Last Wednesday, the 2013-2014 legislative session reconvened in Augusta. Last year, the legislature defeated some of the greatest threats to the Second Amendment ever seen in the Pine Tree State. But our fight to protect your rights is not over.
Last year, the largest national anti-hunting group -- the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) -- announced they would be resurrecting an attempt to ban traditional methods of harvesting black bear in 2014. As predicted, HSUS is now aggressively gathering the 57,000 signatures necessary to qualify to put this issue on the ballot in November. If successful, this will be their second attempt in ten years to restrict bear hunting in Maine via the statewide ballot. The hunting methods under attack account for more than 90% of black bear taken annually. If they win, Maine’s sustainable bear management program loses.
The NRA plans to keep up the momentum and will continue to fight against any attack on hunting and your Second Amendment rights. As always your NRA-ILA will continue to keep you updated on this proposal as well as other measures that affect you as a gun owner and sportsman in the new year. Please continue to check your e-mail and www.NRAILA.org for further updates.