Maine Mass Shooting: Survivors Prepare to Sue US Army

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Facts

  • A total of 100 survivors and family members of the victims of the October 2023 Lewiston, Maine, mass shooting are preparing to sue the US Army on claims that it was negligent and failed to prevent former Army Reservist Robert Card from committing the shooting.[1]
  • The plaintiffs claim that despite knowing about Robert Card's paranoia, delusions, and homicidal ideations, as well as his 'hit list' of targets, the Army chose not to intervene, thus allowing him to kill 18 people and injure 13 others before killing himself.[2]
  • They also claim that despite knowing Card threatened to 'shoot up' an armory in the month before the shooting, the Army chose to conceal recommendations from doctors that he not be allowed to access firearms. While he was prohibited from having guns while on duty, he still had them in his private possession.[1][2]
  • The legal filing claims the Army ignored Card's sister, who, in the spring of 2023, called a military crisis line to warn them about her brother's behavior and access to guns. They further allege the Army told the local sheriff's office not to intervene.[3][4]
  • This follows two reports from this summer, including an internal military report that found the Army had failed to check in on Card after he was hospitalized for psychiatric care during the months prior to the shooting.[5]
  • The legal filing is a notice of intent directed at the Department of Defense, the Army, and the Keller Army Community Hospital in New York. The institutions in question now have six months to respond before an official lawsuit is filed.[3][4][1]

Sources: [1]National Review, [2]CBS, [3]teleSURenglish, [4]Press Herald and [5]Axios.

Narratives

  • Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Press Herald. Since this was a preventable shooting and the Army has yet to take full responsibility, the victims have been forced to take this matter to court. It's remarkable that even after the Army's own investigation found procedural errors in how it dealt with Card, it's now trying to flip this around and claim that protocols were followed correctly. From the Army hospital to Card's own unit, everyone involved must be held accountable.
  • Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by www.army.mil. While the US Army must be held to the highest standards, it's important to remember that the armed forces are made up of American citizens just like any community. Military leadership cares as much as anyone about finding closure and justice for the victims, which is why the Army will be introducing new mental health care, oversight, and training protocols so that nothing like this ever happens again.

Predictions