On October 25, a mass shooting occurred in multiple locations, including a bowling alley and bar, in Lewiston, Maine, resulting in at least 22 fatalities and 50 injuries.
The Lewiston Police Department confirmed via Facebook that the suspect behind the incident is 40-year-old Robert Card. As of the time of reporting, Card remains at large.
Reports indicate that Card had received firearms training at a U.S. Army Reserve facility in Maine and also worked as a firearms instructor. He had undergone mental health treatment earlier this summer.
Local hospitals and schools have responded to the incident, urging residents to stay safe. Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston released a statement saying they are coordinating with regional hospitals to treat victims. Jake Langlais, the superintendent of Lewiston Public Schools, announced that schools would be closed on October 26 and advised residents to seek shelter or safe places. Lewiston is a city in Androscoggin County, located about 35 miles from Portland, Maine's largest city.
Government Response
President Joe Biden spoke with Maine Governor Janet Mills and several members of Congress regarding the shooting, pledging comprehensive support for the state. In a statement, Mills said she has been briefed on the situation and urged residents to follow the directives of state and local law enforcement.
This incident marks the deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. since August 2019. The most fatal mass shooting on record in the U.S. occurred in 2017 when a gunman opened fire from a high-rise hotel during an open-air country music festival in Las Vegas, killing 58 and injuring 851.
According to the U.S. Gun Violence Archive, there were 647 mass shootings in 2022, resulting in 20,200 deaths. As of October 25, the archive has recorded 564 mass shootings for the year. Based on trends up to July, the archive predicts there will be 679 mass shootings in 2023.
Gun Control in the U.S.
Gun violence remains a persistent issue in the U.S., with President Biden repeatedly calling for gun reform since taking office. In September, he established the first-ever White House Office for Gun Violence Prevention to address the rising cases. This office will coordinate efforts across federal agencies and provide guidance to states.
Biden stated that the office would fully implement the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act passed last year. This law mandates enhanced background checks for potential gun buyers under 21, provides funding for mental health and school safety, and requires states to implement "Red Flag" laws. These laws allow law enforcement to confiscate firearms from individuals deemed a threat to themselves or others after obtaining a court order.
Biden also faces pressure to strengthen gun control to appeal to younger voters. A 2022 poll by the grassroots organization "March For Our Lives" showed that younger voters are more likely to support candidates with bold stances on curbing gun violence.
The poll revealed that 53% of young voters fear for their safety due to gun violence, and 52% are concerned about being affected by mass shootings. A majority believe U.S. gun laws are not strict enough, with 60% feeling the government should be more proactive in addressing the gun crisis.
Earlier this year, the Biden administration announced plans to address the "gun show loophole" through increased regulation. The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that there are up to 5,000 gun shows held annually in the U.S., but only one-fifth of them require all transactions to undergo background checks. This allows a significant number of private sellers and buyers to trade firearms without any checks.
Lax gun control in the U.S. has also drawn criticism from neighboring countries. Last year, Mexico filed a lawsuit against U.S. gun dealers, accusing them of fueling the spread of illegal weapons, leading to a surge in homicides in Mexico. The Mexican government claims that of the nearly 40 million guns produced in the U.S. each year, 2.2% are smuggled into Mexico. In 2019 alone, at least 17,000 homicides in Mexico were linked to U.S. gun dealers.
