Concealed Carry In Maine No Longer Requires A Permit

[PoliticAverse]

A law effective Thursday allows people in the state of Maine to carry concealed handguns without a permit.

The new statute, which applies to both residents and non-residents ages 21 and over, means that anyone not otherwise banned from carrying a firearm can carry a concealed handgun within state borders. Keeping a loaded pistol or revolver inside a motor vehicle is allowed as well. Adults ages 18-20 who are on active military duty, or who have been honorably discharged from the military, are also included.

Read the rest at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/concealed-carry-permit-maine_561fb04ce4b028dd7ea6c558

[Lurks Often]

1. AAHHH THE STREETS WILL RUN WITH BLOOD NOW!!!!!!!!!!

Or so the gun control extremists keep insisting.

[OakCliffDem]

2. There will be a dramatic increase in suicide by gun now

People with easy access to a gun in their pocket will be more inclined to commit suicide because of this.

[Straw Man]

4. There will?

There will be a dramatic increase in suicide by gun now

People with easy access to a gun in their pocket will be more inclined to commit suicide because of this.

A gun in their pocket as opposed to a gun at home? Considering that most suicides are premeditated as opposed to impulsive, that doesn't seem likely.

[OakCliffDem]

9. Oh come on

I followed the obligatory 'Blood in the streets!' post.

[Straw Man]

15. I see.

Your delivery was impeccable.

[beardown]

5. I doubt that, but I'm not a suicide prevention expert.

Unless easier access to concealed carry sparks a big increase in gun ownership, I don't see much impact on suicides.

Anyone who is already depressed or deranged enough to kill themselves now in Maine because they are carrying concealed or otherwise is about as close to a dead man walking as there is. No big chore or obstacle to simply drive home and get your gun or drive your car off a bridge, etc. I just don't see the thought process of "gee, I'm done with life, good thing I've got a concealed gun right here" occurring enough to be noticed outside of general statistical noise.

However, sometimes a change will have a much larger than anticipated impact so time will tell.

I assume Maine is not the first state to make this change. Any existing numbers on this issue?

[OakCliffDem]

10. Oh come on

I followed the obligatory 'Blood in the streets!' post.

[beardown]

16. I thought that Eleanor38 was next up for the mandatory reply?

Dammit. I hate it when I'm working off of stale info.

Well played.

[Lurks Often]

6. Or maybe they won't

[branford]

7. Do you have any studies or scholarship that demonstrate

that concealed (or open) carry laws affect suicide rates of people already otherwise legally able to purchase and own firearms?

[OakCliffDem]

11. Oh come on

I followed the obligatory 'Blood in the streets!' post.

[branford]

14. Never forget the "sarcasm" tag!

Remember where you are, and some of the ridiculous ideas that have been proposed.

[GGJohn]

12. You forgot this.

[OakCliffDem]

13. Right - Tee - Oh

[beardown]

3. Prefer folks carrying have some training

Otherwise, concealed carry allows person access to more areas and more people start concealed carrying, potentially more untrained handled guns around. Not a good thing. Article says more people are signing up for training, but no way that all will do so and there's the rub.

I doubt that we'll see blood rivers flowing down the streets now, but we'll certainly see it plastered all over the news each time someone pulls a concealed gun and shoots out a guys tires for illegal parking or dropping two innocent bystanders while shooting at a shoplifter.

As Spiderman's uncle said "With great power comes great responsibility".

I figure the more that gun owners in general and concealed carry in particular are 'well regulated' we can minimize that oft times misinterpreted phrase by the gun confiscators.

Worst case. It's Maine and if gun deaths double it'll only take them up to 8 and if they occur during the winter it'll take months for the news to reach the outside world. Apologies to any Maine residents for my unwarranted smear.

[Straw Man]

8. Me too.

Prefer folks carrying have some training

Otherwise, concealed carry allows person access to more areas and more people start concealed carrying, potentially more untrained handled guns around. Not a good thing.

NRA Basic Pistol would be a good start. I'd like to see gun clubs offer that one free or at cost, if they can afford to. Promote general public safety while getting some good PR: win-win.

[beardown]

17. Support your local militia.

Too bad James Gardner can't play the lead.

[Straw Man]

18. I'm not sure ...

... what that's supposed to mean. If you're riffing on the NRA, I have to ask who you think does most of the firearms training in this country.

[beardown]

19. Means I should stop referencing old movie titles

"Support your local Sheriff" and then "Support your local gunfighter" were two old James Gardner comedy westerns.

Just added the militia part as it seemed to complete the above series.

[Straw Man]

20. Do you mean ...

"Support your local Sheriff" and then "Support your local gunfighter" were two old James Gardner comedy westerns.

... James Garner?

[beardown]

22. No, the one that was in "Support Your Local Sheriff"

Yeah, that's the one. One 'd' too many?

He recently passed away. Was a life long strong old school democratic person. I think he may have been a long term proponent of Ronald Reagan being a dimwit.

[Oneka]

25. He was also

In one of my favorite classic movies. "The Great Escape".

[DonP]

28. Also a decorated Korean War veteran

In an interview he said he was shot in the ass, not from running away, but for not getting his rear end down far enough. I'm pretty sure they don't just award Bronze Stars for getting shot in the ass. Very soft spoken about his military experience.

[Snobblevitch]

21. I too prefer a CCW system that includes

training. My state requires a day long course that includes both classroom and range time with the gun the they intend to carry.

A few years ago, my father and my Iraq war veteran nephew took the class together.

Much of the class was about the world of shit the CCW holder would be in if they ever pulled their weapon even without firing it.

