Maine: Self-Defense Legislation Goes to Governor

Today, the state Senate passed Legislative Document 35, NRA-backed self-defense legislation, by a 19 to 15 vote.  Yesterday, the state House passed this bill by a 75 to 68 vote.  LD 35 now goes to Governor Paul LePage for approval. 

Introduced by state Representative Richard Cebra (R-Naples), LD 35 would prohibit an employer from banning an employee with a valid concealed firearms permit from keeping a firearm in the employee's vehicle as long as the vehicle is locked and the firearm is not visible.  This legislation would protect your right to keep a firearm in your car for self-defense, hunting, or target shooting before or after work.  Businesses have no legitimate interest in micromanaging the lawful contents of one’s private vehicle.

Please contact Governor LePage and urge him to sign into law LD 35.  You can send the Governor an e-mail by clicking here.  Also, please thank the state legislators who voted for LD 35.  Contact information for your state Senator and state Representative can be found here.

Also yesterday, the state Senate passed Legislative Document 578, a measure that undermines statewide firearms preemption.  Even though the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee had voted this bill “ought not to pass” by a 9 to 4 vote, the state Senate still passed the bill by a 21 to 13 vote.  This bill will now be considered in the state House for concurrence and will most likely be sent back to the state Senate.

Sponsored by state Senator Roger Katz (R-Kennebec), LD 578 provides a municipal legislative body with the authority to adopt an ordinance that restricts the carrying of firearms in the municipality's essential municipal offices and places of legislative assembly just as the State imposes those restrictions in its capitol area.

Please contact your state Representative and state Senator and respectfully urge them to OPPOSE LD 578.  Contact information for your state Representative and Senator can be found here.