Maine is an open carry state, that means citizens are free to bear arms in public without a permit but if you want to put your jacket on or a woman wants to put her pistol in her purse you need to apply for a permit to do so. That questions, infringes upon and when the permit is denied takes away your second amendment right and the permit can be denied simply because the government bureaucrat who approves them does not like you. So, you can open carry but you can't conceal carry. That is absurd and a total abuse of power. Not to mention anti American and unconstitutional and does nothing to deter crime because criminals don't apply for permits.
A concealed weapons permit is nothing but a gun registry.
Some wonder how we lose our rights and that is a good question. They are lost because politicians pass laws placing limits on them until they are so restricted they may as well not exist and do so in name only. The U.S. Constitution says our rights shall not be infringed upon and the Maine state Constitution says our rights shall never be questioned, so, lets look at the hoops you have to jump through.
To Conceal Carry in Maine you have to:
Schedule a class with a government sanctioned trainer which costs between 75 and 125 dollars.
Get fingerprinted and pass a background check.
Fill out an application with over 30 questions.
Pay multiple fees to the government and then have to wait up to 150 days.
Can you imagine having to do all that for your 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th or other rights?
Our campaign will protect and defend a citizens right to keep and bear arms which is vital for the safety of our communities.
Here is how you sum up this issue in a way that everyone can understand it. Just ask, "You have the right to keep and bear arms but the government questions, infringes upon and when permits are denied take away your Second Amendment rights. Do you want your rights back?"
Below is a screen shot of the summary of the law the Maine Equal Rights Center wrote in response to this latest example government overreach and abuse of power.
A concealed weapons permit is nothing but a gun registry.
Some wonder how we lose our rights and that is a good question. They are lost because politicians pass laws placing limits on them until they are so restricted they may as well not exist and do so in name only. The U.S. Constitution says our rights shall not be infringed upon and the Maine state Constitution says our rights shall never be questioned, so, lets look at the hoops you have to jump through.
To Conceal Carry in Maine you have to:
Schedule a class with a government sanctioned trainer which costs between 75 and 125 dollars.
Get fingerprinted and pass a background check.
Fill out an application with over 30 questions.
Pay multiple fees to the government and then have to wait up to 150 days.
Can you imagine having to do all that for your 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th or other rights?
Our campaign will protect and defend a citizens right to keep and bear arms which is vital for the safety of our communities.
Here is how you sum up this issue in a way that everyone can understand it. Just ask, "You have the right to keep and bear arms but the government questions, infringes upon and when permits are denied take away your Second Amendment rights. Do you want your rights back?"
Below is a screen shot of the summary of the law the Maine Equal Rights Center wrote in response to this latest example government overreach and abuse of power.
Below is the language of the legislation. Due to formatting issues we made the following modifications. All sections that are underlined have been removed from the law and all sections that are bold have been added to the law.
An Act To Enhance Self-defense by Removing Restrictions on the Carrying and Use of Weapons
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §11212, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2005, c. 477, §9, is further amended to read:
1. Prohibition. The following provisions apply to shooting from a motor vehicle or motorboat or possessing a loaded firearm or a crossbow in a motor vehicle.
A. A person may not shoot while in or on a motor vehicle or motorboat or while in or on a trailer or other type of vehicle being hauled by a motor vehicle except:
(1) A person may hunt migratory waterfowl from a motorboat in accordance with federal regulations;
(2) Paraplegics and single or double amputees of the legs may shoot from motor vehicles that are not in motion; and
(3) A person may shoot from a motorboat if that boat is not being propelled by its motor.; and
(4) A person may shoot from a motor vehicle or motorboat in defense of life or property.
B. A person may not, while in or on a motor vehicle or in or on a trailer or other type of vehicle being hauled by a motor vehicle, have a cocked and armed crossbow or a firearm with a cartridge or shell in the chamber or in an attached magazine, clip or cylinder or a muzzle-loading firearm charged with powder, lead and a primed ignition device or mechanism, except that a person who has a valid Maine permit to carry a concealed weapon may have in or on a motor vehicle or trailer a loaded pistol or revolver covered by that permit.
