Maine: Judiciary Committee Rejects Gun Confiscation Measure

[Charlie T Waite]

Yesterday, the Judiciary Committee held a work session on gun confiscation legislation carried over from last year. Thanks to the strong support of NRA Members and Second Amendment supporters, the majority of the Committee voted “ought not to pass” on LD 1068. The bill will move to the House and Senate for consideration later this session.

Legislative Document 1068 creates two new sections of Maine law, which outline the power of the court in issuing orders or consent agreements for protection from harassment, and authorizes the surrender of firearms. This bill is redundant and unnecessary, burdens Second Amendment rights, divests the courts of discretion, and mandates the surrender and confiscation of constitutionally protected property without a hearing and without notice.

Constitutional rights should only be restricted with sufficient due process of law. Due process limits restrictions on constitutional rights to only serious convictions and adjudications that provide procedural protections to the accused, which results in more reliable proceedings. The Right to Keep and Bear Arms should not be treated as a second-class right and should only be restricted when sufficient protections are in place.

Again, thank you to NRA members and Second Amendment supporters who contacted committee members in strong opposition to this anti-gun legislation.  Your NRA-ILA will continue to monitor this legislation and keep you informed of its status.