Proposals to amend concealed carry laws saw pushback from business community, law enforcement
Tim Russell of Sydney was among the minority of demonstrators on Jan. 3, 2024 who protested in support of gun rights. (Photo by Jim Neuger/ Maine Morning Star)
Among the gun legislation before the Maine Legislature this session are proposals to amend constitutional and concealed carry laws that drew concerns from the business and law enforcement communities.
The Legislature's Judiciary Committee held public hearings Wednesday for eight gun bills that were broken into two groups to make public input more efficient. While half of the bills related to various aspects of concealed carry law, the other four dealt with the definition of machine guns, magazine capacity and serial numbers on firearms.
Laura Whitcomb, president of Gun Owners of Maine, said the group supported the four that would help standardize the laws around carrying firearms in the state, including the differences between having a permit to carry a concealed weapon and not having one.
'If you are not a person who generally carries a firearm, it might be difficult to understand that most people who carry a firearm do so on a regular basis,' she said to explain why consistency in statute is important for those individuals.
Maine residents can carry a handgun without a permit if they are 21 years old and not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm — what's colloquially referred to as constitutional carry. There are exceptions allowing people who are 18 to 20 years old to carry without a permit if they are active duty military or have been honorably discharged.
Rep. Alicia Collins (R-Sidney) is seeking to lower the constitutional carry age to 18 with LD 424 on the grounds that someone is considered a legal adult at that age and entrusted with other decisions,such as voting or enlisting in the military.
Maine Legislature weighs updates to machine gun definition, ghost gun regulations
Under current law, an employer can't prohibit an employee from storing a firearm in their vehicle if the employee has a valid permit to carry a concealed firearm, so long as the vehicle is locked and the firearm is stored out of sight. However, Collins is looking to remove the requirement that an employee have a valid concealed carry permit with LD 998.
The Maine State Chamber of Commerce opposed this bill citing concerns over employer choice and workplace safety.
Additionally, Rep. Jennifer Poirier (R-Skowhegan) introduced LD 1049, which would repeal a requirement that someone carrying a concealed handgun without a permit must inform a law enforcement officer immediately that they have a firearm during a traffic stop or other such encounters.
Maine State Police and the Maine Department of Public Safety opposed this proposal over safety concerns for both the officers and other individuals involved in those encounters.
The final carry-related proposal came from Sen. David Haggan (R-Penobscot). He said LD 829 would clean up confusion in existing law by making it clear that someone can carry a concealed firearm in a state park, so long as they are not otherwise prohibited from possessing one. It removes the ambiguity that someone must have a permit to carry in a state park or Acadia National Park, he said.
The bill includes an emergency preamble so it could take effect immediately upon passage with a two-thirds vote. This means it could be in place for the summer recreation season.
Justin Davis, state director for the National Rifle Association, argued LD 829 is important not only for protection against wildlife in the Maine woods, but a security measure for females hiking alone.
However, Friends of Acadia, an organization dedicated to protecting and preserving the park, opposed the proposal for the sake of the millions of visitors who come to the park each year for tranquility.
The Gun Safety Coalition of Maine opposed all four proposals, which they characterized as 'very dangerous.'
SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
November statewide special election for collective bargaining referendum ‘not off the table,' Cox says
SALT LAKE CITY () — Governor Spencer Cox is mulling whether to call a special statewide election this November that would allow Utahns to vote on repealing that bans public labor unions from collective bargaining. 'It's not off the table,' . 'We could have a special election this year, it's still possible.' During a monthly news conference with reporters, the Governor was asked about whether he would call a special election in 2025 or hold off until Utah has a scheduled statewide election in 2026. State law requires the referendum to be placed on a statewide ballot, but state law allows him to decide whether that's in the 'next regular general election' or whether he calls a special election. The Governor said he's still having conversations with the legislature and county clerks who would be tasked with overseeing a statewide election in a municipal year, to analyze the cost and other factors like whether it's a burden to cities that may cancel elections in 2025. 'Just trying to see what's best — is it best to get it on now and get it over with, is that easier? Is it too much pressure on places that won't be having an election?' Cox said. 'What kind of burden with that add? We're looking at all of those things, and we'll make a decision when that deadline gets closer.' Utah lawmakers oppose AI regulation in Trump's 'Big, beautiful bill' The Governor has until June 21 to make that call; that's when the Lt. Governor declares whether the referendum signature gathering effort was sufficient, which is all but certain after public labor unions . The office has from taking effect. 'No matter when this issue appears on the ballot, we are confident that when Utah voters decide, public workers will win. We are strong, ready, and united,' said a spokesperson for the Protect Utah Workers coalition — the group of labor unions that organized the referendum effort. 'The HB267 referendum made history with nearly 10% of Utahns signing the petition in just 30 days to put it on the ballot. Our success sends a powerful message: Utahns believe in the right to organize and stand with public workers,' their statement said. 'HB267 is a power grab by politicians trying to silence the voices of everyday working people. But more than a quarter million Utah voters saw through it and pushed back.' Neither the public labor unions nor Governor Cox elaborated on which year they would prefer, but it's almost certain that politics are at play for both sides. 'Somebody has to stop it:' Gov. Cox defends Trump's decision to deploy troops to LA Political insiders have told that holding a special election in 2025 could favor the law staying in place because turnout is lower in a municipal year, meaning there might be less support overall for the teachers, firefighters, and the other public workers whom voters, by and large, want to support. However, a recency bias from this past legislative session and the momentum from their signature gathering efforts, coupled with perceived injustices to those public workers, may also be a factor, those insiders noted. A 2025 election also gets the issue decided on faster. However, paying for a statewide election would come at a cost to taxpayers, likely in the millions. A 2026 election, however, could be the preferred path as it gives both sides more time to message and raise more money to fight off any counter-messaging. Bureau of Land Management approves construction of Millard County potash mine November statewide special election for collective bargaining referendum 'not off the table,' Cox says Family, police seeking information on missing 15-year-old girl from West Jordan RSL hoping to make a run in second half of season Utah lawmakers oppose AI regulation in Trump's 'Big, beautiful bill' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Legislative recap for Tuesday, June 10
Official notices posted in the Maine State House in Augusta. (Jim Neuger/Maine Morning Star) In an effort to stem the often lengthy debates and occasional partisan fighting that has encroached on valuable voting time, House Speaker Ryan Fecteau warned the chamber Tuesday that if they weren't able to get through enough bills this week, 'the chair will have to consider having a session on Saturday and Sunday.' Weekend work has yet to be determined, but the House did wrap before 8 p.m., comparatively early to recent late nights. One issue that always sparks debate is abortion, and with a slew of bills aiming to roll back the state's current protections, both chambers had their share of discussion late Monday and Tuesday. However, the Democratic majorities in the Maine Senate and House of Representatives ultimately shot down each effort. These include: LD 253, 'An Act to Prevent the MaineCare Program from Covering Abortion Services'; LD 886, 'An Act to Regulate Medication Abortions'; LD 887, 'An Act to Make Manufacturers Responsible for Proper Disposal of Abortion Drugs and Require a Health Care Provider to Be Physically Present During a Chemical Abortion'; LD 1007, 'An Act to Update the State's Informed Consent Laws Regarding Drug-induced Abortion'; LD 1930, 'An Act Regarding Acts of Violence Committed Against a Pregnant Woman'; and LD 1154, 'An Act to Require That Informed Consent for Abortion Include Information on Perinatal