An Act To Enhance Self-defense by Removing Restrictions on the Carrying and Use of Weapons
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 1232
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Sponsors: LIBBY, SNOWE-MELLO, AYOTTE, CEBRA, CRAFTS, GIFFORD, LONG, O'CONNOR, SIROCKI
Amends: 12 MRSA §11212, 25 MRSA §2001-A, 25 MRSA §2001-B, 25 MRSA §2004

Legislative Document 
No. 1232 
H.P. 923 
House of Representatives, March 22, 2011 
An Act To Enhance Self-defense by Removing Restrictions on the 
Carrying and Use of Weapons 
Reference to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety suggested and ordered 
printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative LIBBY of Waterboro. 
Cosponsored by Senator SNOWE-MELLO of Androscoggin and 
Representatives: AYOTTE of Caswell, CEBRA of Naples, CRAFTS of Lisbon, GIFFORD of 
Lincoln, LONG of Sherman, McFADDEN of Dennysville, O'CONNOR of Berwick, SIROCKI 
of Scarborough. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  12 MRSA §11212, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2005, c. 477, §9, is further 
amended to read: 
1.  Prohibition.  The following provisions apply to shooting from a motor vehicle or 
motorboat or possessing a loaded firearm or a crossbow in a motor vehicle. 
A.    A person may not shoot while in or on a motor vehicle or motorboat or while in 
or on a trailer or other type of vehicle being hauled by a motor vehicle except: 
(1)  A person may hunt migratory waterfowl from a motorboat in accordance 
with federal regulations; 
(2)  Paraplegics and single or double amputees of the legs may shoot from motor 
vehicles that are not in motion; and 
 (3)  A person may shoot from a motorboat if that boat is not being propelled by 
its motor.; and 
(4)  A person may shoot from a motor vehicle or motorboat in defense of life or 
property. 
B.    A person may not, while in or on a motor vehicle or in or on a trailer or other 
type of vehicle being hauled by a motor vehicle, have a cocked and armed crossbow 
or a firearm with a cartridge or shell in the chamber or in an attached magazine, clip 
or cylinder or a muzzle-loading firearm charged with powder, lead and a primed 
ignition device or mechanism, except that a person who has a valid Maine permit to 
carry a concealed weapon may have in or on a motor vehicle or trailer a loaded pistol 
or revolver covered by that permit. 
C.    A person may not possess a wild animal or wild bird taken in violation of 
paragraph A or B, except as otherwise provided in this Part. 
Sec. 2.  25 MRSA §2001-A, as amended by PL 2007, c. 555, §1, is repealed. 
Sec. 3.  25 MRSA §2001-B is enacted to read: 
§2001-B.  Threatening display of dangerous weapon 
A person may not, unless excepted by a provision of law, display in a threatening 
manner a firearm, slungshot, knuckles, bowie knife, dirk, stiletto or other dangerous or 
deadly weapon usually employed in the attack on or defense of a person. 
Sec. 4.  25 MRSA §2004, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. N, §3 and 
affected by Pt. X, §2, is amended to read: 
2.  Display of dangerous weapon.  A person who violates section 2001-A 2001-B 
commits a Class D crime. 
Sec. 5.  25 MRSA §2004, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. N, §3 and 
affected by Pt. X, §2, is repealed. 
SUMMARY 
This bill: 
1.  Removes the prohibition on having a loaded firearm or crossbow in a motor 
vehicle for a person other than a holder of a concealed weapons permit; 
2.  Provides the exception that a person may shoot from a motor vehicle or motorboat 
in the defense of life and property; 
3.  Removes the prohibition on concealing a dangerous weapon except by a holder of 
a concealed weapons permit; and 
4.  Removes exceptions to the law prohibiting the carrying of a concealed dangerous 
weapon.