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.

Governor Paul LePage signed LD 652, Maine Constitutional Carry bill, into law today in a private signing ceremony in the Cabinet Room of the State House. Present for the signing were Gun Owner of Maine Founder Shane Belanger, President Todd Tolhurst, and Firearms Policy Analyst Jeff Zimba.

The law will become effective 90 days after the Legislature adjourns.

Firearms instructors across Maine support LD 652, Constitutional Carry.  Read the full press release.

Senator Stan Gerzofsky said on television that he has a list of Concealed Handgun Permits which were denied. 

But permit information is confidential by law.  

Has the Senator admitted to committing a crime?  That's the question Gun Owners of Maine is asking of the Joint Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety and the President of the Senate.

Read more here.

URGENT! CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY UPDATE

Ok, folks, here's the current situation. We did a great job of showing support for LD 652, the Consititional Carry bill, at last Wednesday's public hearing. But, of course, it's not going to be nearly that easy to win. Our opponents are SHOVELLING out-of-state money into Maine to defeat us, and vastly outnumbering us with calls to legislators.

We have not come this far to be defeated by billionaire-bought astroturf. We need everyone to call your legislators now -- *right now*, as you read this message -- to urge them to support LD 652 and Constitutional Carry.

You can look up your legislators using the link below -- call BOTH your Senator and your Representative. Be polite, but be firm: You want them to support LD 652.

Do *not* leave this to someone else to do. We need every single voice behind us on this to counter the manufactured opposition. Call right now.

http://legislature.maine.gov/house/jt_list_alpha.htm

You can also leave a message for your representatives at the following numbers:

House Democrats: (207) 287-1430
House Republicans: 207-287-1440
Senate Democrats: (207) 287-1515
Senate Republicans: (207) 287-1505

Senator Eric Brakey Submits Constitutional Carry Bill; Has Nearly 100 Co-Sponsors

Augusta – Senator Eric Brakey (R-Androscoggin) today submitted his legislationkn own as LD 652, to allow Mainers to carry a concealed handgun without a permit, if they are already legally eligible to own a handgun. The legislation, commonly known as “Constitutional Carry” or “Vermont Carry,” has garnered wide bipartisan support from both legislative chambers.

A total of 96 legislators---representing well over 50% of all Maine’s law makers, including a majority of members in the Democrat-controlled House---signed on as bill sponsors. Members of both Republican and Democrat legislative leadership have signed on to support the legislation.

“I am glad to have strong bipartisan support from both chambers for this bill,” said Senator Brakey. “This is a moderate proposal. It allows law-abiding citizens, who are already legally eligible to carry a visible handgun, to also carry a concealed handgun. Under current Maine law, the simple action of putting on a jacket turns a law-abiding gun owner into a law breaker, unless they undergo a lengthy permitting process. This legislation changes that, and in doing so restores our Second Amendment Rights.”

Though eligible citizens would no longer be required to seek a permit to carry a concealed handgun within Maine’s borders, the legislation preserves Maine’s permitting system so that citizens can enjoy reciprocity with other states.

Constitutional Carry is currently the law in the states of Vermont, Arizona, Alaska, Arkansas, Wyoming and Oklahoma.

A public hearing has not yet been scheduled for the legislation.