Today, April 1, the Maine Senate voted to enact Legislative Document 1572. LD 1572 would help ensure nondiscrimination against gun owners who reside in public housing. LD 1572 will now go to Governor Paul LePage (R) for his signature. Additionally, this week Legislative Document 1500 also passed final enactment in both chambers and has been sent to Governor LePage for his signature. LD 1500 would protect and promote access to shooting ranges across Maine. Please click the “Take Action” button below to contact Governor LePage and urge him to sign LD 1572 and LD 1500.
LD 1572, sponsored by Senator Andre Cushing (R-Penobscot), would prevent public housing authorities from adding provisions in rental agreements to ban the lawful ownership, use, possession, bearing or transportation of firearms by tenants. Law-abiding gun owners should not be denied the right to Keep and Bear Arms, regardless of their economic status or street address.
LD 1500, sponsored by Representative Patrick Corey (R-Windham), seeks to protect “sport shooting ranges” from legal actions which aim to restrict or prohibit range uses based on noise, nuisance and similar laws that were passed or took effect after the range came into existence. Under LD 1500, these later-enacted laws could not be used to prohibit a sport shooting range from restoring or repairing existing facilities or expanding its events and activities, so long as these are consistent with general range operation practices. This bill would not, however, immunize a range from actions claiming negligent or reckless operation or use of a range.
Please click the “Take Action” button above to contact Governor LePage and urge him to sign LD 1572 and LD 1500. Also, please stay tuned to www.nraila.org and your email inbox for further updates on this bill as it progresses through the Maine Legislature.