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An Act To Improve Training Requirements for Obtaining a Concealed Handgun Permit
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 25 MRSA §2003, sub-§1, ¶E, as amended by PL 2011, c. 298, §7, is further amended to read:
 
E. Does the following:
 
(1) At the request of the issuing authority, takes whatever action is required by law to allow the issuing authority to obtain from the Department of Health and Human Services, limited to records of patient committals to Riverview Psychiatric Center and Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center, the courts, law enforcement agencies and the military information relevant to the following:
 
(a) The ascertainment of whether the information supplied on the application or any documents made a part of the application is true and correct;
 
(b) The ascertainment of whether each of the additional requirements of this section has been met; and
 
(c) Section 2005;
 
(2) If a photograph is an integral part of the permit to carry concealed handguns adopted by an issuing authority, submits to being photographed for that purpose;
 
(3) If it becomes necessary to resolve any questions as to identity, submits to having fingerprints taken by the issuing authority;
 
(4) Submits an application fee along with the written application to the proper issuing authority pursuant to the following schedule:
 
(a) Resident of a municipality or unorganized territory, $35 for an original application and $20 for a renewal, except that a person who paid $60 for a concealed firearms permit or renewal during 1991 or 1992 is entitled to a credit toward renewal fees in an amount equal to $30 for a person who paid $60 for an original application and $45 for a person who paid $60 for a permit renewal. The credit is valid until fully utilized; and
 
(b) Nonresident, $60 for an original or renewal application; and
 
(5) Demonstrates to the issuing authority a knowledgepossession of defensive handgun safetyskills and a knowledge of applicable provisions of this Title and Title 17-A as determined by the issuing authority. For purposes of this subparagraph, "defensive handgun skills" includes using safety procedures when operating a handgun, demonstrating firing a minimum of 50 rounds of ammunition with a handgun and possessing an understanding of the consequences of handgun use in self-defense. The applicant may fully satisfy this requirement by submitting to the issuing authority, through documentation in accordance with this subparagraph, proof that the applicant has within 5 years prior to the date of application completed a course that included defensive handgun safetyskills and instruction in the applicable criminal laws of the State as required by this subparagraph offered by or under the supervision of a federal, state, county or municipal law enforcement agency or a firearms instructor certified by a private firearms association recognized as knowledgeable in matters of defensive handgun safetyskills by the issuing authority or by the state in which the course was taken. A course completion certificate or other document, or a photocopy, is sufficient if it recites or otherwise demonstrates that the course meets all of the requirements of this subparagraph.
 
As an alternative way of fully satisfying this requirement, an applicant may personally demonstrate knowledge of defensive handgun safetyskills to an issuing authority, if the issuing authority is willing to evaluate an applicant's personal demonstration of such knowledge. The issuing authority is not required to offer this 2nd option.
 
The demonstration of knowledge of defensive handgun safetyskills to the issuing authority may not be required of any applicant who holds a valid state permit to carry a concealed firearm as of April 15, 1990 or of any applicant who was or is in any of the Armed Forces of the United States and has received at least basic firearms training.
 
SUMMARY
This bill amends the training requirements to obtain a permit to carry a concealed handgun by requiring an applicant to demonstrate possession of defensive handgun skills, including the safe operating of a handgun and demonstrating firing 50 rounds of ammunition with a handgun, and a knowledge of the applicable provisions of the criminal laws of the State.