Some think Maine has some pretty relaxed gun laws. Whether you do or don’t, you should know that the anti-gun lobby is fast at work in Maine to strip citizens of their constitutional right to keep and bear arms.
LD778 is nothing more than another nail in the coffin of the Second Amendment.
This bill requires all new applicants and renewing holders of a concealed firearms permit to show documentation they have completed a firearms safety course that includes relevant state and federal law, basic defensive marksmanship, gun safety, civic responsibility, appropriate conduct while carrying a firearm and the moral and ethical issues surrounding the potential use of firearms as a means of self-defense. This bill also removes exemptions to current handgun safety course requirements for an applicant or holder of a concealed firearms permit who can personally demonstrate knowledge of the subject matter of the course requirements and a person who received basic firearms training as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States. Finally, this bill directs the Department of Public Safety to adopt rules to establish requirements with specific components for a 6-hour instruction course in firearms safety.
Nowhere in the Second Amendment does it say that you have the right to keep and bear arms providing you pay fees, take courses and prove you understand the “moral and ethical issues surrounding the potential use of firearms”? Socialistic thuggery. This bill also removes the exemptions recognized in the past as not having to take needless required safety courses. To do this for our military personnel is an insult to them but in all fairness, it is an insult to all of us as Americans.
LD1111 comes as a result of the abuse of children. In order for the anti-gun crowd to get their agendas further promoted, they enlisted the aid of innocent children to help them devise a bill to require trigger locks on all guns. Not only is this bill a sure way of getting innocent people killed because they cannot adequately protect themselves, it is a lie while attempting to convince people we’ll all be safer.
Both of these bills, along with others, are scheduled for committee work this week in Augusta. I would urge you to call your representative and let them know how you feel about such legislation.
Tom Remington
