Augusta, Maine — Republican lawmakers in Maine are advancing a proposal that would allow people convicted of nonviolent felonies to regain their right to own firearms, setting up a debate over balancing public safety with individual liberty. The bill, sponsored by state Rep. Chad Perkins of Dover-Foxcroft, would create a process for nonviolent felons to petition the Department of Public Safety for firearm rights restoration on a case-by-case basis.
Perkins said the measure addresses long-standing concerns from residents who served their sentences but remain barred from hunting or owning guns. “These are people who made a stupid mistake earlier in life, a crime for which they have adequately paid their debt to society,” Perkins said, noting that those convicted of violent crimes involving firearms would not qualify.
Gun Owners of Maine President Laura Whitcomb voiced support, calling the proposal a fair path toward “restoration of rights that balances public safety and liberty.” But the measure faces resistance from law enforcement and prosecutors. The Maine Prosecutors Association warned it could return firearms to individuals “intentionally barred for safety reasons,” while the Department of Public Safety said it lacks resources to handle applications and warned of potential conflicts with federal firearm laws.
The Judiciary Committee’s Democratic majority voted against the bill, though it will still advance to the full Legislature. Even if approved, it could face a veto from Democratic Gov. Janet Mills.
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