An Act To Improve Training Requirements for Obtaining a Concealed Handgun Permit
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1022
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Sponsors: JOHNSON, CROCKETT
Amends: 25 MRSA §2003

Legislative Document 
No. 1022 
H.P. 721 
House of Representatives, March 14, 2013 
An Act To Improve Training Requirements for Obtaining a 
Concealed Handgun Permit 
Reference to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety suggested and ordered 
printed. 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative JOHNSON of Greenville. 
Cosponsored by Representatives: CROCKETT of Bethel, McCABE of Skowhegan. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  25 MRSA §2003, sub-§1, ¶E, as amended by PL 2011, c. 298, §7, 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 additional requirements of this 
section has been met; and 
(c)  Section 2005; 
(2)  If a photograph is an integral part of the permit to carry concealed handguns 
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 original or renewal application; and 
(5)  Demonstrates to the issuing authority a knowledge possession of defensive 
handgun safety skills and a knowledge of applicable provisions of this Title and 
Title 17-A as determined by the issuing authority.  For purposes of this 
subparagraph, "defensive handgun skills" includes using safety procedures when 
operating a handgun, demonstrating firing a minimum of 50 rounds of 
ammunition with a handgun and possessing an understanding of the 
consequences of handgun use in self-defense.  The applicant may fully satisfy 
this requirement by submitting 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 defensive 
handgun safety skills and instruction in the applicable criminal laws of the State 
as required by this subparagraph 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 defensive handgun safety skills by the issuing authority or by the state 
in which the course was taken.  A course completion certificate or other 
document, or a photocopy, is sufficient if it recites or otherwise demonstrates that 
the course meets all of the requirements of this subparagraph. 
As an alternative way of fully satisfying this requirement, an applicant may 
personally demonstrate knowledge of defensive handgun safety skills to an 
issuing authority, if the issuing authority is willing to evaluate an applicant's 
personal demonstration of such knowledge.  The issuing authority is not required 
to offer this 2nd option. 
The demonstration of knowledge of defensive handgun safety skills to the issuing 
authority may not be required of any applicant who holds a valid state permit to 
carry a concealed firearm as of April 15, 1990 or of any applicant who was or is 
in any of the Armed Forces of the United States and has received at least basic 
firearms training. 
SUMMARY 
This bill amends the training requirements to obtain a permit to carry a concealed 
handgun by requiring an applicant to demonstrate possession of defensive handgun skills, 
including the safe operating of a handgun and demonstrating firing 50 rounds of 
ammunition with a handgun, and a knowledge of the applicable provisions of the criminal 
laws of the State.