Hospice.' The bills were initially rejected by the House late Monday and laid before the Senate on Tuesday. Both chambers Tuesday also rejected legislation (LD 682) that would impose criminal penalties for performing an abortion, ban abortions passed viability unless in an emergency, and require reports on each abortion performed that would include race, marital status, and education level of the patient. (Read more about these and other related proposals here.) With papers frantically shuffling between chambers this week ahead of the planned June 18 adjournment, Maine Morning Star will highlight the biggest items of debate as well as legislation and issues that we've followed all session. Here's an overview of what happened Monday. After passage by the Senate earlier this month, the House voted 75-65 Tuesday night to back LD 1016, one of several proposals to support mobile home park residents in purchasing their parks. (Read more about the bill and the other proposals here. The budget committee also voted in some related funding into the budget on Tuesday.) A provision that would make it so a simple majority of each chamber can extend the Legislature's work beyond the statutory adjournment date appears likely to become law. With a 73-71 vote, the House enacted LD 1668 after both chambers gave their initial approval. Currently, two-thirds support in both chambers is needed. Lawmakers in the House and Senate on Tuesday backed the latest effort (LD 982) to provide the Mi'kmaq Nation the same rights to sales tax revenue on its land that the other three tribes of the Wabanaki Nations were granted in 2022. (Read more about this here). The Senate and House opted to 'indefinitely postpone' legislation (LD 4) that would establish year-round eastern daylight time, effectively killing the measure. A similar bill (LD 3) that requires approval by the federal government and also adopted by other states in the eastern time zone did pass and is headed to the governor's desk. Members of the House voted 78-69 and the Senate 18-14 in favor of legislation (LD 537) that would prohibit the doxing of a minor. Rep. Amy Kuhn (D-Falmouth) said the bill imposes common sense guidelines for the treatment of minors and provides important protections for their privacy and safety. Rep. Rachel Henderson (R-Rumford) said she took issue with the provision that allows a minor to be able to consent to having their image shared, 'rather than having a parent involved.' Following the Senate, the House voted Tuesday against a bill that would amend the constitution to require the popular election of the secretary of state, attorney general and state treasurer (LD 455). Both the House and Senate backed legislation (LD 259) to Establish the Criminal Records Review Commission in Statute, with the House voting 78-68 on Tuesday. Proponents said it would help cement and continue the work of the committee, which is tasked with reviewing issues with expunging criminal records and finding ways to prevent past convictions from holding people back from being productive members of their communities. (Read more about this issue here). An emergency bill (LD 1920) to prohibit the sale to a person under 21 years old of potentially intoxicating hemp products passed both chambers without a roll call. Because it is an emergency measure, it needs to secure two-thirds support in both chambers during enactment votes. The House met that threshold Tuesday night, with a unanimous 143-0 enactment vote. Legislation (LD 1571) to modify certification standards for full-time teachers in public charter schools as well as those for reissuance of educational technician certificates passed both chambers, with the Senate voting 18-14 on Tuesday. Both chambers have now backed legislation (LD 1427) directing the Criminal Law Advisory Commission to review and analyze the statutes of limitation pertaining to sex trafficking offenses committed against both adult and minor victims. After initially passing both the House and Senate, a bill (LD 1034) that would decriminalize adult possession of therapeutic psilocybin, found in some mushrooms, failed to garner a majority in either chamber during final enactment votes. Legislation (LD 1620) to regulate the testing of adult-use cannabis and related products was rejected by the House and Senate. LD 613, a bill supported by the Maine Medical Association that allows terminally ill patients to waive the current 17-day waiting period for access to life-ending medication, will go back to the Senate after the House voted to insist on passage of the bill Tuesday after the upper chamber voted Monday against the measure. After LD 1928 squeaked through both chambers last week, the Senate voted 14-20 against enactment on Monday leaving the bill, which would prohibit lodging establishments from using single-use plastic containers — such as mini shampoo bottles — in limbo. The House on Tuesday insisted on its position in favor of the bill. The House Tuesday insisted on its rejection of LD 371, which would remove the 100-megawatt maximum capacity limit for hydropower to qualify as a renewable resource under the state's renewable resource portfolio requirement. The Senate had supported the measure. (More on this issue here.) After initially backing a proposed constitutional amendment (LD 1052) establishing the state auditor as constitutional officer, the majority of the House voted against enactment, putting it in conflict