Maine: Several Gun Bills Scheduled for Committee Hearings Next Week

Next Friday, March 17, the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety will be holding two public hearings on several pro- and anti-gun bills.  It is imperative that you attend these hearings to voice your support for the pro-gun bills and your opposition to the anti-gun bills.  Meeting details can be found below.  Also, please contact members of the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety and urge them to support the following pro-gun bills and oppose the following anti-gun bills.  

Joint Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee
Friday, March 17, 2017
9:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m.
State House, Room 436

Pro-Gun:

Legislative Document 9, sponsored by state Representative Patrick Cory (R-25), sponsored by state Representative Patrick Cory (R-25), would prohibit a government agency of Maine, or a political subdivision of Maine, from keeping a list or registry of privately owned firearms or a list or registry of the owners of those firearms. 

Legislative Document 44, sponsored by state Senator Eric Brakey (R-20), would lower the age requirement for concealed carry from 21 years of age to 18 years of age unless otherwise prohibited, thereby making age requirements consistent throughout statute.

Legislative Document 350, sponsored by state Representative Lance Harvell (R-113), would repeal the law that requires a firearms dealer who sells, lets or loans a firearm to make a copy of the form the dealer must keep pursuant to federal law, and to show that copy to a law enforcement officer or prosecuting attorney.

Legislative Document 574, sponsored by state Senator Eric Brakey (R-20), would eliminate the “duty to inform” provision of the law which requires a person in lawful possession of a concealed firearm without a permit during the course of a detainment or routine traffic stop to inform the law enforcement officer that the person is in possession of the firearm.

Legislative Document 595, sponsored by stateRepresentative Stacey Guerin (R-102), would prohibit a law enforcement officer to seize or confiscate a Maine resident’s firearm or ammunition, unless the firearm or ammunition was used in the commission of a Class A, Class B or Class C crime.

Legislative Document 598, sponsored by state Representative Richard Cebra (R-68), would also remove the requirement that a person who is carrying a concealed handgun without a permit to inform a law enforcement officer of this fact during the course of an arrest, detainment or routine traffic stop.

Anti-Gun:

Legislative Document 352, sponsored by state Representative Deane Rykerson (D-1), would require a firearms dealer to sell a gun lock with every firearm the dealer sells at retail in the state of Maine.

Legislative Document 443, sponsored by state Senator Paul Davis (R-4), would allow a municipally funded hospital to restrict the possession or use of firearms and firearms-related items on property used by the municipally funded hospital.

Legislative Document 501, sponsored by state Senator David Miramant (D-12), would require a person attempting to purchase a firearm to present the seller with proof of having successfully completed military firearms training or an approved firearm safety course. The bill also provides that a person may meet this requirement by presenting proof of having satisfied the handgun safety course requirements for a permit to carry concealed handguns.

Legislative Document 351, sponsored by state Representative John Spear (D-92), would allow municipalities to prohibit firearm owners from carrying during municipal public proceedings and in polling places.

Once again, please consider attending these hearings to voice your support for the pro-gun bills and your opposition to the anti-gun bills.  Also, please contact members of the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee.