Maine: Session Ends With Legislative Victories

The Maine state Legislature adjourned last Friday, April 29, with big legislative wins for law-abiding gun owners.

Last week, Governor Paul LePage signed Legislative Document 1572 into law.  As previously reported, this law will help ensure nondiscrimination against gun owners who reside in public housing.  LD 1572 will go into effect 90 days after the Maine Legislature adjourns. 

At the beginning of the month, the Governor also signed Legislative Document 1500 into law. Sponsored by Representative Patrick Corey (R-Windham), LD 1500 seeks to protect “sport shooting ranges” from legal actions which aim to restrict or prohibit range uses based on noise, nuisance and similar laws that were passed or took effect after the range came into existence.  LD 1500 will also go into effect 90 days after the Maine Legislature adjourns.

While session ended with two pro-gun bills being signed into law, Mainers still need to be aware of the Bloomberg gun control initiative which will appear on the November ballot.

As seen in Washington, this initiative is another attempt by former New York City Mayor and billionaire Michael Bloomberg to push his big city style gun-control on law-abiding gun owners in Maine.  Currently, it is illegal to knowingly sell a firearm to someone who is a prohibited person.  Likewise, it is a felony for a prohibited person to buy, own or possess a firearm.  However, this initiative seeks to make drastic and unnecessary changes to current laws that will place excessive restrictions on law-abiding citizens rather than addressing the true problems associated with straw purchases and the lack of enforcement of current laws.

This initiative would do nothing to prevent criminals from breaking the law and getting their hands on firearms.  Criminals will continue to use the black market, straw purchasers and theft in order to obtain firearms.  This initiative would only turn law-abiding gun owners into criminals. Simply loaning a firearm to a friend could turn a law-abiding gun owner into a criminal overnight.

Once again, your NRA-ILA will continue to update you on any further developments of the Bloomberg gun control initiative as we continue to move closer to the November General Election.