Maine: Self-Defense Bills Voted Out of Committee

Yesterday, the Legislative Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs voted both Legislative Document 1370 and Legislative Document 988 out of committee with divided “ought not to pass” reports.  Both of these bills will now go back to their respective chambers for further consideration.  Please contact your state Representative in support of LD 1370 and your state Senator in support of LD 988!  Click the “Take Action” button below to contact your state legislators in support of these bills! 

Both LD 1370 and LD 988 would enhance law-abiding Mainers’ fundamental right to self-defense!

Sponsored by state Representative Richard Cebra (R-Naples), LD 1370 would establish that colleges and universities in Maine cannot create policies to regulate or prohibit the lawful possession, carrying or transporting of firearms or ammunition.  Under LD 1370, gun owners would still be prohibited from carrying in student dormitories or residence halls, and also at public entertainment facilities where signs are posted at each entrance notifying attendees of any firearm restrictions during games and events.

Sponsored by state Senator Garrett Mason (R-SD22), LD 988 would provide an important exemption for the possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle on public school property, or the property of an approved private school, while dropping off, or picking up, a student.  This legislation would protect law-abiding gun owners from inadvertently violating the law while dropping-off and picking-up their children from school.  Currently, in order to pick up your child and comply with the law you have two options: store the firearm in the car outside a perimeter of 500 feet from school property or leave your firearms at home; choices not very compatible for gun owners.  Parents should not be turned into criminals because they choose to exercise their Second Amendment rights while transporting their children to and from school. 

NRA supports the right of law-abiding individuals to defend themselves against criminal attacks in their homes and in public.  Unfortunately, many states deny citizens the ability to exercise this right effectively by creating arbitrary zones where firearms are banned.  Self-defense is a fundamental right of every person and that right does not end at any arbitrary boundary, including the arbitrary boundary of a public school, public college or university campus.

Again, please click the “Take Action” button above to contact your state legislators in support of these bills!  Stay tuned to www.nraila.org and your email inbox for further updates on these bills.