Maine Healthcare Providers Rally, Demand Tougher Gun Control Laws For The State

According to the Kennebec Journal, hundreds of healthcare providers from across the State of Maine gathered yesterday in the city where the deadliest mass shooting in the state's history took place last month.

As part of a new coalition that was recently created on the heels of the tragedy, the Maine Providers for Gun Safety gathered in the parking lot at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston to rally for tougher gun laws in Maine.

There were more than 200 providers in attendance with more than a dozen coming up to speak on the issue. One of those speakers, Pediatrician, Joe Anderson, said in part during his speech,

“My mind was flooded with questions I’d never faced at work before: If multiple patients need my attention at once, how would I decide where to shift my focus? Do we have the equipment ready to manage multiple critically ill pediatric patients at the same time in our community hospital? Will I be able to keep myself composed if one of my friends’ children is rolled in on a stretcher?” 

Anderson went on to say that he believes he and his colleagues responded 'phenomenally' given the circumstances that night. He explained that the team at CMMC treated the first wave of patients and then began preparing for a possible second wave.

Dr. Chris Turner, a surgeon at Maine Medical Center, went on to say that Maine has three areas of focus when it comes to combating gun violence in the future. He explained that he believes the state needs more 'sensible state legislation' to protect its citizens as well as 'Maine-specific outreach and prevention strategies'.

Turner also said in part,

“Please join me in contacting your local legislator and tell them that you’re tired of bearing witness to these preventable injuries, and demand action now".

Since the October shootings, Maine's yellow-flag gun law has been used nearly 2 dozen times.