sm
member
http://www.pressherald.com/news/statehouse/030327guns.shtml
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Thursday, March 27, 2003
Bill would let victims of abuse carry guns
By PAUL CARRIER, Portland Press Herald Writer
Copyright © 2003 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
AUGUSTA — Victims of domestic violence should be free to carry concealed weapons without permits because that may be the best way for them to protect themselves against homicidal abusers, a state lawmaker from Durham told a legislative committee on Wednesday.
Protective orders issued by the courts "are a good tool for law enforcement," Republican Rep. Michael Vaughan told the Criminal Justice Committee, but "they don't stop a bullet or (a) knife."
Vaughan's bill to allow victims of domestic violence to carry hidden guns without permits would set a different standard for victims than for the public at large.
Vaughan said he filed the bill to protect abuse victims, who, for the most part, are women. But no women's advocates or domestic-violence groups endorsed the bill, which came under attack from the state Department of Public Safety, an organization representing Maine police chiefs and a gun-control group.
In fact, Vaughan was quite isolated in his support for the bill. He said during an interview that he submitted the bill on his own initiative, not at the request of any domestic-violence victims.
Even the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine, which generally champions gun ownership and backed some pro-gun bills that were considered by the committee on Wednesday, did not endorse Vaughan's bill.
The bill was one of six firearms bills that the Criminal Justice Committee considered during a long hearing. Five of the six involved ideas that the Legislature has considered and rejected in recent years. Vaughan's bill was the only one that proposed a change in public policy that had not been considered by lawmakers.
Six hours into the hearing, which began early Wednesday afternoon, it was not clear whether the committee would vote on the bills Wednesday night or postpone action. Four of the bills, including Vaughan's, are pro-gun proposals. The other two are backed by supporters of gun control.
As drafted, Vaughan's bill would allow victims of domestic violence who are not felons to carry concealed weapons without permits if they complete a gun-safety course. Even that is too restrictive, Vaughan told the committee, because a victim who needs a weapon may not have time to take such a course. As a result, he urged the committee to strike the safety-course requirement from the legislation.
Vaughan ran through a list of about 20 women who were killed in Maine in recent years by husbands and boyfriends, to make the case for his bill. But skeptics on the committee said the odds are that many, or even most, of those victims did not have enough advance warning of the risk they faced to protect themselves by getting concealed weapons.
The Department of Public Safety opposed the bill because "it sets a far lower standard for concealed carrying of firearms for this category of individual than that which is applied to others seeking a concealed-weapons permit," said Maj. Craig Poulin of the state police. He noted that the bill would allow suspects with pending felony charges and people guilty of reckless or negligent conduct to carry concealed weapons without permits.
In addition, Poulin said, the bill sets no limit on how long a victim of domestic violence could carry a concealed weapon without a permit. Poulin said "introducing a firearm into a domestic violence situation has the potential for grave consequences that far outweigh any perceived benefit."
"We are sympathetic to the plight of domestic-violence" victims, but it is best that they get permits for concealed weapons, just like everyone else, William Harwood of Maine Citizens Against Handgun Violence said in an interview.
Four of the six bills that the committee considered on Wednesday deal with concealed weapons. All four would loosen existing gun-control laws.
The other three bills in that category would:
Repeal the law requiring permits for concealed weapons.
Allow anyone who meets concealed-weapon requirements in any state to carry a concealed weapon in Maine
Allow applicants for such permits to appeal to the state police when municipal officials refuse to issue permits.
The other two bills were supported by gun-control advocates.
They would raise from 16 to 18 the age at which Mainers can accept or buy handguns from individuals, to match federal law; and force individuals who sell weapons at gun shows to run background checks on prospective buyers, as federal law requires for federally licensed gun dealers.
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I like the first part of this story allowing one to protect themselves.
Don't care for the last paragraph at all. Then again I don't care for gun laws period. Heck, I say give the fellers out of jail guns, except the mentally instable and violent . May even be a place for them in some parts for some things.
