The Maine Legislature’s Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee met Wednesday afternoon to finalize its recommendations on three hotly-debated firearm-related bills, ultimately assigning two with “major” impact designation and one a “severe” impact on Maine’s criminal justice system. The bills would change the definition of a “machine gun,” mandate safe storage, and require serial numbers on all firearms.
Those designations mean that, if passed, the bills would substantially change how criminal justice in Maine is administered, potentially raising the threshold for enforcement beyond state and local departments’ capacities.
The committee’s party-line divisions saw Democrats push for a moderate classification, while Republicans sought stronger designations, citing broader implications for law enforcement and firearm ownership.
The bills under review—LD 677, LD 1120, and LD 1126—will now carry these designations as they move to the Maine House floor for deliberation. Representative Tavis Hassenfus (D-Winthrop) repeatedly motioned for a moderate classification, backed by Representative Grayson Lookner (D-Portland), but both were unsuccessful as Republicans held a temporary majority in committee votes.
LD 677, sponsored by Senator Anne Carney (D-Cumberland), seeks to update the statutory definition of “machine gun” and ban all rapid-fire devices. Carney, who also leads the Legislature’s Gun Safety Caucus, advocated for a moderate impact classification, stating it would affect criminal investigations but not drastically shift enforcement efforts. Sen. Carney did not disclose her affiliation with the Caucus to the committee.
“I think it would have an impact, a moderate impact. Investigations of crime where law enforcement officers seize a weapon with a rapid-fire device, there would be an opportunity to prosecute,” Carney said.
She was countered by Representative Donnie Ardell (R-Monticello), a former Federal Firearms License holder, who argued that federal agencies had previously agreed not to target forced-reset triggers, leading to their widespread use. Ardell warned of civil disobedience if the bill passed. The committee ultimately voted to classify LD 677 as having a major impact.
LD 1120, introduced by Representative Daniel Sayre (D-Kennebunk), focuses on secure firearm storage regulations. Republicans again pushed for a major impact label, citing potential conflicts between Maine law and federal legal precedent protecting immediate access to firearms. Representative Ardell pointed to Supreme Court rulings over the last 15 years, arguing the bill would lead to legal disputes. The motion to label LD 1120 as major carried.
LD 1126, introduced by Representative Sam Zager (D-Portland), would require serial numbers on firearms and prohibit undetectable weapons. This bill received the strongest opposition, with Representative Chad Perkins (R-Dover-Foxcroft), a former law enforcement officer, emphasizing the potential effect on antique firearm collectors whose weapons were never manufactured with serial numbers.
Perkins also noted a conflict with existing federal regulations, stating that the ATF affirms an individual’s right to manufacture personal-use firearms without serial numbers if they do not intend to transfer them. The committee overwhelmingly agreed with Perkins, voting to designate LD 1126 as having a severe impact on Maine’s criminal justice system.
With the committee’s impact designations finalized, the three bills will proceed to the floor of Maine Legislature for debate and voting. The classifications could influence Democratic lawmakers from rural districts, particularly those with strong hunting constituencies, as they may weigh the political consequences of voting for stricter firearm regulations that do necessarily not align with how Mainers own and use guns.
