An Act to Promote the
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1120
Committee Amendment CA_A_H655 (House)
Amends: 15 MRSA §455-A, 17-A MRSA §554, 17-A MRSA §1060

COMMITTEE AMEND1\.1ENT "An to H.P. 739, L.D. 1120, "An Act to Promote the 
Secure Storage of Firearms" 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 1 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 15 MRSA §455-A, sub-§1-A, as enacted by PL 1991, c. 450, §2, is 
amended to read: 
1-A. Posting of warnings at gun shows. The waining s-igfl signs as described in 
subsection subsections 1 and 3 must be posted.at all entrances of an organized .gun show.' 
Amend the bill by striking out all of sections 6 and 7 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 6. 17-A MRSA §554, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 388, §3, is repealed. 
Sec. 7. 17-A MRSA §1060 is enacted to read: 
§1060, Negligent firearm storage 
1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the 
following terms have the following meanings. 
A. "Authorized user" means a person who is 18 years of age or older who is not a 
prohibited person and who has been authorized by the owner to cany or use the fireann. 
B. "Locked container" means a box, case, chest, locker, safe or other similar receptacle 
~.tipped with a tamper-resistant lock. 
C. "Prohibited person" means a person who is prohibited from possessing a firearm by 
state or federal law or by court order. 
2. Negligent storage of firearm. A person is guilty of negligently storing a firea1111 if: 
A. That person, acting with criminal negligence, stores or leaves on premises that are 
under the person's control a fireann in a manner that allows a minor to gain access to 
the firearm without the pe1111ission of the minor's parent, foster parent or guardian or 
in a manner that allows a prohibited person to gain access to the firearm; 
B. A minor or prohibited person in fact gains access to the firearm; and 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
0~ 
R . ..-
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT'~ "to H.P. 739, L.D. 1120 
C. The minor or prohibited person under paragraph B uses the fireann during the 
commission of a crime or discharges the firearm. 
Negligent storage of a fireatm is a Class D crime. 
3, Affirmative defenses. It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section 
that: 
A. The firerum is cal1'ied by or under the control of the owner or an authorized user; 
B. The minor or prohibited person gains access to the firearm as a result of an illegal 
ent1y: 
C, The minor or prohibited person gains access to and uses the firearm during the 
course of a lawful act of self-defense or defense of another person as described in 
section 108: or 
D. The firearm is stored or kept in a locked container or is equipped with a tamper-
resistant mechanical lock or other safety device.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section 
number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment repeals ce1tain provisions of an affirmative defense to prosecution for 
endangering the welfare of a child and creates the new Class D crime of negligently storing 
a fiream1. A person commits this crime when, acting with criminal negligence, that person 
stores or leaves on premises that are under the person's control a firearm in a mam1er that 
allows a minor to gain access to the fireaim without pe1mission or in a manner that allows 
a prohibited person to gain access to the firearm and a minor or prohibited person in fact 
gains access to the fireann and uses the firearm during the commission of a crime or 
discharges the firearm. The amendment also establishes affirmative defenses to this crime. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 06/02/25 LRL 
LD 1120 
LR 2125(02) 
An Act to Promote the Secure Storage of Firearms 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'P,• { r{ ~ (p 5 5) 
Committee: Judiciary 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
:f'iscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Minor revenue increase - General Fund 
Minor revenue increase - Other Special Revenue Funds 
Sorrectional and Judicial Impact Statements 
The additional workload associated with the minimal number of new cases filed in the court system does not require 
additional funding at this time. The collection of additional fines will increase General Fund or other dedicated 
revenue by minor amounts. 
LR2125(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1