Maine Senate could restrict Muzzleloader Sales in the State

On Monday, June 12th, the Maine Senate will be holding a floor vote on LD 22, a poorly written gun bill that could result in the end of muzzleloader sales in Maine. NRA members and gun-rights-supporting Mainers are urged to contact their lawmakers and request that they vote against the Majority Report on LD 22 to protect the sale of antique firearms and muzzleloaders in Maine.

LD 22 is an overly broad bill that purports to ban straw purchases, which are already illegal under federal law. The MAJORITY report puts Maine out of alignment with federal law regarding the sale of antique firearms. This bill potentially entraps retailers and firearm dealers when they sell these antique firearms. For a state with a muzzleloading hunting season, this is of significant concern for sportsmen and sportswomen across Maine.

Muzzleloading enthusiasts in Maine are encouraged to kindly and professionally contact their senators and let them know how you feel about this bill.

I Love Muzzleloading and it’s writers aren’t lawyers. LD 22 is very short and doesn’t mention muzzleloaders specifically, but research into the Maine list of “definitions” looks to align muzzleloaders (Which are normally considered antiques) with modern firearms.

12-A.  "Firearm" means any weapon, whether loaded or unloaded, which is designed to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive and includes any such weapon commonly referred to as a pistol, revolver, rifle, gun, machine gun or shotgun. Any weapon which can be made into a firearm by the insertion of a firing pin, or other similar thing, or by repair, is a firearm.  

[PL 1983, c. 219 (AMD).]

Read more: https://www.nraila.org/articles/20230609/maine-problematic-gun-bill-vote-on-monday#ixzz84K0CppQe
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