An Act To Protect and Promote Access to Sport Shooting Ranges
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1500
Committee: Judiciary
Sponsors: COREY, CYRWAY, GROHMAN, MAREAN, ORDWAY, SIROCKI, TIMBERLAKE, BURNS, DIAMOND, VOLK

Legislative Document 
No. 1500 
H.P. 1023 
House of Representatives, December 23, 2015 
An Act To Protect and Promote Access to Sport Shooting Ranges 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203. 
Received by the Clerk of the House on December 21, 2015.  Referred to the Committee on 
Judiciary pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 401. 
ROBERT B. HUNT 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative COREY of Windham. 
Cosponsored by Senator CYRWAY of Kennebec and 
Representatives: GROHMAN of Biddeford, MAREAN of Hollis, ORDWAY of Standish, 
SIROCKI of Scarborough, TIMBERLAKE of Turner, Senators: BURNS of Washington, 
DIAMOND of Cumberland, VOLK of Cumberland. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  8 MRSA c. 33 is enacted to read: 
CHAPTER 33 
SPORT SHOOTING RANGES 
§1201.  Protection of sport shooting ranges 
1.  Definition.  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, "sport 
shooting range" has the same meaning as in Title 30-A, section 3011, subsection 1. 
2.  Application of law.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a statute, rule, 
ordinance or other provision of law enacted or adopted after the establishment of a sport 
shooting range that if applied to that sport shooting range would cause the closure of that 
sport shooting range or substantially limit sport shooting at that sport shooting range does 
not apply to that sport shooting range and that sport shooting range is immune from suit, 
including but not limited to private and public civil actions, nuisance actions and actions 
for injunctive relief, based on a claim based on the statute, rule, ordinance or other 
provision of law.  This subsection does not apply to or provide immunity from a suit 
based on negligence or recklessness in the operation of a sport shooting range or by a 
person using a sport shooting range. 
3.  Authorized activities.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a sport 
shooting range may: 
A.  Repair, remodel, reconstruct or reinforce any building or structure as necessary to 
protect public safety or to secure the continued use of that building or structure; 
B.  Repair, restore, reconstruct or resume the use of a nonconforming building or 
structure damaged by fire, collapse, explosion or an act of God or otherwise; and 
C.  Take action consistent with generally accepted operation practices for sport 
shooting ranges, including but not limited to: 
(1)  Expanding or increasing its membership or opportunities for public 
participation; and 
(2)  Expanding or increasing its events and activities. 
SUMMARY 
 This bill provides that a statute, rule, ordinance or other provision of law enacted or 
adopted after the establishment of a sport shooting range that if applied to that sport 
shooting range would cause the closure of that sport shooting range or substantially limit 
sport shooting at that sport shooting range does not apply to that sport shooting range and 
that sport shooting range is immune from suit, including but not limited to private and 
public civil actions, nuisance actions and actions for injunctive relief, based on a claim 
based on the statute, rule, ordinance or other provision of law. 
It allows a sport shooting range to: 
1.  Repair, remodel, reconstruct or reinforce any building or structure as necessary to 
protect public safety or to secure the continued use of that building or structure; 
2.  Repair, restore, reconstruct or resume the use of a nonconforming building or 
structure damaged by fire, collapse, explosion or an act of God or otherwise; and 
3.  Take action consistent with generally accepted operation practices for sport 
shooting ranges, including but not limited to expanding or increasing its membership or 
opportunities for public participation and expanding or increasing its events and 
activities.