I know that blood is not flowing in the streets because of legal conceal carry. I believe that it should take a bit of effort to legally carry a concealed weapon. (I also think it should take effort to decide to vote. People should choose to register to vote. They should also make the effort to go to the polls on election day or to choose to vote by absentee ballot.)

[beardown]

23. Yes, legal not tactical

That was the emphasis of my required training, but I'd have preferred more. I can always go out and get more, but that does little for the overall CC pool.

It's tough to balance how much training or registering and voting per better results against increased barriers. It's much easier for me to afford higher standards and costs than folks working two jobs with a sick parent living at home with them and a kid in school. We can't let this become a rich person's right.

You've got me thinking more about this issue so thanks for your posting.

[Snobblevitch]

24. I can understand your point about costs for CCW training.

Is $100 too much? That's what it costs in my state. I chose to not get my CCW, not because of cost, but because I did not think I would ever carry, and I have no thoughts of buying another handgun. (The CCW is also a permit to purchase). Besides that, I could always take the class in the future.

[Jester Messiah]

26. Agreed!

This seems like a path to chaos. There will be an uptick in accidents, arguments that get too heated, what have you... and it'll be used to fuel the narrative that guns are scary and bad.

[DonP]

29. Are Maine folks just dumber?

That has been predicted for every state that passed constitutional carry laws. Never seems to happen though. What is it now, 5 or 6 states with permit free carry?

Kind of like all the predictions for bloodshed if concealed carry laws passed. Still waiting for shootings over a parking space or in the produce aisle that they went on and on about.

[Eleanors38]

30. Yes. Like Vermont for the last 225+ years. Anarchy all over the place.

[deathrind]

27. So now a person

Can carry a concealed firearm with out showing they have any responsibility...way to go.

[Eleanors38]

31. Personally, I favor a reasonable test for proficiency and knowledge of the law...

But state legislatures have the power to govern in this matter. BTW, Vermont has had no regs on CCW since its beginnings. It make Texas look like a regulatory heaven.

[DonP]

32. Yup, just like voting

Or do you think people should prove something before being allowed to vote?

[deathrind]

35. One has to register to vote.

Also, while a vote can be dangerous to the country (look how badly bush jr screwed things up) you can not point and shoot a vote at someone and kill them.

The comparisons made by pro gun people are amazing...and not well thought out.

[DonP]

37. I guess the NICS FBI background check that we have to pay for doesn't count...

...the same as registration to vote.

Or the waiting periods, the 4473 you have to fill out for any purchase, or any state and local requirements? I'm sure registering to vote is much more complex and intrusive. Show an electric bill, get a vote.

What amazes me is that gun control supporters seem to have no clue of the existing laws and requirements.

That might be one of the reasons they continue to fail dismally in elections and in court.

Well that, and the brilliant piece of thinking that somehow insulting 100 million gun owners (that vote in every election) will encourage them to agree with some new vaguely defined regulations.

[deathrind]

38. And this type of check takes place

for every firearm sold 100% of the time?

If so I stand corrected.

[DonP]

40. All sales through an FFL, in store or at a gun show have to go through the NICS check ...

... also any private sale (at home, gun show etc.) in my state, Illinois and I think it's now 17 (?) other states.

FWIW, the vast majority of exhibitors at gun shows are FFLs. Then a lot of people selling beef jerky, knives, old military surplus crap, camping gear, etc. They are heavily patrolled by state and local police.

Per the Commerce Clause, The Federal government can not regulate Instrastate sales, so states have to pass their own background check requirements.

If you want to buy a gun from another state or an online sale, they have to ship it to a FFL (Federal Firearm Licensee) in your home state and they have to run the background check, waiting periods etc. before you can pick it up.

Obviously criminals and gang members don't follow these or any other laws.

[deathrind]

41. I stand corrected.

At least partially. You include several caveats in your reply such as "All sales through an FFL", "the vast majority of exhibitors at gun shows are FFLs" but all sales do not go thru and FFL. Firearm purchases from state to state are not uniform they are not as black and white as you suggest. I wish they were.

My initial reply to your reply was snarky and I apologize for that...but yours was as well so I think we are even. I appreciate the tone and information you provide above. I don't hunt but I do own a .45 and a Benelli Shotgun and I enjoy target shooting. I personally do not want to see firearms banned but if a ban did come down I would have no issue with it, the adage of a "few bad apples" really is true. There are lots of items I wish I could buy but certainly it is better for the greater good that one cannot buy them.

Fire arm purchases I feel should be heavily regulated. 5 day waiting periods (ex-girlfriend worked at a kmart sold a shotgun in the am and had police come in the pm because the guy shot someone not long after the buy.) Testing should be required. Licensing and tracking yearly as well. It should be difficult to get a gun not impossible but a person should have to show that they understand what it is they are getting into.

As for CCW... I don't think they should be allowed. If a person is willing to carry a gun they should be willing to show it.

[GGJohn]

36. Hasn't been a problem in the other states with constitutional carry,

but, IMO, there should be a rigorous classroom and range time test.

[deathrind]

39. I agree with you.

A person should have to show that they have some sense of what it is that they are carrying in a concealed way. Class room, range testing. But even then it is a dicey proposition. Unless you have been in a fire fight you can test all you want but still not be prepared for the reality of the violence of it...

Look at the person that figured they would help out the Home Depot security guard chasing the shoplifter.

[ileus]

33. Now that's progressive....expanding peoples rights is a good thing.

[Kang Colby]

34. Vermont has been constitutional carry

for a very long time. Yet, it is consistently in the top 3 safest states with respect to crime statistics.

I agree with the importance of training for CCW, I do not believe that is should be mandated by the government. Those CCW courses are essentially worthless, and are simply used as a mechanism of prior restraint on an existing right.