C. A person may not possess a wild animal or wild bird taken in violation of paragraph A or B, except as otherwise provided in this Part.
Sec. 2. 25 MRSA §2001-A, as amended by PL 2011, c. 691, Pt. A, §24, is repealed.
Sec. 3. 25 MRSA §2001-B is enacted to read:
§ 2001-B. Threatening display of dangerous weapon
A person may not, unless excepted by a provision of law, display in a threatening manner a firearm, slungshot, knuckles, bowie knife, dirk, stiletto or other dangerous or deadly weapon usually employed in the attack on or defense of a person.
Sec. 4. 25 MRSA §2004, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. N, §3 and affected by Pt. X, §2, is amended to read:
2. Display of dangerous weapon. A person who violates section 2001-A2001-B commits a Class D crime.
Sec. 5. 25 MRSA §2004, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. N, §3 and affected by Pt. X, §2, is repealed.
Sec. 6. 25 MRSA §2005, sub-§1, ¶B, as amended by PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. N, §4 and affected by Pt. X, §2, is repealed.
SUMMARY
This bill:
1. Removes the prohibition on having a loaded firearm or crossbow in a motor vehicle for a person other than a holder of a concealed weapons permit;
2. Provides the exception that a person may shoot from a motor vehicle or motorboat in the defense of life or property;
3. Removes the prohibition on concealing a dangerous weapon; and
4. Removes exceptions to the law prohibiting the carrying of a concealed dangerous weapon.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §11212, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2005, c. 477, §9, is further amended to read:
1. Prohibition. The following provisions apply to shooting from a motor vehicle or motorboat or possessing a loaded firearm or a crossbow in a motor vehicle.
A. A person may not shoot while in or on a motor vehicle or motorboat or while in or on a trailer or other type of vehicle being hauled by a motor vehicle except:
(1) A person may hunt migratory waterfowl from a motorboat in accordance with federal regulations;
(2) Paraplegics and single or double amputees of the legs may shoot from motor vehicles that are not in motion; and
(3) A person may shoot from a motorboat if that boat is not being propelled by its motor.; and
(4) A person may shoot from a motor vehicle or motorboat in defense of life or property.
B. A person may not, while in or on a motor vehicle or in or on a trailer or other type of vehicle being hauled by a motor vehicle, have a cocked and armed crossbow or a firearm with a cartridge or shell in the chamber or in an attached magazine, clip or cylinder or a muzzle-loading firearm charged with powder, lead and a primed ignition device or mechanism, except that a person who has a valid Maine permit to carry a concealed weapon may have in or on a motor vehicle or trailer a loaded pistol or revolver covered by that permit.
C. A person may not possess a wild animal or wild bird taken in violation of paragraph A or B, except as otherwise provided in this Part.
Sec. 2. 25 MRSA §2001-A, as amended by PL 2011, c. 691, Pt. A, §24, is repealed.
Sec. 3. 25 MRSA §2001-B is enacted to read:
§ 2001-B. Threatening display of dangerous weapon
A person may not, unless excepted by a provision of law, display in a threatening manner a firearm, slungshot, knuckles, bowie knife, dirk, stiletto or other dangerous or deadly weapon usually employed in the attack on or defense of a person.
Sec. 4. 25 MRSA §2004, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. N, §3 and affected by Pt. X, §2, is amended to read:
2. Display of dangerous weapon. A person who violates section 2001-A2001-B commits a Class D crime.
Sec. 5. 25 MRSA §2004, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. N, §3 and affected by Pt. X, §2, is repealed.
Sec. 6. 25 MRSA §2005, sub-§1, ¶B, as amended by PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. N, §4 and affected by Pt. X, §2, is repealed.
SUMMARY
This bill:
1. Removes the prohibition on having a loaded firearm or crossbow in a motor vehicle for a person other than a holder of a concealed weapons permit;
2. Provides the exception that a person may shoot from a motor vehicle or motorboat in the defense of life or property;
3. Removes the prohibition on concealing a dangerous weapon; and
4. Removes exceptions to the law prohibiting the carrying of a concealed dangerous weapon.