with the Senate, which placed it on the appropriations table. The chambers split over a tax proposal (LD 1879) that would increase corporate tax rates and use that revenue to support the state's agricultural industries. After the House backed the measure 77-67, the Senate voted 13-18 in opposition. Critics argued the proposal would ultimately amount to a 'tax on consumers.' But tax committee chair Sen. Nicole Grohowski (D-Hancock) said farmers are competing with large corporations while operating on thin margins. The bill, she argued, gives the state a way to step up for them without placing the burden on working families. (Read more about the bill here.) The Senate voted 19-15 to pass legislation (LD 1138) that seeks to better align the state's transportation projects and planning under the Maine Department of Transportation and Turnpike Authority with the Climate Action Plan. During debate, Sen. Tim Nangle (D-Cumberland) said the state has limited resources to improve transportation and explained that the committee moved this bill forward because it addresses the simultaneous problems of climate change and a lack of transportation choices. Legislation (LD 1666) to expand ranked-choice voting to races for general and special elections for governor, state senator and state representative passed the Senate with a 20-14 vote. Senators voted 18-14 to pass legislation (LD 497) that clarifies the definition and regulation of significant vernal pools under the Natural Resources Protection Act. The House voted without a roll call in favor of a proposal (LD 1555) to create a tax credit for employers that pay for or provide in-kind child care for all employees. (Read more about the bill and other related proposals here.) LD 1099, which would exempt diapers from sales tax, passed without a roll call. The House also passed another tax-related measure (LD 1657), which would expand the use of tax increment revenue for affordable housing by adding authorized project costs, such as costs for the development, sale, and operation. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Wyoming lawmakers on gaming committee revisit local control of HHR machines
CHEYENNE — Local control over simulcast permits will be the primary focus of Wyoming's new Select Committee on Gaming this year, as lawmakers prepare to draft a bill for the next legislative session. Chairman Sen. John Kolb, R-Rock Springs, reminded committee members the next session — which begins in early February — is a budget session. This means all non-budget bills will need to pass a two-thirds introductory vote for the Legislature's consideration. 'In the past, you know, we have not been successful legislatively (with gambling),' Kolb said during the committee's first meeting in Casper on Monday. Sen. John Kolb, R-Rock Springs (2025) Sen. John Kolb, R-Rock Springs Last year, members of the Legislature's Joint Appropriations Committee voted to sponsor five gambling-related bills for this year's legislative session. Four of the five bills died immediately, and one made it through the House of Representatives before dying in the Senate. Gambling in Wyoming recently exploded into a billion-dollar industry, and lawmakers are scrambling to decide what action is needed from the state to further regulate it. Legislative leadership assigned gambling as a study topic to the JAC last year, and a working group was formed, led by former Rep. Tom Walters, R-Casper. Since then, it's become apparent to lawmakers that gambling is a complicated issue. In response, the Management Council created a new select committee entirely focused on gambling in April. The committee has three meetings scheduled during the Legislature's off-season, formally known as the interim. Given the short amount of time, Kolb suggested starting with the framework of House Bill 85, which promotes local control over simulcast permits. HB 85 made it the farthest last session before dying in the Senate. 'Local control is very high on the list of things that need to be dealt with first,' Kolb said. 'We have to keep our eye on the ball and focus on what's achievable.' He also urged unified support between the two legislative chambers once this bill is drafted and filed for the session. 'We need the House, as we need the Senate, to work on a product,' Kolb said. 'We may not always have 100% agreement with that, but we need to have enough agreement that we want to move this forward.' HB 85 background A simulcast permit is needed to establish off-track betting sites (OTBs) and historic horse racing (HHR) machines. County commissioners reserve the sole authority to approve or deny these permits. However, state statute doesn't give the county any power to regulate gambling beyond the initial approval. Still, commissioners have incorporated limitations within approved simulcast permits, but these have yet to be challenged in court, said Wyoming County Commissioners Association Executive Director Jerimiah Rieman. It's unclear whether regulations imposed by commissioners would survive litigation. The Wyoming Supreme Court ruled in 2023 under the 'the plain and unambiguous language of the Pari-Mutuel Act' that county commissioners cannot revoke permits after granting approval. 'Once the commissioners say yes, they have no other authorities,' Rieman said. 