Maine senators critical of Army’s handling of shooter

U.S. Senators Angus King and Susan Collins of Maine are questioning the Army’s handling of a reservist who became a mass shooter. The man killed 18 people and wounded 13 more in a shooting last month in Lewiston, Maine, before killing himself. The senators sent a letter to the inspector general of the Army questioning what steps his superiors took to prevent the shooter from harming civilians–-and what steps they failed to take.

What warning signs did the shooter give? He previously threatened to attack a U.S. military installation in Maine, according to reports. The senators also wrote that Army clinicians had recommended he receive mental health treatment. Both senators requested a thorough investigation, saying the Army failed to take appropriate action to trigger laws that would have prevented the shooter from accessing firearms.

Dig deeper: Read Eric Teetsel’s column in WORLD Opinions on putting the military ahead of the unborn.