Business groups and law enforcement organizations are responding coolly to several efforts to ease state restrictions on concealed weapons.

The Legislature’s Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee heard nine bills Monday dealing with firearms. Six were related to concealed weapons permitting and included proposals that would increase the number of places where permit holders can wear their sidearms, such as bars or the workplace. 

One bill, sponsored by Rep. Dale Crafts, R-Lisbon, would change the state’s concealed weapons law by increasing the number of places where a person can carry a weapon while lowering the cost for obtaining a permit.

Crafts’ proposal would also remove the current requirement that an individual complete a handgun safety course within five years of obtaining a permit. Crafts’ bill would retain the safety course requirement but remove the five-year provision.

That proposal encountered stiff resistance from law enforcement groups and the Department of Public Safety. Lt. David Bowler, speaking on behalf of the department, opposed several portions of Crafts’ bill, including its loosening of the training requirement.

Todd Brackett, of the Maine Sheriffs’ Association, said he polled all 16 sheriff’s departments prior to Monday’s public hearings. Brackett said all 16 opposed the pending legislation.

The Maine State Chamber of Commerce also opposed several of the bills, including Crafts’ proposal.

Peter Gore, a spokesman for the chamber, said the chamber’s position had nothing to do with the right to own weapons. Instead, he said, it was based on fears from business owners that employees would suddenly be allowed to carry a sidearm at work.

“We’ve had more calls on these bills than any other bills this session,” Gore said.

Five of the bills are sponsored by Rep. Rich Cebra, R-Casco. One of Cebra’s proposals would allow permit holders to wear a sidearm in various locations, including bars, state parks and the site of a labor dispute.

Gore said many businesses had adopted policies banning weapons in the workplace. Overriding that policy, he said, could increase liability for business owners while creating safety issues.

“We think this is an incredibly bad public policy decision,” said Gore, adding that it was the first time in 17 years the chamber had testified on legislation appearing before the Criminal Justice Committee.

The slate of weapons bills follows increased activity by the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund during and since the 2010 election. While the political action committee has been active in Maine elections since at least 2002, the group dumped close to $50,000 in 2010 compared to $5,950 in 2008.

The majority of that money, about $47,000, has gone toward supporting Gov. Paul LePage. The group recently filed an activity report showing an expenditure of $26,336 in radio ads supporting the governor this year.

smistler@sunjournal.com

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