Maine: City of Portland Illegally Classifies Gun Shops as “Non-Essential”
Friday, April 17, 2020
Our Second Amendment rights are being threatened. The City of Portland needs to hear from you now!
In response to COVID-19, the Portland Mayor and City Council adopted Order No. 156-19/20 on April 14th, which replaced the list of essential businesses previously authorized by the city. The order stated that "Gun shops shall not be considered an essential business or service within the City of Portland."
Not only does this order directly conflict with the new list of essential businesses published on April 3rd by the Mills administration, but it blatantly conflicts with Maine’s preemption law. State preemption prevents local governments from enacting their gun control ordinances and creating a confusing patchwork of local laws. Law-abiding citizens should enjoy the same rights, regardless of where they reside. Maine statutes have no exception for local government acting in an emergency – which means the City of Portland is blatantly violating the state preemption law by classifying gun shops as non-essential businesses and ordering them to close under their new order.
Please act now and call on Portland Mayor Kate Snyder and the Portland City Council to correct this egregious error and make firearm dealers essential businesses!
It is unfortunate that in these uncertain times, an elected official would limit the ability of law-abiding citizens to exercise our inherent right to self-defense. Firearm dealers are essential to exercising this right!
This is breaking and developing news, and as more details become available, we will update NRA members further. Please stay tuned to www.nraila.org/coronavirus.
Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ), continues to play offense when it comes to the Trump administration defending the Second Amendment.
A recent court decision adds Florida to the list of some 14 constitutional (“permitless”) carry states in which adults under the age of 21 may legally carry firearms.
In a major victory for the right to keep and bear arms, the Washington Circuit Court today granted a statewide preliminary injunction preventing enforcement of Virginia’s newly enacted “assault firearm” and magazine bans, finding that ...
During remarks to American workers at a Mack Trucks facility in Macungie, Pa. on June 23, President Donald Trump reiterated his support for National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity and NRA.
According to a recent editorial by an anti-gun spokesman, Florida’s version of a “red flag” law—also known as an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) law—is a “success” simply because it is being used.
On Friday, June 19, Governor Katie Hobbs (D), vetoed Senate Bill 1068 and Senate Bill 1069. For those keeping score at home, this marks not the first, nor the second, but the third time Governor ...
On June 25, the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated a Hawaii law that sought to ban the carrying of firearms (including licensed concealed carry) on private property open to the public, unless the carrier obtained affirmative ...
Anti-gun legislation continues advancing in Sacramento. On June 30, the Assembly Public Safety Committee will hear Senate Bill 948, while the Senate Public Safety Committee will hear Assembly Bill 2047. Please use the Take Action ...
Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.