An Act to Prohibit Unauthorized Paramilitary Training
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 2130
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Sponsors: OSHER, CARNEY, ARATA, CAMPBELL, COLLAMORE, DILL, GEIGER, MOONEN, TIPPING, VITELLI

Legislative Document
No. 2130
H.P. 1354
House of Representatives, January 3, 2024
An Act to Prohibit Unauthorized Paramilitary Training
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203.
Reference to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative OSHER of Orono.
Cosponsored by Senator CARNEY of Cumberland and
Representatives: ARATA of New Gloucester, CAMPBELL of Orrington, COLLAMORE of 
Pittsfield, DILL of Old Town, GEIGER of Rockland, MOONEN of Portland, Senators: 
TIPPING of Penobscot, VITELLI of Sagadahoc.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  25 MRSA c. 252-B is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 252-B
PARAMILITARY TRAINING
§2021.  Unauthorized paramilitary training
1.  Definitions.  As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the 
following terms have the following meanings.
A.  "Civil disorder" means any public disturbance involving an act of violence by a 
group of 2 or more persons that causes an immediate danger of injury to another person 
or damage to the property of another person or results in injury to another person or 
damage to the property of another person.
B.  "Explosive" has the same meaning as in section 2471, subsection 2, except that 
"explosive" does not include a firearm or ammunition for a firearm or any components 
of ammunition for a firearm, including, but not limited to, primers, smokeless powder 
or black powder.
C.  "Firearm" has the same meaning as in Title 17-A, section 2, subsection 12-A.
D.  "Incendiary device" means a device that may produce, by ignition by fire, friction, 
concussion, detonation or other similar method, destructive effects primarily through 
combustion rather than explosion. "Incendiary device" does not include ammunition 
for a firearm or a manufactured device or article in common use by the general public 
that is designed to produce combustion for a lawful purpose, such as matches, lighters, 
flares or devices commercially manufactured primarily for the purpose of illumination, 
heating or cooking.
2.  Unauthorized paramilitary training prohibited.  A person may not:
A.  Teach or demonstrate to another person or train another person in the use, 
application or making of a firearm, explosive or incendiary device capable of causing 
injury to or the death of, or techniques capable of causing injury to or the death of, 
another person if the person teaching, training or demonstrating knows or reasonably 
should know that the teaching, training or demonstrating is intended to be used in or in 
furtherance of civil disorder; or
B.  Assemble with one or more other persons for the purpose of practicing or being 
trained or instructed in the use, application or making of a firearm, explosive or 
incendiary device capable of causing injury to or the death of, or in techniques capable 
of causing injury to or the death of, another person if the person knows or reasonably 
should know that the practicing, training or instruction is intended to be used in or in 
furtherance of civil disorder.
3.  Penalty.  A person who violates subsection 2 commits a Class C crime.
4.  Exemptions.  This section does not apply to:
A.  Any activity engaged in for a legitimate law enforcement purpose by a law 
enforcement officer;
B.  A student in an educational institution authorized by the State or the Federal 
Government to teach military or naval science as a prescribed part of the course of 
instruction, when under the supervision of a duly authorized instructor, including, 
without limitation, instruction at the Maine Maritime Academy;
C.  Any lawful activity undertaken without knowledge of or intent to cause or further 
civil disorder that is intended to teach or practice self-defense or self-defense 
techniques, including activities undertaken at martial arts classes and self-defense 
clinics and other similar lawful activity;
D.  Any facility, program or lawful activity related to firearms instruction and training 
that is intended to teach the safe handling and use of firearms;
E.  Any lawful sport or activity related to the individual recreational use or possession 
of firearms, including hunting pursuant to Title 12, Part 13, target shooting, self-
defense and firearms collection; or
F.  A person while in a duty status in the United States Armed Forces, the National 
Guard, the naval militia, the state military forces, any regularly organized militia of 
this State or any unorganized or reserve militia called into service by this State or the 
United States.
5.  Civil action; injunctive relief.  If the Attorney General has reason to believe that a 
person is violating or is about to violate subsection 2, and that proceedings would be in the 
public interest, the Attorney General may bring a civil action in the name of the State in 
Superior Court to restrain or prevent the violation by temporary or permanent injunction.  
The action must be brought in Kennebec County or the county in which the person resides 
or is doing business. The court may issue a temporary or permanent injunction to restrain 
or prevent a violation of subsection 2.
SUMMARY
This bill prohibits a person from the teaching of, training in or demonstrating the use, 
application or making of a firearm, explosive or incendiary device if the person knows or 
reasonably should know that the teaching, training or demonstrating is intended to be used 
in or in furtherance of civil disorder.  It also prohibits a person from assembling with others 
for the purpose of practicing or being trained or instructed in the use, application or making 
of a firearm, explosive or incendiary device or in techniques capable of causing injury or 
death.  The bill exempts certain activities from this prohibition and establishes that a 
violation is a Class C crime.  The bill also authorizes the Attorney General to bring a civil 
action against a violator to restrain or prevent the violation by temporary or permanent 
injunction.