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Susan Young is the Bangor Daily News opinion editor.
“I’m sorry.” Those are the words that still come to mind when I think of the horror, uncertainty and loss that began last Oct. 25. Those words are, of course, wholly inadequate to the scope of the tragedy. But, sorrow persists a year later, and will no doubt last much longer.
I’m sorry for the 18 lives cut short by a gunman in Lewiston. I’m sorry for the immeasurable loss of mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, coworkers, partners. My heart aches for the families with an empty space at their dinner table.
I’m sorry for the lives forever altered by injuries and trauma that terrible night a year ago. I’m sorry for the fear and uncertainty that gripped Lewiston and all of Maine as lockdowns and a manhunt failed for too long to find the man responsible for Maine’s worst mass shooting. I’m sorry to those who lost their sense of peace and tranquility — long a hallmark of Maine.
Yet, amid the sorrow, I’m also thankful. Thankful to those who selflessly put themselves in harm’s way to shield and help others. To the first responders who rushed to an unimaginable scene and to those who worked through darkness and uncertainty in the hunt for the gunman. I’m thankful for the healthcare providers who saved lives and treated injuries too horrific to imagine.
I’m thankful and in awe of my journalist colleagues who spent days telling the world the stories of Lewiston, of those who were lost and of those who showed unparalleled bravery. They then spent months digging into the series of unforgivable missed opportunities to prevent Robert Card II from committing this heinous act.
I’m thankful to elected officials, like Gov. Janet Mills and U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, who took the politically dangerous step of changing their minds on firearms restrictions. For acknowledging that past resistance to such restrictions needed to be rethought after tragedy and horror came to their hometown, their home state.
I’m thankful to state legislators who engaged in tough, but thoughtful, debates and voted to strengthen Maine’s gun laws, in hopes of preventing other communities from having to endure what Lewiston did. It, sadly, may not work, but they took the brave steps of rejecting the notion that there is nothing we can do about the scourge of gun violence.
I’m also thankful to lawmakers for approving big increases in funding for mental health services and for approving new programs to support those who need help. It isn’t enough in a sea of despair and anger, but it will make a difference.
I’m also thankful to the commission of Maine citizens who quickly undertook an intense review of the events that led to the horrors of last Oct. 25. Their assessment of thousands of pages of documents and interviews with dozens of people identified many of the failings that culminated in last year’s mass shooting. Although their findings have already helped inform needed changes in information sharing, much more needs to be done.
That’s why I’m also angry. Angry for the many mistakes made, the warning signs missed, an all too familiar conclusion after such horrific events. I’m angry at the people, policies and systems that failed to keep people safe in Lewiston, people who were simply enjoying a night out with friends and family. I’m angry at the Army Reserve personnel who failed to follow up to make sure that Card, a reserve member, was getting the additional mental health treatment he needed. I’m angry that essential information wasn’t shared.
I’m angry that law enforcement didn’t try harder to intervene when Card’s family raised alarming concerns. I’m angry that Maine’s yellow flag law, which some law enforcement officials called “cumbersome, inefficient and unduly restrictive,” was insufficient for this situation.
Yet, I’m hopeful that Maine’s law can be improved, either by lawmakers or by the citizens of Maine. I’m hopeful because, after decades of inaction, brave politicians changed their minds and this year passed commonsense restrictions on guns.
I’m hopeful that artificial, yet harmful, barriers to mental health treatment can be broken down. That those who need mental health care will be treated no differently than those who need care for their physical health.
But, for now, I will focus on remembering.
Tricia Asselin, Billy Brackett, Peyton Brewer-Ross, Thomas Conrad, Michael Deslauriers, Maxx Hathaway, Bryan MacFarlane, Keith MacNeir, Ronald Morin, Joshua Seal, Arthur Strout, Bob Violette, Lucy Violette, Stephen Vozzella, Jason Walker, Joe Walker, Aaron Young and Bill Young.
My heart aches for each and every one of you, and for those whose lives were forever altered by injury and loss.
I remember.
