AUGUSTA, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Governor LePage is expected to sign the bill to eliminate concealed carry permits Wednesday at 2 p.m.

It's already legal in Maine to carry a gun that isn't hidden, commonly called "open carry."

The bill, LD 652, would eliminate Maine's concealed weapon permit requirement, allowing anyone who can legally purchase a firearm to keep it under his or her clothing.

Lawmakers in New Hampshire passed a similar bill this session, but Governor Maggie Hassan vetoed it.

As of now the bill signing event will be closed to the press.

Opponents say the proposal would undo years of work in the legislature to pass sensible gun safety laws.

But supporters say the permit requirement does nothing to keep guns out of the hands of criminals.

It's an issue that has divided Maine law enforcement -- with the chiefs of police and sheriffs opposing the bill... and the state police supporting it. A move that draws criticism from the bill's opponents.

Good for the people of the great state of Maine! Now if Iowa would come forth with the same.

Good for Maine. It only took a little over two centuries for the Bill of Rights to be recognized as law.

Maine? Really? Maine? Wow! Good for them!

Nebraska will be far behind everybody else.. freaking Omaha liberals.

Now if you could hunt on Sunday in Maine things would be headed in the right direction. One step at a time I guess. Tom

NICE!

So, Maine and Vermont now are more pro-2A than Texas? Oh, the irony.

Constitutional Carry states include: Alaska, Arizona, Kansas, Maine, Vermont, and Wyoming, as well as in Puerto Rico.

Speaking of Texas...

My mom and dad sent all their schit off to get the CC permit and they still have not heard back. It's been about two months already.



Travis

God Bless Texas... in some other states that are more pro-2A, there is a time limit on a shall issue permit; if it's not issued within about 45 days, the permit is issued as a matter of law by the clerk of the court.

I wish Georgia would go with constitutional carry. It has been tried and will be again. While we have concealed weapons permits that are not a problem to obtain, our legislature likes the control and gives any up grudgingly. The Georgia Legislature thinks that they are the ones that are allowing the citizens of Georgia to carry weapons concealed not the Second Amendment.

Now if Maine would honor more states carry permit than they do now, which is only a handful.

And they'd be correct.. Excellent news!

Well, of course it does... I can hear 'em now - " BLOOD WILL RUN IN THE STREETS! IT'LL BE THE WILD WEST ALL OVER AGAIN! AAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

Meanwhile in Texas....

People settle for "baby steps".

I can't imagine that happening in Ohio but I wish it would

not that it really matters to me. If I think I need to carry a gun to go where ever I'm going, a piece of paper isn't going to make the decision on whether I do it or not.

The voting in the Senate and house really wasn't even that close, IIRC.

Lot of upset liberals claiming they'll have to live in fear now.

It's what they do.

They are so scared because they don't have guns...