Constitutional carry is the means by which Americans are pushing back against government interference with their right to bear arms. By eliminating the permitting process, Maine has passed a constitutional carry law that makes it legal for residents to carry concealed without a permit.
Maine will allow gun owners to carry concealed weapons without a permit, a practice called “constitutional carry” by Second Amendment advocates, under a bill signed into law on Wednesday by Republican Governor Paul LePage.The measure will make Maine the fifth state to pass a law legalizing the carrying of a handgun, either openly or concealed, without the requirement of a government permit.Maine joins Alaska, Arizona, Wyoming and Kansas in voting to allow the practice, according to National Rifle Association spokesman Lars Dalseide. Vermont has never required a permit. Arkansas and Montana also allow more limited forms of constitutional carry.More than a dozen other states have considered similar legislation.The Maine law will take effect 90 days after the state’s legislature adjourns, which is expected in mid-July.
Watch:
My personal favorite sentence from the Reuters’ piece:
The Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects the right of individuals to own and bear firearms, has limited efforts to pass gun control legislation around the country and has served as the basis for expanding gun rights in many states.
That pesky Constitution strikes again! Thankfully.
Both the NRA and the NAGR (National Association of Gun Rights) have released statements praising the new law.
From the Washington Free Beacon:
The National Rifle Association (NRA) celebrated the move as “another victory for gun owners.”“Maine now joins an ever-growing number of states in passing permitless carry,” executive director of the NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action Chris Cox said in a press release. “Despite the best efforts of Michael Bloomberg-funded groups to distort the truth, the Maine legislature and governor stood strong for freedom. It’s encouraging to see a governor stand up for the rights of their constituents, instead of caving to the demands of an anti-gun billionaire from New York City.”“On behalf of the NRA’s five million members, we would like to thank Gov. LePage, Senator Eric Brakey, and the House and Senate leadership for their work in pushing this legislation through.”The National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR) also celebrated the new law. “We’re very pleased the governor signed this landmark pro-gun bill,” NAGR president Dudley Brown said in a release. “We would like to thank pro-gun State Sen. Eric Brakey for sponsoring this bill, and we’re especially grateful to the NAGR members and supporters who took action to support this bill.”“We are so excited that both Kansas and Maine passed constitutional carry this year,” Brown said. “This is a first that all pro-gun people should be proud of.”
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