I grew up never knowing my grandfather, whom I am named after. He died in the woods while deer hunting in 1932, shot accidentally by another hunter who obviously knew little about gun safety and nothing about responsibility — he panicked and bolted from the scene. My grandfather bled to death before receiving help, leaving a wife and two young children to fend for themselves during the Great Depression.
Despite this family tragedy, his son (my father) was an avid deer hunter and took me on many hunting trips into the woods. I can’t say for sure that the experience of his father’s death made him more aware of the importance of training, but my father always emphasized safety, training and responsibility when handling a firearm.
I am currently the owner of several guns and believe strongly that it is my right to own them and to use them responsibly. Because guns are lethal weapons, I also believe we should do all we can to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people.
It is just common sense that you shouldn’t let someone who has never even handled a gun carry a hidden, loaded handgun in public. But right now, our lawmakers in Augusta are contemplating doing just that.
Under current Maine law, if you want a permit to carry a concealed gun in public, you have to have a clean criminal background and basic firearm safety training. I think that is just common sense.
After all, we require people to get a driver’s license and learn the rules of the road before we let them drive a car. Just like you need a license to drive a car on public roads, you have to get a permit in order to carry a loaded, concealed weapon in public places.
But there is a bill making its way through the Maine legislature — LD 652 — that would overturn this common-sense requirement. If LD 652 is passed, it would completely dismantle Maine’s concealed carry permitting system, eliminating the requirement for even the most basic safety training before you carry a hidden, loaded gun in public.
Responsible gun owners like me know this is a very dangerous proposal.
I strongly believe in the Second Amendment. I also believe that we shouldn’t let dangerous people carry concealed, loaded handguns in our communities.
Politicians in Augusta should not overturn Maine’s requirement to get a permit to carry a concealed gun. I urge our representatives to oppose LD 652.
John Curtis lives in Surry.