Due to recent Freedom of Access Act (FOAA) requests by the Bangor Daily News and other unspecified outlets to obtain personal information—including the names, addresses and birthdates—of all Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP) holders in Maine, Governor Paul LePage (R) has put forward emergency legislation to grant immediate protection for all CHP holders. This emergency legislation is vital to ensure the protection and safety of law-abiding gun owners.
Under current law, police departments are required to make this information available to the public. However, this emergency legislation would provide temporary privacy protection for CHP holders while the state legislature works on a permanent solution to this problem—Legislative Document 345. LD 345, introduced by state Representative Corey Wilson (R-56), would protect the confidentiality of all CHP holders in Maine. This legislation has garnered wide bi-partisan support and currently has 61 cosponsors.
Over recent months, there have been several instances nationally of anti-gun media outlets publishing the names and addresses of CHP holders. Such publications place law-abiding gun owners at risk and jeopardize the safety of all Mainers by creating map for criminals who may target the residences of CHP holders to steal firearms. Governor LePage’s emergency legislation and LD 345 would ensure that this egregious violation of privacy and threat to society never happens in Maine.
A supermajority (2/3 vote) is required to pass emergency legislation, so it is especially important that you contact your state Senator and Representative to urge them to support for this emergency measure and also cosponsor LD 345. Please let your state lawmakers know that 31 states have already enacted Right-to-Carry confidentiality laws, and ten states are pursuing such legislation this year. Law-abiding citizens in Maine should be afforded these same protections. For help identifying your legislators and their contact information, please click here.
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