The state Senate on Friday shot down a Republican effort to make it legal to carry a concealed handgun without a permit in Maine.
The Senate voted 19-14, largely along party lines, to indefinitely postpone an amendment to a bill that creates a statewide database for concealed handgun permits and makes police chiefs, sheriffs and the Maine State Police responsible for doing all background checks on permits.
The measure, which passed the Senate 20-13, also on party lines with Democrats in favor and Republicans opposed, allows police chiefs and county sheriffs to issue permits but strips that authority from local elected officials, including town boards of selectmen that previously could issue permits.
Sen. Garrett Mason, R-Lisbon Falls, offered the amendment that would have made it legal to carry a weapon concealed without a permit.
We can't expect to win everything all the time, but the overall trend is in favor of gun rights. Mikeb, you're on a ship that's run aground.
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