A new bill from Rep. James White (R-Guilford) would allow adults over the age of 21 who possess a concealed carry permit for handguns to carry a firearm onto school property, potentially allowing teachers to carry self-defense weapons.
The bill, LD 885, drew co-sponsorships from nine Republicans, including Sen. Matt Harrington (R-York), Rep. Laurel Libby (R-Auburn), and Rep. Reagan Paul (R-Winterport).
White’s bill amends the existing law that prohibits firearms on public and private school property and makes it illegal to discharge a firearm within 500 feet of school property.
The amendment would allow anyone over 21 with a concealed carry handgun permit to carry a firearm on school property and to discharge a firearm within 500 feet of a school.
A person could still be charged with recklessly discharging a firearm if he fired a weapon near a school without cause, but the change would allow him to use a gun in self-defense on school property without fear of reprisals.
Under White’s bill, teachers could arm themselves to deter and defend against any potential school shooting threats.
The House ordered the bill sent to the Legislative Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs, but the Senate voted just under an hour later to send the bill for consideration in the Judiciary Committee.
With the House and Senate failing to concur on the bill’s referral, it will be sent back to the House, where it originated, and that chamber will be able to vote again on where to refer the bill.
No public hearings or work sessions on the bill have been scheduled.
The Maine Wire reached out to Rep. White for comment, but he did not immediately respond.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="36460 https://www.themainewire.com/?p=36460">13 Comments
Rep. Reagan Paul (R-Winterport) is on the right side of a lot of things. We need more like her in our Maine Legislature. Allowing teachers and others with a Concealed Carry Permit to carry on school campuses to protect themselves and students is a good law to pass.
I like this idea, but No mention of TRAINING. Would probably be a good idea to place training requirements in a bill like this. Just saying.
@boxcar. You need training to get a ccp.
Common sense these days.
1911 Beats 911 Everytime
No way teachers want to protect the kids, they ran away and hid during covid! All the while pretending it was all about “the children”! What a joke! Mention a gun in the house and the democrat loons will start sobbing! C’mon man
That will not solve the problem. But Good Parenting will!
Stupid idea to let students have access to a firearm, yes access, if its in the classroom it is accessible, Apparently these idiots never have had kids .Most teachers these days are young or older women, You think a student couldn’t wrestle a firearm from a teacher!
Long overdue, but sadly not likely to pass with demons in control. All gun control is unconstitutional.
I thought that in Maine you do not need a CCP anymore. Get a BYRNA,
@Ron Nobody…..I am sure teachers are much more responsible than Capitol Police Officers when it comes to firearms. They are not like Michael Byrd who left his gun in a bathroom of the Capitol when on the toilet. Let’s not forget that he didn’t lose his job over that and later murdered unarmed Ashley Babbitt. You can’t count on the police to protect ourselves or our children but I put trust in teachers who protect and care for children every day.
Tom Massie for President!
Massie is America first. Trump is occupy Palestine first. Trump is weak. Massie is strong.
I’m all for this bill. If the idiotic Democrats have an issue with this then, at least, let teachers carry a Burna Launcher. Very effective tool that would make a difference.