Maine Committees will be holding several hearings during the week of May 15th, that will greatly impact your Second Amendment rights in Maine. Some of the proposals being heard are listed below. NRA members and Second Amendment supporters are strongly urged to attend these hearings and make their voices heard. For those who are unable to attend, please press take action below to contact committee members and make your voice heard!
Maine Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, State House, Room 436, Work Session: May 16th, at 1:00 P.M. - Submit Testimony - PRO-GUN
LD 1560 strengthens Maine’s “Stand Your Ground Law” by removing the duty of the victim to retreat or comply with the criminal’s demands. Mainers should not be required to comply with or hide from criminals to protect themselves. This bill would empower and protect law-abiding citizens.
Maine Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary, State House, Room 438, Work Session: May 17th at 9:00 A.M. - Submit Testimony - ANTI-GUN
LD 1696 creates a “course of action” against firearm manufacturers and retailers whose firearms are used in criminal activity. Implementing such a system would be an unfair and egregious overstep by the State and would shut down firearm commerce in Maine overnight.
Maine Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, State House, Room 436, Work Session: May 17th at 9:00 A.M. - Submit Testimony - ANTI-GUN
LD 22 is an overly broad bill that puts Maine out of alignment with federal law regarding the sale of antique firearms. This bill classifies these firearms in the same class as all other firearms, resulting in a conflict with how these sales are processed. This would put sellers who follow federal law, in violation of state law.
LD 60 delays Second Amendment rights by imposing a three-day waiting period before an individual may receive a firearm that they lawfully purchase, with limited exemptions. There is no evidence that waiting periods reduce violent crime. Instead, this simply denies someone the ability to buy a firearm for urgent self-defense.
LD 168 requires background checks for all private sales of firearms, including those at gun shows or resulting from advertising, with very limited exceptions. It applies to a private sale between two parties – including friends, neighbors, and coworkers, regardless of where the sale takes place. All such transfers – even if the seller knows the recipient is not a prohibited person – would have to be conducted through a federal firearm licensed dealer (FFL), with extensive federal paperwork, payment of an undetermined fee, and approval from the U.S. government.
LD 1011 requires law abiding gun owners who are victims of theft, to report the stolen firearm within 72 hours of when the owner knew or “should have known” it was lost or stolen. Rather than deter fraudulent gun sales, this bill would turn victims of gun theft into criminals and make people whose guns have been lost or stolen hesitant to assist police for fear of prosecution.
LD 1340 bans legal “rapid-fire modification devices” that are already commonly owned and in use by Mainers. These devices include but are not limited to bump stocks and binary triggers that are used in a wide array of legal activities, including competitive and recreational shooting. Possession of such devices would be a Class D crime.
Again, please contact committee members and urge them to oppose all anti-gun measures, and to support all measures that protect your Second Amendment rights.
