NEWS

December 19, 2018 - The Justice Department has released its final rule regarding so-called "bump stocks", classifying the devices as machine guns.  

Gun Owners of Maine is very disappointed in the Administration's action in regard to bump stocks, and we believe that banning these devices through regulatory rulemaking illegally and unconstitutionally usurps the role of Congress, which has the sole power to make new law. We expect this new rule to be promptly challenged in Federal court, and to be firmly rejected.

Feb 25, 2018 - Two bills related to shooting ranges met different -- but positive -- fates in the Legislature today. LD 489, which would have empowered the Commissioner of Public Safety to allow municipalities to enact noise ordinances which could shutdown existing ranges, was withdrawn by its sponsor, Sen. Justin Chenette, and received a unanimous Ought Not To Pass report from the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, which essentially killed the bill.

LD 79, a shooting range protection bill sponsored by Rep. Patrick Corey, prevents owners of adjoining properties deliberately causing existing ranges to close by erecting structures within 100 yards of the  range.  The committee reported this bill out as unanimous Ought To Pass, advancing it to House and Senate chambers for further votes.

The Maine Chiefs of Police Association today announced its support for Question 3, continuing its record as a reliable rubber stamp for all gun control proposals, regardless of merit. South Portland Chief Googins claimed that the background checks which Question 3 requires would keep guns out of the hands of criminals, ignoring the fact that background-checked sales are already the #1 source of crime guns, according to Federal statistics. Question 3 will do nothing to stop criminals from obtaining guns, because criminals don't mind breaking gun laws on their way to breaking much more serious laws.

What Question 3 will do is criminalize traditional activities by ordinary law-abiding Mainers, like loaning a rifle to a friend today to take hunting tomorrow. The so-called "hunting exception" is far, far narrower and more complicated than the proponents of Question 3 admit, and will result in Mainers unwittingly committing crimes. It will also strip young adults, 18 to 20 years of age, of their Constitutional right to own a handgun, among other problems.

Neither Chief Googins nor Portland Chief Sauschuck have any business weighing in on this issue using their official titles. Both suffer from a hopeless conflict of interest, as both are Board Members of a Maine gun control group. And both seem to have trouble obeying gun law themselves, having breached the confidentiality of Concealed Handgun Permit application data in 2015, in an attempt to defeat last year's Constitutional Carry bill.

Background checks are a New York solution to a problem that Maine doesn't have. We are one of the safest states in the union, with a low homicide rate which is the envy of most of the country. Our gun laws work. New York could learn from Maine; Maine has nothing to learn from New York.

Maine residents holding a Maine Concealed Handgun Permit will now also be able to carry a handgun in the State of Georgia, as a result of legislation passed in 2015 with the support of Gun Owners of Maine.

LD 868, sponsored by Maine Sen. Paul Davis, overwhelmingly passed in the House of Representatives with a vote of 98-43, and unanimously passed the Senate.  The bill established a simple and fair rule for Maine’s recognition of other state’s concealed weapons permits: If another state recognizes Maine’s permit, Maine will recognize theirs.  This replaced the old system in which the Chief of the State Police was able to enter into formal reciprocity agreements with other states, provided those states met or exceeded Maine’s permit requirements.

Gun Owners of Maine strongly supported this common-sense legislation in order to remove impediments to recognition of Maine’s gun permits throughout the nation.  Maine’s new law will encourage other states to recognize Maine’s permit, and gain Maine’s recognition in return, enhancing the gun rights of both the citizens of those states as well as Mainers.

LD 868, sponsored by Maine Sen. Paul Davis, overwhelmingly passed in the House of Representatives with a vote of 98-43, and unanimously passed the Senate.  The bill established a simple and fair rule for Maine’s recognition of other state’s concealed weapons permits: If another state recognizes Maine’s permit, Maine will recognize theirs.  This replaced the old system in which the Chief of the State Police was able to enter into formal reciprocity agreements with other states, provided those states met or exceeded Maine’s permit requirements.

Gun Owners of Maine strongly supported this common-sense legislation in order to remove impediments to recognition of Maine’s gun permits throughout the nation.  Maine’s new law will encourage other states to recognize Maine’s permit, and gain Maine’s recognition in return, enhancing the gun rights of both the citizens of those states as well as Mainers.

LD 868, sponsored by Maine Sen. Paul Davis, overwhelmingly passed in the House of Representatives with a vote of 98-43, and unanimously passed the Senate.  The bill established a simple and fair rule for Maine’s recognition of other state’s concealed weapons permits: If another state recognizes Maine’s permit, Maine will recognize theirs.  This replaced the old system in which the Chief of the State Police was able to enter into formal reciprocity agreements with other states, provided those states met or exceeded Maine’s permit requirements.

Gun Owners of Maine strongly supported this common-sense legislation in order to remove impediments to recognition of Maine’s gun permits throughout the nation.  Maine’s new law will encourage other states to recognize Maine’s permit, and gain Maine’s recognition in return, enhancing the gun rights of both the citizens of those states as well as Mainers.

Constitutional Carry became the law in Maine on October 15, 2015; if you are 21 years of age or more (18+ if active duty or honorably discharged US military) and are not otherwise prohibited from possessing or carrying a firearm, you can now exercise your right to bear arms without obtaining a permit.

To learn all what you need to know to carry a gun lawfully and safely, sign up for our 100% free online SAFER Basic Handgun Safety and Introduction to Concealed Carry course.

Join our Facebook group for news, information, and discussions of gun rights and general gun talk. It's the best place to keep up-to-date on news, issues, events and developments that affect your gun rights.

Our community is comprised Federal Firearms Licensed individuals, training instructors, armorers, law enforcement individuals, attorneys, doctors, students, mothers and fathers who are passionate about understanding and expressing our constitutional rights.

Join us and add your voice to ours. Our voice grows stronger with every new member! As a community we can ensure that our rights shall not be infringed! 

Watch our 10/15/2015 interview with Jon James on Moose 92, the day Constitutional Carry became law, and get the facts. If you want to take advantage of the new law, sign up for our absolutely free online SAFER Basic Handgun Safety and Introduction to Concealed Carry course.