those who commit suicide or homicide with a gun exhibit signs of their intentions. Extreme Risk Protection Orders empower family members and law enforcement to act on these warning signs by authorizing judges to temporarily suspend an individual’s access to firearms when it has been proved that the person poses a danger of causing personal injury to themselves or another person. When a judge grants the protection order, the individual’s firearms are removed for 14 days. After a full-party hearing, the order can be extended for an additional 365 days if necessary. Unlike other states’ ERPO bills, LD 1312\u00a0provides counsel to the subjects of protection orders, so that they can challenge the merits of the petition at the full-party hearing and seek assistance in obtaining mental health services. It also requires family members filing a petition for a protective order to be explicitly informed that making false claims against an individual is a\u00a0felony, punishable by up to 5 years in prison and $5,000 in fines.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Extreme Risk Protection Orders are primarily sought by family members seeking to prevent a suicide. While mass shootings and gun homicides command media attention, the majority of gun deaths in America (more than 21,000 a year) are <\/span>firearms suicides<\/span><\/a>. Maine\u2019s suicide rate is higher than the national average, and <\/span>is the second leading cause of death for individuals ages 15-34.<\/span> About half of our state\u2019s suicide deaths are committed with guns. The difference between suicide attempts made with guns and by other means is stark. 90% of people who attempt suicide by other means <\/span>survive<\/span><\/a>. By contrast, <\/span>90% of suicide attempts with a gun are fatal.<\/span><\/a> Temporarily removing firearms from a person in crisis can prevent tragedies. Following Connecticut\u2019s increased enforcement of its ERPO law,\u00a0the law was associated with a 14% reduction<\/a> in the state\u2019s firearm suicide rate. A\u00a0public hearing<\/a>\u00a0was held April 22 (read the testimony<\/a>) but a work session has not yet been scheduled.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ module_class=”site-footer” _builder_version=”3.0.79″ background_color=”#00417f” custom_padding=”18px|0px|5px|0px|false|false” prev_background_color=”#ffffff” global_module=”845″][et_pb_row global_parent=”845″ make_fullwidth=”on” custom_width_px=”2600px” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” custom_margin=”|||” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” border_color_all=”#9e9e9e” module_alignment=”center”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image global_parent=”845″ src=”https:\/\/www.suitupmaine.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/suitup_new_new_FLAME_horiz-1.png” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ max_width=”45%” custom_margin=”||15px|” \/][et_pb_text global_parent=”845″ _builder_version=”3.0.89″ text_text_color=”#efb217″ text_font_size=”12px” text_letter_spacing=”1px” text_line_height=”1.5em” background_layout=”dark” custom_margin=”|||”]<\/p>\n Suit Up Maine is a statewide, all-volunteer, progressive, grassroots group of more than 5,400 Mainers that seeks to create and foster a more informed and engaged electorate. We raise awareness of and advocate for policies and legislation that promote equity and equality in civil rights, social justice, health care, the environment, education, the economy, and other areas that affect the lives of all people. We are\u00a0beholden to issues and action, not parties or politicians, and we aren\u2019t engaged in fundraising. Suit Up Maine fosters collaboration among our state\u2019s progressive groups and organizations to collectively connect, educate, and motivate Mainers to rise in non-violent resistance to a regressive agenda.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_social_media_follow global_parent=”845″ _builder_version=”3.12.2″ text_orientation=”left” custom_margin=”-15px|||” custom_padding=”||15px|”][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”facebook” url=”https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/suitupmaine\/” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ background_color=”#3b5998″ follow_button=”off” url_new_window=”on”]facebook[\/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”twitter” url=”https:\/\/twitter.com\/SuitUpMaine” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ background_color=”#00aced” follow_button=”off” url_new_window=”on”]twitter[\/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”instagram” url=”https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/suitupmaine\/” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ background_color=”#517fa4″ follow_button=”off” url_new_window=”on”]instagram[\/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][\/et_pb_social_media_follow][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_sidebar global_parent=”845″ orientation=”right” area=”et_pb_widget_area_7″ show_border=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ header_font=”Open Sans|on||on|” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#ffffff” header_font_size=”16px” background_color=”#00417f” text_orientation=”center” background_layout=”dark” max_width_last_edited=”off|desktop” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|||” \/][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text global_parent=”845″ _builder_version=”3.19.11″ text_font=”|700||on|||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”12px” text_letter_spacing=”1px” header_font=”|||on|||||” header_text_color=”#ffffff” background_layout=”dark” max_width=”74%” module_alignment=”right” custom_margin=”||10px|” custom_padding=”||10px|” text_line_height=”1.5em”]<\/p>\n Civic Dashboard<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Issues<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Call to Action Archive<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Get Involved<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Email List Sign Up<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Member Forum<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nTHE ACTION<\/span><\/h4>\n
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Want to brush up on your gun violence facts and rebut common arguments? We\u2019ve got you covered with our resource: ARM YOURSELF\u2026.WITH FACTS!<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/h4>\n