Maine Cuts Reciprocity With Several States, Enacts Constitutional Carry!

[Sdiver]

Just an FYI ....

If you have a Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Texas or Virginia handgun license, you need to know that your state-issued carry license is not valid in Maine.

This comes as a result of Maine enacting a type of “constitutional carry.” We congratulate Maine on becoming the latest state to practice some form of permitless concealed carry. For folks in one of the states where Maine does not recognize your carry license, this means you can still carry in Maine, but subject to a few unusual and important exceptions you need to know.

Without a valid license you cannot carry in the following places:

Acadia National Park State parks (open carry not permitted) Employees’ vehicles on work premises (vehicle must be locked and firearm must not be visible)

A valid and recognized license is STILL REQUIRED to carry a handgun into these locations, and your Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Texas or Virginia license WILL NOT satisfy that requirement. For our members from Oklahoma and Missouri, your state-issued licenses are recognized in Maine at this time.

To sum up—if you live in Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia, and have a license issued by one of those states, you can carry a concealed handgun in Maine even though your carry license is not recognized. Just be sure to avoid any prohibited areas, and immediately notify any law enforcement you encounter of your concealed handgun during a stop, detention, or arrest.

[Team Sergeant]

You just getting the memo?






US | Wed Jul 8, 2015 6:30pm EDT
Related: U.S.

Maine allows gun owners to carry concealed weapons without permit

AUGUSTA, Maine | By David Sherwood


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.

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.

Maine law currently allows gun owners to openly carry a handgun without a permit, but concealed carry requires a background check, a licensing fee, a judgment of “good moral character” and evidence the applicant can handle a gun safely.

Sportsmen’s groups and gun advocates argued the process was too onerous, deterring law-abiding citizens from applying.

Opponents, including Maine Chiefs of Police Association, said rigorous background checks kept weapons out of the hands of felons.

The new law, which passed with broad bipartisan support, would eliminate the permit requirement for any resident over 21 years old who is not already prohibited from owning a firearm.

Active members of the military, and veterans over 18 years of age, would be granted the same privilege.


http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/...0PI2QX20150708

[JJ_BPK]

I remember when Florida started the CCW license process in 1984? The complaint was that if your state didn't have a CCW process, Florida would not allow reciprocity,,

So, in this case Maine lost the ability to carry in Fl, maybe the other CCW states also?

BUT all is not lost, Florida allows non-residents access to the CCW permit process..

[Sdiver]

Originally Posted by Team Sergeant

You just getting the memo?

LOL ... Actually, yes I am.

The G's knocked out my telegraph wires a few months ago ...

... or, it could have been Billy.

[Divemaster]

I'm not sure how this pertains to nonresidents wishing to carry concealed in Maine, but there is a mom and pop company here in western Washington (http://www.fridayharborgunrunners.com/) that offers a multi-permit course. This one day class meets the requirements for Arizona, Oregon, and Utah permits. Combined with the very easy to get Washington permit, you can legally carry concealed in over 30 states.

[SittingElf]

Originally Posted by Divemaster

I'm not sure how this pertains to nonresidents wishing to carry concealed in Maine, but there is a mom and pop company here in western Washington (http://www.fridayharborgunrunners.com/) that offers a multi-permit course. This one day class meets the requirements for Arizona, Oregon, and Utah permits. Combined with the very easy to get Washington permit, you can legally carry concealed in over 30 states.

However, this does NOT include Florida, which has no reciprocity with Washington... or virtually any other Pacific Coast State. No wonder they call it the "Left" Coast.

[Divemaster]

Originally Posted by SittingElf

However, this does NOT include Florida, which has no reciprocity with Washington... or virtually any other Pacific Coast State. No wonder they call it the "Left" Coast.

Florida is about as far as one can get in the U.S. from where I live, so no biggie. Florida and I won't miss each other. Washington permits are typically not honored in states that have a training requirement. Washington is a "shall issue" state and has no training requirement, thus it is very easy to get the permit. How's that for "left"? The Peoples Democratic Republic of Oregon honors carry permits from no other states, so to carry there you need their paper, and a local sheriff's signature. With Washington, Oregon, Arizona and Utah permits in hand a person is covered for about 33 states.

[DinDinA-2]

Reciprocity is one thing.

A course meeting a states requirement for an ELGIBLE applicant is another.

Oregon recognizes no one, for example. Have an Oregon permit or go naked. Come on vacation...leave on probation.