LEWISTON (WGME) — Since the Lewiston mass shootings, there have been a number of cases where Mainers have made threats.

Sometimes they’ve referenced the shooting suspect, being a mass shooter or the shooting itself.

In some cases, that’s led in part to their weapons or guns being taken away.

One gun violence expert from UCLA says there’s no question that there may be the appearance of copycat incidents.

“There might be some influence but all that they have in common is the fact that the perpetrator had access to these very powerful, very lethal weapons of war,” UCLA Professor Emeritus of Social Work Mark Kaplan said.

Kaplan adds there’s little evidence that people with serious, chronic mental health problems are more prone to gun violence.