An Act To Enhance the Qualifications for a Concealed Firearms Permit
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 0778
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Sponsors: TURNER, STRIMLING, FLOOD, WOODBURY
Amends: 25 MRSA §2003

Legislative Document 
No. 778 
S.P.238 
February 15,2007 
An Act To Enhance the Qualifications for a Concealed Firearms 
Permit 
Reference to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety suggested and ordered 
printed. 
Presented by Senator TURNER of Cumberland. 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Cosponsored by Senator: STRIMLING of Cumberland, Representatives: FLOOD of Winthrop, 
WOODBURY of Yarmouth. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 25 MRSA §2003, sub-§l, ~E, as amended by PL 1993, c. 524, §8 and PL 
2005, c. 236, §§3 and 4, is further amended to read: 
E. 
Does the following: 
(1) At the request of the issuing authority, takes whatever action is required by 
law to allow the issuing authority to obtain from the Department of Health and 
Human Services, limited to records of patient committals to Riverview 
Psychiatric Center and Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center, the courts, law 
enforcement agencies and the military information relevant to the following: 
(a) The ascertainment of whether the information supplied on the application 
or any documents made a part of the application is true and correct; 
(b) The ascertainment of whether each of the add itional requ irements of th is 
section has been met; and 
(c) Section 2005; 
(2) If a photograph is an integral part of the permit to carry concealed firearms 
adopted by an issuing authority, submits to being photographed for that purpose; 
(3) If it becomes necessary to resolve any questions as to identity, submits to 
having fingerprints taken by the issuing authority; 
(4) Submits an application fee along with the written application to the proper 
issuing authority pursuant to the following schedule: 
(a) Resident of a municipality or unorganized territory, $35 for an original 
application and $20 for a renewal, except that a person who paid $60 for a 
concealed firearms permit or renewal during 1991 or 1992 is entitled to a 
credit toward renewal fees in an amount equal to $30 for a person who paid 
$60 for an original application and $45 for a person who paid $60 for a 
permit renewal. The credit is valid until fully utilized; and 
_ 
(b) Nonresident, $60 for an origi'1al or renewal application, except that a 
person who paid $80 for a concealed firearms permit during 1991 or 1992 is 
entitled to a $20 credit toward permit renewal fees. The credit is valid until 
fully utilized; and 
(5) 
Demonstrates to the issuing authority a knowledge of handgun minimal 
firearms safety by completing a firearms safety course. The applicant may fully 
satisfy this requirement by submitting shall submit to the issuing authority, 
through documentation in accordance with this subparagraph, proof that the 
applicant has within 5 years prior to the date of application completed a course 
that included handgun firearms safety offered by or under the supervision of a 
federal, state, county or municipal law enforcement agency or a firearms 
instructor certified by a private firearms association recognized as knowledgeable 
in matters of firearms safety by the issuing authority or by the state in which the 
course was taken. The course must be at least 6 hours in length and include 
relevant state and federal law, basic defensive marksmanship, gun safety, civic 
Page I -123LRI926(OI)-1 
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ethical issues surrounding the potential use of fir~~r:..ms~~_-.iL_!D_eam.....QLse1t~ 
defense. A course completion certificate or other document, or a photocop). is 
sufficient if it recites or otherwise demonstrates that the course meets all of the 
requirements of this subparagraph. 
As an alternative 'Nay of fully satisfying this requirement, an applicant may 
personally demonstrate kno'Nledge of handgun safety to an issuing authority, if 
the issuing authority is ,,,,,illing to evaluate an applicant's personal demonstration 
of such knowledge. The issuing authority is not required to offer this 2nd option. 
The demonstration of kno'Nledge of handgun safety to the issuing authority may 
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not be required of any applicant who holds a valid State permit to carry a 
concealed firearm as of April IS, 1990 or of a;~licant ,>",ho v,'as or is in any 
of the Armed Forces of the United States and has H.'€eived at least basic firearms 
training. 
Sec. 2. Concealed firearms permit renewal. Upon the effective date of this 
Act, a holder of a concealed firearms permit issued under the Maine Revised Statutes, 
Title 25, chapter 252 must meet the requirements of Title 25, section 2003, subsection I, 
paragraph E upon renewal of the holder's concealed firearms permit. 
Sec. 3. Criteria for firearms safety course. The Department of Public Safety 
shall adopt major substantive rules pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter 2-A to establish criteria for a firearms safety course required 
under Title 25, section 2003, subsection 1, paragraph E, subparagraph 5, that, along with 
any requirement listed, must include a minimum of 6 hours total of the following 
instruction: 
1. 
Two hours of basic defensive handgun skills employing real firearms and 
using either electronic marksmanship targets or live-fire at an established range. Lesson 
content must include basic defensive marksmanship skills, safe firearms handling and 
safe firearms storage; 
2. 
One hour of strategies for effectively responding to or avoiding a violent 
confrontation: 
3. One hour of emotional and physiological responses to a confrontation, including 
understand ing and accommodating stress factors when engaged in a confrontational 
situation; 
4. 
One half hour of firearms selection criteria applicable to firearms commonly 
employed in self-defense situations, with emphasis on firearms reliability and proper 
cleaning and maintenance techniques; 
5. One hour of state and federal firearms law that must be taught by either a licensed 
attorney or qualified law enforcement officer concerning the possession and ownership of 
firearms, the legal parameters governing the use of deadly force and exercising the right 
of self-defense responsibly; and 
I 
6. One half hour discussing area training opportunities where a student may receive 
continuing education, training and practice in firearms use. 
SUMMARY 
This bill requires all new applicants and renewing holders of a concealed firearms 
permit to show documentation they have completed a firearms safety course that includes 
relevant state and federal law, basic defensive marksmanship, gun safety, civic 
responsibility, appropriate conduct while carrying a firearm and the moral and ethical 
issues surrounding the potential use of firearms as a means of self-defense. This bill also 
removes exemptions to current handgun safety course requirements for an applicant or 
holder of a concealed firearms permit who can personally demonstrate knowledge of the 
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subject matter of the course requirements and a person who received basic firearms 
training as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States. Finally, this bill directs 
the Department of Public Safety to adopt rules to establish requirements with specific 
components for a 6-hour instruction course in firearms safety.