“SENSELESS AND TRAGIC”
President Joe Biden referred to as Maine’s governor and officers to supply federal assist, and ordered flags to be lowered to half-mast on the White Home and all authorities buildings.
“As soon as once more, our nation is in mourning after one more mindless and tragic mass capturing,” he mentioned.
Biden added that the gun violence that plagues america “isn’t regular, and we can’t settle for it”, urging lawmakers to move a invoice banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
Police and rescuers reportedly arrived on the Sparetime Recreation bowling alley at about 7.15pm in response to an lively shooter, after which obtained experiences of one other capturing on the Schemengees Bar & Grille.
In digicam photos of 40-year-old Card on the bowling alley, he appeared calm and composed as he moved by the doorway together with his rifle raised.
One other survivor, Riley Dumont, mentioned she and her household fled to a nook of the bowling venue and hid behind tables and a bench.
“I used to be laying on high of my daughter. My mom was laying on high of me,” Dumont informed ABC Information.
“It felt prefer it lasted a lifetime,” she added. “I simply bear in mind individuals sobbing and crying.”
Officers situated a “car of curiosity” – a white sport utility car (SUV) – in Lisbon, a city round 12km from Lewiston.
The capturing is likely one of the deadliest since 2017, when a gunman opened hearth on a crowded music pageant in Las Vegas, killing about 60 individuals.
Mass shootings are alarmingly common in the United States, a rustic the place there are extra weapons than individuals and the place makes an attempt to clamp down on their unfold are all the time met with stiff resistance.
The nation has recorded not less than 565 mass shootings this 12 months, in accordance with the Gun Violence Archive (GVA), a non-governmental group that defines a mass capturing as 4 or extra individuals wounded or killed.
Wednesday’s assault was the deadliest mass capturing in 2023 to this point, in accordance with the GVA’s knowledge.
Efforts to tighten gun controls have for years run up towards opposition from Republicans, staunch defenders of the constitutional proper to bear arms.
The political paralysis endures regardless of widespread outrage over recurring shootings.