Maine: Second Amendment Under Attack

Anti-gun legislators in the Maine Legislature have wasted no time this legislative session attempting to single out and disarm law-abiding gun owners in the Pine Tree State.  The majority of gun-related legislation that has been introduced thus far is an affront to our constitutional rights as law-abiding citizens.  This unfortunate theme is epitomized in the following bills:

LD 265, sponsored by state Senator Stan Gerzofsky (D-10), drastically infringes on your inherent right to self-defense by repealing an important employee protection measure enacted in 2011, which prohibits an employer from banning an employee with a valid Permit to Carry Concealed Firearms from keeping a firearm in the employee's vehicle as long as the vehicle is locked and the firearm is not visible.

LD 267, also sponsored by Senator Gerofsky, burdens law-abiding citizens by mandating background investigations for all firearm transfers performed by occasional sellers at gun shows.   This legislation will have no impact on crime reduction because a criminal will never submit to a background check. 

LD 189, sponsored by state Representative Timothy Marks (D-53), creates an online database of individuals who hold a valid Permit to Carry Concealed Firearms.  This is an arduous and costly process, and will ultimately place law-abiding citizens at risk to criminals who may target their home to steal firearms.  Such legislation would violate the privacy of those who are simply exercising their constitutional right to self-defense.

In addition to the aforementioned bills, anti-gun lawmakers in the Maine Legislature have already submitted legislation for introduction to mandate liability insurance for firearm owners, to impose magazine restrictions and to criminalize all private firearms sales between even family  and friends .  These restrictive and arbitrary measures only serve to discriminate law-abiding gun owners and have no impact on crime or criminal access to or misuse of firearms.

It is imperative that you contact your state legislators TODAY and express your opposition to these misguided gun control measures and any proposed legislation that would infringe upon your Right to Keep and Bear Arms.  For help identifying your elected official and contact information, please click here.