'They've transferred that responsibility to the (Wyoming) Gaming Commission.' Rieman proposed a bill draft before the JAC in 2024, the original version of HB 85, that initially outlined regulatory authority to county commissioners once a simulcast permit is approved, including the ability to revoke a permit 'if there's good reason to do so.' The draft underwent several revisions, including an amendment that extended approval authority to city and town governments for simulcasting permits within city limits. 'Do I like where HB 85 got to? No,' Rieman said, although he mentioned his support for extending approval authority to city and town governments. 'But this is an important issue for us.' Rep. Jayme Lien, R-Casper (2025) Rep. Jayme Lien, R-Casper Co-Chairwoman Rep. Jayme Lien, R-Casper, asked Rieman if counties could regulate gambling entities through zoning laws. The county commissioner said he spoke with 11 of the counties with HHR machines last week, and none of them have specific zoning for HHR operations. 'It is important to note that there are a number of counties where zoning is not part of a lexicon,' Rieman said. 'And I doubt we'll have zoning anytime in the near future, and I suspect most of the others will not.' He added that most HHR machines operate within city and town limits, which are outside of county jurisdiction to implement zoning policy. Furthermore, zoning regulations do not grant authority to revoke simulcasting permits. 'You're gonna have to give us that,' Rieman said. City, town control City and town government leaders have also been frustrated by their inability to control how many HHR machines pop up within their jurisdiction. Cheyenne Mayor Patrick Collins previously told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle he supported HB 85. 'My frustration right now is that we have 10 approved casinos inside the city limits, and our governing body had no input on their approval,' Collins said. 'We're the governing body closest to the people living in Cheyenne, and I think we should have had the responsibility for making that decision.' Wyoming Association of Municipalities (WAM) Executive Director Ashley Harpstreith said OTBs impact city resources, including law enforcement, first responders, street maintenance and other public services. Ashley Harpstreith Ashley Harpstreith She added that city zoning ordinances are not enough to regulate the social and welfare issues from this industry. 'We need legislation to allow local governments (the) ability to impose specific conditions on permits, such as hours of operation or location restrictions based on their unique needs and concerns,' Harpstreith said. Cheyenne City Council President Mark Rinne said six of the seven properly zoned HHR sites in the city were approved through the Cheyenne Board of Adjustment. However, members of this board are not elected by the public, he said. 'They are not beholden to the public as (city) council members are,' Rinne said. 'Unless you have to go to the Board of Adjustment for something, you don't even know they exist. We may indirectly have control through zoning, but honestly we do not.' 100-mile rule Under the 100-mile rule, no simulcasting may be conducted within 100 miles of a live horse racing event. The Gaming Commission may waive the 100-mile limitation 'if the simulcast permit application includes written approval from the permittee whose permitted premises is within the 100-mile limitation,' according to W.S. 11-25-102(a)(vii)(C). Kolb recalled his days as a county commissioner, when the 100-mile rule first came about. Race tracks in Uinta and Sweetwater counties were going out of business due to lack of public attendance, he said. 'Now, with HHR, we don't have that issue anymore,' Kolb said. 'It's certainly a new day.' 307 Horse Racing President Kyle Ridgeway previously testified in February, during the session, that the 100-mile rule 'hurt our business' by forcing OTB vendors to close during a live horse racing event. Both Reiman and Harpstreith, representing county commissioners and local municipalities, respectively, said their organizations supported getting rid of the 100-mile rule entirely. However, attorney and former Cheyenne Republican lawmaker Affie Ellis urged caution against wiping out this rule. Former Sen. Affie Ellis Former Sen. Affie Ellis. 'I think it's a very effective tool that ties the HHR activity to the growth of Wyoming's horse racing industry,' Ellis said. Revenue from HHR machines contributes to the purse of horse racing events, which is key to the survival of horse racing tracks in Wyoming, Ellis said. The purpose of the 100-mile rule is 'to incentivize more horse tracks coming online.' In a follow-up phone call on Tuesday, Ellis told the WTE the rule is an opportunity for purse contribution negotiations between track operators and OTB vendors. She added it's not the intention of Cowboy Racing, her client, to shut down OTB vendors during race days. Cowboy Racing recently completed construction of Wyoming's first full-size live horse racing track 10 miles east of Cheyenne at Thunder Plains Park. The company has said it intends to operate at least three gaming facilities within the city limits of Cheyenne. 'We don't want anyone to close during our race times and race days,' Ellis said. 'If the agreement has a reliance on a percentage of that gaming revenue, we want that (OTB) to be open because that supports the purse.' Lawmakers will consider different bill drafts regarding local control at their next meeting in Evanston on Aug. 8-9.
