NEWS

Members,

This week, radical anti-gun politicians in the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee rammed through a slew of extreme gun-control bills. They ignored expert testimony on how these bills do not address public safety issues. They ignored thousands of Maine gun owners who contacted them highlighting the fact that these laws only restrict the 2nd Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. The only person they didn’t ignore: anti-gun Billionaire Mike Bloomberg.

To save our 2A rights in Maine, we must double down and fight these bills. I’m calling on all members to join GOME members and the National Rifle Association for a “Maine Lobby Day” on Tuesday, May 30^th at 9AM. Members will meet at the Maine State House where they will be given free t-shirts, gear, and handouts before heading upstairs to lobby members to vote against these anti-gun bills.

A summary of some of the worst bills are below for reference:

LD 22 is an overly broad bill that puts Maine out of alignment with federal law regarding the sale of antique firearms. This bill classifies these firearms in the same class as all other firearms, resulting in a conflict with how these sales are processed. This would put sellers who follow federal law, in violation of state law.

LD 60 delays Second Amendment rights by imposing a three-day waiting period before an individual may receive a firearm that they lawfully purchase, with limited exemptions. There is no evidence that waiting periods reduce violent crime. Instead, this simply denies someone the ability to buy a firearm for urgent self-defense.

LD 168 requires background checks for all private sales of firearms, including those at gun shows or resulting from advertising, with very limited exceptions. It applies to a private sale between two parties – including friends, neighbors, and coworkers, regardless of where the sale takes place. All such transfers – even if the seller knows the recipient is not a prohibited person – would have to be conducted through a federal firearm licensed dealer (FFL), with extensive federal paperwork, payment of an undetermined fee, and approval from the U.S. government.

LD 1011 requires law abiding gun owners who are victims of theft, to report the stolen firearm within 72 hours of when the owner knew or “should have known” it was lost or stolen. Rather than deter fraudulent gun sales, this bill would turn victims of gun theft into criminals and make people whose guns have been lost or stolen hesitant to assist police for fear of prosecution.

LD 1340 bans legal “rapid-fire modification devices” that are already commonly owned and in use by Mainers. These devices include but are not limited to bump stocks and binary triggers that are used in a wide array of legal activities, including competitive and recreational shooting. Possession of such devices would be a Class D crime.

Again, please make sure you join your fellow gun-owners on Tuesday, May 30^th at the Maine State House to protect our 2A rights.

Please see the following bill: https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=1691&snum=131

This could create a situation where manufacturers will not sell into the state, potentially "soft-banning" common firearms like handguns and semi-automatic rifles.

Check out our tips on emailing Legislators on our bill tracking page: 131st Bill Tracking

Hearing March 13th 10:00 - See below:

ME LD 674 HP 443, An Act to Allow Bail Commissioners to Carry Firearms in Correctional Facilities and Jails -- (Hearing: Monday, March 13, 2023 10:00 AM,State House, Room 436)

Two bills (both pro-2A) will be having hearings in early March - See below:

ME LD 271 SP 130, An Act Requiring The University Of Maine System And The Maine Community College System To Offer A For-Credit Course On Hunting, Fishing, Recreational Shooting And Trapping -- (Hearing: Education and Cultural Affairs | Mar 06, 2023 01:00 PM, Cross Office Building, 111 Sewall St, Augusta, ME 04330, Room 208

ME LD 629 HP 406, An Act To Improve, Protect And Defend The Individual Civil Right To Bear Arms Through Exemption Of Firearms And Ammunition From Taxation -- (Hearing: Taxation | Mar 09, 2023 02:00 PM, Maine State House, 210 State St, Augusta, ME 04330, Room 127

In 2021, Gun Owners of Maine launched the Tolhurst Grant Program.

Named to honor the work and legacy of our late President (Todd Tolhurst), these grants were awarded to individuals and organizations that offer hands-on firearm instruction. The funds were for the purpose of providing free or reduced-cost training to new and inexperienced gun owners in Maine.

We are happy to announce that we are offering the grants again in 2023. Up to ten grants of $500 each (one per training entity) will be awarded.

Grant applications will be accepted from 01/16/2023 through 03/16/2023. Applications must be received by 03/16/2023 to be considered. Terms and conditions are outlined in the grant application.

