The suspect responsible for a series of deadly shootings in Maine was turned away from purchasing a silencer at a local firearms store three months prior to the tragic incident. Robert Card, a 40-year-old army reservist with a history of mental illness, had admitted to being committed to a mental health facility when completing the necessary form at Coastal Defense Firearms. Shop owner Rick LaChapelle explained that Card had purchased the silencer online and was set to pick it up from the store. However, upon answering “yes” to the question regarding mental health commitment, Card was informed that he was ineligible to purchase the silencer. LaChapelle believes that if the purchase had gone through, the attacks would have been even deadlier as the shooting would have been less audible.

The shooting spree took place on Wednesday in the city of Lewiston, where Card opened fire at a bar and a bowling alley, resulting in the death of 18 individuals and leaving over a dozen injured. Card's alarming history of mental illness and violent threats had come to light since the incident. In July, he had been committed to a mental health facility for two weeks due to erratic behavior and threats to shoot up a military base. Law enforcement sources informed CNN that in September, the Maine National Guard had issued a state-wide warning about Card, expressing concerns that he would potentially carry out a mass shooting. Officers attempted to contact Card, but were unable to locate him at his residence.

The shooting has raised questions about the effectiveness of Maine's "yellow flag" law, which was implemented in 2019 as a means of preventing mass shootings. The law requires several steps to be taken before a weapon can be taken away from an individual deemed dangerous to themselves or others. However, some critics argue that this law is not as strong as a "red flag" law, similar to those adopted by 21 other states, which allows a court to temporarily remove a firearm from an individual considered to be a threat. Cam Shannon, chair of the non-profit Maine Gun Safety Coalition, spoke out against the state's gun laws, describing them as "woefully weak."

On Friday night, Card's body was discovered near a river, approximately 10 miles away from Lewiston. Police stated that he appeared to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The shooting incident remains the deadliest mass shooting in the United States this year, prompting discussions about existing gun safety laws and the need for strengthening measures to prevent such tragedies. The failure to report Card's involuntary commitment to a mental health facility has also raised concerns about the communication and monitoring systems in place between military institutions and law enforcement agencies.