In the months since the October mass shooting tragedy took the lives of 18 people and injured 13 others, the Lewiston community has embarked upon a painful grieving process — one that will continue long into the future.

Often, the long-term effects of gun-related trauma go unseen, and aren’t fully felt until years after a tragedy like this takes place. According to the American Psychological Association, studies have documented increases in post-traumatic stress disorder, major depression, anxiety disorders, substance use disorder and other serious conditions among mass shooting survivors.

Additionally, a person’s psychological proximity to a mass shooting — the degree to which they can relate to someone they know who has been impacted or to the event itself — can increase the risk for developing symptoms of PTSD.

We believe that the state has the responsibility to ensure that policies and behavioral health investments reflect the long-term needs of victims and their families, which have far too frequently been overlooked following similar tragedies that have occurred across the country. In other communities impacted by mass gun violence, we’ve seen funding for victims and survivors slowly dry up as the headlines dissipate, leaving people who are still grieving feeling alone, frustrated and without assistance.

Here in Maine, we cannot allow this to happen. That’s why we’re working to make certain that those most directly impacted by mass violence can receive the long-term help they need, regardless of financial status. This session, the Legislature has an opportunity to step up and fulfill this responsibility in a meaningful way by passing legislation to create the Maine Mass Violence Care Fund.

In her January State of the State Address, Gov. Janet Mills outlined the creation of this fund and included it in her supplemental budget proposal. It would include an initial $5 million investment to help provide a continuum of care for the victims and families of the Lewiston tragedy, along with potential future victims of mass violence in Maine. We are calling on the Legislature to pass and fund this legislation before adjourning in the next few weeks.

The idea for the Maine Mass Violence Care Fund was loosely modeled after a similar fund created last year in Virginia, a state that has suffered numerous high-profile mass shootings, including the 2007 Virginia Tech tragedy that took the lives of 32 people and injured 17 others. This program was the first of its kind in the nation, intended to provide assistance to victims, survivors and their families as an option of last resort when other financial resources weren’t available.

The proposed Maine fund would be tailored to fit the unique needs of this state and the victims who have been impacted by mass violence here. It would help pay for victims’ eligible physical and mental health out-of-pocket expenses not covered by health insurance or other payments.

These payments to victims would only be made from gains, interest, dividends and other revenues earned on the initial $5 million investment or other money gifted to the fund. Eligibility would be determined, and proceeds would be distributed, by the Maine Crime Victims’ Compensation Board within the Office of the Attorney General. And in addition to supporting the victims in Lewiston, the fund would also be available to any victims of future mass violence here in Maine, should another horrific tragedy occur.

In approving the creation of the Maine Mass Violence Care Fund, the Legislature would demonstrate its unequivocal commitment to supporting the long-term health, well-being and longevity of Mainers whose lives have been shattered by the epidemic of mass gun violence.

There is no uniform timeline for grief, and the emotional pain and trauma resulting from such tragedies can last a lifetime. Establishing a continuum of care through this fund would ensure that victims can receive the trauma-informed services they need to support their healing process long after the television crews have moved on and the headlines have subsided.

Rep. Kristen Cloutier, the assistant House majority leader, represents House District 94, which includes part of Lewiston. Joe Samaha is the director of victim advocacy at the VTV Family Outreach Foundation, formed by a majority of the families and survivors of the Virginia Tech shooting on April 16, 2007. 

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