Questions can be directed to: info@gunownersofmaine.org

The grant application can be downloaded here: 2023 Tolhurst Grant Application.pdf

2021 HIGHLIGHTS

130th Legislature (1st Session) Recap

Once again, we saw an array of gun-related bills introduced in Augusta. Our members played a significant role in defeating the agenda of the gun control lobby this session. These anti-gun bills were killed:

LD 805: An Act To Allow Municipalities To Prohibit Firearms at Voting Places

LD 976: An Act To Amend the Definition of "Machine Gun" To Include Bump Stock Devices

LD 999: An Act Regarding Background Checks for the Sale of Firearms (Universal Background Checks)

LD 1015: An Act To Ban Hunting with Ammunition That Contains Lead

LD 1068: An Act To Restrict Access to Weapons Pursuant to Court Order in Cases of Harassment (Red Flag Law)

LD 1454: An Act To Prohibit Untraceable and Undetectable Firearms

We even gained some ground with the passage of these pro-gun bills:

LD 635: An Act To Repeal the Requirement To Obtain a Permit before Hunting with a Noise Suppression Device. Sponsored by Senator Trey Stewart, this eliminated the requirement to obtain a permit for hunting with a suppressor.  

LD 884: An Act To Restrict the Collection of Surveillance Video, Information and Data Regarding Lawful Firearm Purchases. Another bill sponsored by Senator Trey Stewart, this places restrictions on the Department of Public Safety’s ability to retain information or data concerning firearm purchases. 

LD 1140: An Act To Establish a Sales Tax Exemption for the Purchase of Firearm Safety Devices. This bill, sponsored by Representative Patrick Corey, created a sales tax exemption for the purchase of firearm safety devices (safes, lockboxes, and trigger or barrel locks that are specifically designed for securing firearms). It goes into effect January 1, 2022.

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Gun Owners of Maine Awards $3,000 in Grants to Promote Firearm Education & Training

To honor the memory and work of our late President, Todd Tolhurst, Gun Owners of Maine instituted the Tolhurst Grant Program. The purpose of these grants is to help provide free or reduced-cost training for new gun owners. In 2021, we awarded six grants of $500 each to Maine-based firearm instructors to help make hands-on training more accessible and affordable. A total of 55 individuals received live training with certified firearms instructors. Additionally, Androscoggin Fish & Game utilized a grant to help fund three educational events at their range, attended by a total of 178 people.

We expect to offer these grants again in 2022.

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GOME Helps Get Youth Shooting Team Off the Ground in Southern Maine

Andee Reardon O'Brion from East Coast School of Safety is starting up a youth competitive shooting team in Southern Maine. Believing in the importance of teaching young people safe and responsible gun use, Gun Owners of Maine donated a Ruger 10/22 and a Ruger SR22 to help get Andee’s project off the ground. This effort was further supported by a donation of 800 rounds of .22LR ammunition from The Gun Shop, LLC in Augusta.

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For The Love of Levers Fundraiser

In July, Kelly Stewart from Foothills Firearms Safety in Sumner organized and hosted a wonderful fundraising event for us. Nearly 100 people attended this Western-themed gathering that featured live music, a shooting competition, a number of prize drawings, and an ample supply of food and beverages.

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Outreach & Growth

Despite many event cancelations this year, our volunteers were still able to share our mission at a number of venues:

· Gun shows in Houlton, Bangor, Topsham, Augusta, Bath, Sanford, and Wiscasset

· Emergency Preparedness Expo at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor

· United Bikers of Maine Toy Run at the Windsor Fairgrounds

Even with fewer events being held, our membership continues to grow as an increasing number of Mainers are coming to the realization that our right to keep and bear arms is precious and worth defending.

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Today, it’s been a year since the passing of Todd Tolhurst, the first President of Gun Owners of Maine.

Todd probably did more than any other person to advance the growth and success of our organization. Gun Owners of Maine, as we know it today, would not exist if not for the tireless work of Todd Tolhurst.

As we pause to remember the unparalleled leadership and vision of a truly amazing man, may we be inspired and challenged by his example, and further resolve to defend one of our most fundamental civil rights: the right to keep and bear arms.

To honor his legacy and to further advance firearm education and training—Gun Owners of Maine is announcing the establishment of the Tolhurst Grant program for 2021.

