The Maine Senate has passed a "Constitutional Carry" bill with a vote of 21-14. The bill would permit gun owners to legally carry their weapons concealed without a permit. This is the second time in two years that the Senate has considered this type of bill.
While the votes were mostly split along party lines, three Democrats sided with the Republicans in voting for the measure.
The bill now moves on to the House of Representatives.
Vermont, Alaska, Arizona, Kansas, and Wyoming all have Constitutional Carry laws that allow permit-free concealed carry within the state. The Brady Campaign gave Maine an "F" grade on its state scorecard in 2013, yet also noted that the state has one of the lowest gun death rates in the nation.
Reference
Maine's Constitution explicitly defines the Rights of Maine Citizens regarding arms in Article I section XVI:
"Section 16. To keep and bear arms. Every citizen has a right to keep and bear arms and this right shall never be questioned."
Maine Constitution
↧