The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife needs to hold a public hearing before it gets too far into changing the rules for who is eligible to become a Registered Maine Guide.

Last week, DIF&W opened a 30-day comment period on a proposal that could have far-reaching implications for men and women who scratch out a living working as sporting guides.

If the state follows through and amends the rules for guides, an unknown number of them could lose their ticket to earning a living.

The amendment would require guides to pass a criminal background check. Anyone convicted of a Class A or B crime would not be able to become a guide. A Class C conviction within 10 years would also be a disqualifier, as would a Class D or E conviction within three years. The change wouldn’t just affect new guides, but would apply to guides who already have their license.

As it stands, no public hearing is scheduled on the matter. That should change. Before taking away someone’s right to earn a living – even if convicted of a crime – the state needs to hear from people who could be affected.

There’s a big difference between a major crime and relatively minor misdemeanors. Consider: Public drinking can be a Class E crime, as can unlawful assembly or obstructing public ways – think protest without a permit.

Should the state really consider such broad changes without at least holding a public hearing? Absolutely not.

Criminals deserve to be punished. And serious criminals deserve serious punishments; but we question whether convictions for small offenses should also mean the end to a guide’s career.

The state seems content to hire convicted sex offenders to work in the Maine Revenue Service and who knows where else in state government, but would deny a guide’s license to someone convicted of some minor crime. There’s no proportionality, no fairness, no justice there.

The matter deserves a public hearing.