We are offering $500 grants to individuals and organizations that provide firearm instruction. These funds are for the purpose of providing reduced-cost training to new and inexperienced gun owners. Terms and conditions are outlined in the grant application. Up to 10 grants are available (one per training entity).

Grant applications will be accepted from 01/16/2021 through 03/16/2021. Applications must be received by 03/16/2021 to be considered.

The grant application can be downloaded here: GOME Grant Application 2021.pdf

Questions can be directed to Brett Bulmer or info@gunownersofmaine.org.

 

Gun Owners of Maine has issued our candidate grades for the upcoming election: 2020 Candidate Gun Rights Grades

Gun Owners of Maine does not endorse candidates and grades them solely on the issue of gun rights.

We’re doing something a little different this year. For each election cycle, many candidates do not receive grades from us. In the past, we did not list those candidates. This year, we are listing them with a question mark (?) next to their name. There are basically two reasons a candidate might not have a grade: 1) It could indicate a lack of recent gun-related legislative activity on their part; or 2) They did not complete our Gun Policy Questionnaire.

This is where you come in.

Politicians should be held accountable for where they stand on defending your rights. We like to get them on record.

If a candidate in your district has not yet been graded, respectfully invite them to complete our questionnaire: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSekr4Q3sigZb_mr7BoRhXlz5y8meo6512s-pF_U9JMQEOv7Ow/viewform

Or, encourage them to issue public statements clarifying their position on gun rights. The more specific they are about which gun control policies they support or oppose, the better.

Grades may be added or updated between now and the November 3rd election.

AN ORDER REGARDING ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES AND OPERATIONS
March 26, 2020

Effective immediately, all business named as “Non-Essential”, without specific exemptions, are required to cease operations. This current Executive Order is set to expire at Midnight on April 8, 2020. Depending on the current status of COVID-19 this may be extended, or in the best case scenario, allowed to expire. The Federal orders have been implemented in this case. After reaching out to the Governor’s office for clarification, working hand in hand with the National Rifle Association and Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, we have been told that gun shops in Maine are not listed as “Essential Businesses” by name. Larger stores, primarily known as “Box Stores” who also sell firearms and ammunition are allowed to remain in business under this Executive Order.

While we understand, and are sympathetic to the concerns with virus transmission, we feel that not allowing citizens to access firearms, ammunition and other items related to self-preservation, sets a dangerous precedent. There are plenty of avenues to reduce viral transmission that are being implemented by other businesses which DO qualify as “Essential” and have protection from closure. Some of these exemptions include convenience stores and hardware stores. While we see the value in both, we also can’t overlook the importance of access to items of critical, Constitutionally protected items such as firearms and ammunition, which rise well above “convenience” items.

Gun shops are important centers for training, repair, refinishing, and resupply for Law Enforcement, Security Personnel and citizens in their respective area. Allowing the closing of gun shops would put every community at a severe disadvantage with respect to safety and security, and would be magnified several times over during a crisis situation. Local police officers and their departments are serviced by their area gun shops. Closing these vital businesses down leaves them as unprepared and vulnerable as the citizens they serve and protect.

Far beyond “convenience”, firearms, ammunition and their accessories are a primary tool of many Mainers, and necessary to participate in hunting, predator and animal control.

While we understand that drastic measures may be necessary to assist in curbing the transmission of COVID-19, shops that sell constitutionally protected items, such as firearms, ammunition and accessories cannot be logically overlooked, especially while exempting stores that carry items primarily for convenience. For millions of Americans, firearms are considered a NECESSITY, playing an enhanced role in times of public discomfort, crisis and unrest.

We are disappointed that gun shops haven’t been initially named as an exempted “Essential Business” and can’t overlook the strong sentiment across the nation for their necessity. Areas that are MUCH less friendly to firearms ownership have had their initial Executive Orders modified to specifically allow them to reopen and remain open to serve their community.

We urge you to contact Governor Mills and respectfully request that Gun Shops be added to the list of “Essential Businesses” as soon as possible.

Board of Directors, Gun Owners of Maine

UPDATE: As of 04/03/2020, Maine's list of Essential Businesses and Operations now includes Federal Firearms Licensees.

Essential Businesses and Operations