This week, Legislative Document 1572, legislation to ensure nondiscrimination against gun owners who reside in public housing, was reported “ought to pass as amended” by the Joint Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety with a 7-6 divided report. LD 1572 has not been scheduled for a Senate floor vote at this time, but your NRA-ILA will keep you updated on the status of this bill.
As previously reported, LD 1572, sponsored by Senator Andre Cushing (R-Penobscot), would prevent public housing authorities from adding provisions in rental agreements to ban the lawful ownership, use, possession, bearing or transportation of firearms by tenants.
LD 1572 was introduced after Harvey Lembo, a Maine resident who lives in an affordable housing community, filed a lawsuit against his landlord who threatened to evict him for lawfully possessing and using his firearm for self-defense purposes. Since moving to his apartment in 2009, Lembo’s home had been burglarized five times. On August 31, 2015, Lembo decided to purchase a firearm for protection, and less than 24 hours later, he used that firearm to defend himself during a home invasion. Following this incident, Lembo’s landlord forced him to decide what was more important: affordable housing or his right to self-defense.
Law-abiding gun owners should not be denied the right to Keep and Bear Arms, regardless of their economic status or street address.
Please stay tuned to www.nraila.org and your email inbox for further updates on LD 1572 as it progresses through the Maine Legislature.
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