An Act To Remove Crossbows from the Restriction on Discharging Weapons near Buildings
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0275
Committee Amendment CA_A_H61 (House)
Amends: 12 MRSA §11209

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to H.P. 193, L.D. 275, Bill, "An Act To 
Remove Crossbows from the Restriction on Discharging Weapons near Buildings" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Allow the Use of a Crossbow for Recreational Target Practice within 100 
Yards of a Building without the Owner's Permission' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §11209, as amended by PL 2013, c. 538, §26, is further 
amended to read: 
§11209. Discharge of firearm near dwelling or building 
1. Prohibition. A person may not: 
A. Unless a relevant municipal ordinance provides otherwise and except as provided 
in subsection 3 and sections 12401 and 12402, discharge a firearm, including a 
muzzle-loading firearm, or crossbow or cause a projectile to pass as a result of that 
discharge within 100 yards of a building or residential dwelling without the 
permission of the owner or, in the owner's absence, of an adult occupant of that 
building or dwelling authorized to act on behalf of the owner; or 
B. Possess a wild animal or wild bird taken in violation of this subsection, except as 
otherwise provided in this Part. 
This subsection may not be construed to prohibit a person from killing or taking a wild 
animal in accordance with sections 12401 and 12402. 
For purposes of this sooseetioB section, "building" means any residential, commercial, 
retail, educational, religious or farm structure that is designed to be occupied by people or 
domesticated animals or is being used to shelter machines or harvested crops. 
For purposes of this subseetioB section, "projectile" means a bullet, pellet, shot, shell, 
ball, bolt or other object propelled or launched from a firearm or crossbow. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT"~' to H.P. \93, L.D. 275 
2. Penalty. A person who violates subsection 1 commits a Class E crime. 
3. Target practice; crossbow. Unless otherwise prohibited, a landowner or the 
landowner's invitee may discharge a crossbow for recreational target practice purposes 
on the landowner's property within 100 yards of a building or residential dwelling 
without the pennission of the owner of that building or dwelling. 
Nothing in this 
subsection authorizes a landowner or the landowner's invitee to cause a projectile 
discharged from a crossbow to enter property owned by another person.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill. Current law prohibits the discharge of a fireann or 
crossbow within 100 yards of a building or residential dwelling owned by another 
without the pennission of the owner. 
This amendment allows a landowner or the 
landowner's invitee to discharge a crossbow for recreational target practice purposes on 
the landowner's property within 100 yards of a building or residential dwelling owned by 
another without the pennission of the owner. 
FISCAL 1'IOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 04/04/15 
;Wa~ 
LD275 
LR 1684(02) 
An Act To Remove Crossbows from the Restriction on Discharging Weapons near Buildings 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ''''e# .... &/\ 
. Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 
t1 
I) 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor savings - General Fund 
Minor revenue decrease - General Fund 
Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements 
Eliminates Class E crimes. 
A reduction in fines will decrease General Fund revenue by minor amounts. 
LRI684(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1