"Sadam, say hello to Frankie and his little friend"
'73
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Thursday, March 27, 2003
Bill would let victims of abuse carry guns
By PAUL CARRIER, Portland Press Herald Writer
Copyright © 2003 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
AUGUSTA — Victims of domestic violence should be free to carry concealed weapons without permits because that may be the best way for them to protect themselves against homicidal abusers, a state lawmaker from Durham told a legislative committee on Wednesday.
Protective orders issued by the courts "are a good tool for law enforcement," Republican Rep. Michael Vaughan told the Criminal Justice Committee, but "they don't stop a bullet or (a) knife."
Vaughan's bill to allow victims of domestic violence to carry hidden guns without permits would set a different standard for victims than for the public at large.
Vaughan said he filed the bill to protect abuse victims, who, for the most part, are women. But no women's advocates or domestic-violence groups endorsed the bill, which came under attack from the state Department of Public Safety, an organization representing Maine police chiefs and a gun-control group.
In fact, Vaughan was quite isolated in his support for the bill. He said during an interview that he submitted the bill on his own initiative, not at the request of any domestic-violence victims.
Even the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine, which generally champions gun ownership and backed some pro-gun bills that were considered by the committee on Wednesday, did not endorse Vaughan's bill.
The bill was one of six firearms bills that the Criminal Justice Committee considered during a long hearing. Five of the six involved ideas that the Legislature has considered and rejected in recent years. Vaughan's bill was the only one that proposed a change in public policy that had not been considered by lawmakers.
Six hours into the hearing, which began early Wednesday afternoon, it was not clear whether the committee would vote on the bills Wednesday night or postpone action. Four of the bills, including Vaughan's, are pro-gun proposals. The other two are backed by supporters of gun control.
As drafted, Vaughan's bill would allow victims of domestic violence who are not felons to carry concealed weapons without permits if they complete a gun-safety course. Even that is too restrictive, Vaughan told the committee, because a victim who needs a weapon may not have time to take such a course. As a result, he urged the committee to strike the safety-course requirement from the legislation.
Vaughan ran through a list of about 20 women who were killed in Maine in recent years by husbands and boyfriends, to make the case for his bill. But skeptics on the committee said the odds are that many, or even most, of those victims did not have enough advance warning of the risk they faced to protect themselves by getting concealed weapons.
The Department of Public Safety opposed the bill because "it sets a far lower standard for concealed carrying of firearms for this category of individual than that which is applied to others seeking a concealed-weapons permit," said Maj. Craig Poulin of the state police. He noted that the bill would allow suspects with pending felony charges and people guilty of reckless or negligent conduct to carry concealed weapons without permits.
In addition, Poulin said, the bill sets no limit on how long a victim of domestic violence could carry a concealed weapon without a permit. Poulin said "introducing a firearm into a domestic violence situation has the potential for grave consequences that far outweigh any perceived benefit."
"We are sympathetic to the plight of domestic-violence" victims, but it is best that they get permits for concealed weapons, just like everyone else, William Harwood of Maine Citizens Against Handgun Violence said in an interview.
Four of the six bills that the committee considered on Wednesday deal with concealed weapons. All four would loosen existing gun-control laws.
The other three bills in that category would:
Repeal the law requiring permits for concealed weapons.
Allow anyone who meets concealed-weapon requirements in any state to carry a concealed weapon in Maine
Allow applicants for such permits to appeal to the state police when municipal officials refuse to issue permits.
The other two bills were supported by gun-control advocates.
They would raise from 16 to 18 the age at which Mainers can accept or buy handguns from individuals, to match federal law; and force individuals who sell weapons at gun shows to run background checks on prospective buyers, as federal law requires for federally licensed gun dealers.
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I like the first part of this story allowing one to protect themselves.
Don't care for the last paragraph at all. Then again I don't care for gun laws period. Heck, I say give the fellers out of jail guns, except the mentally instable and violent . May even be a place for them in some parts for some things.
"Sadam, say hello to Frankie and his little friend"
'73
