Parking lot bill passes in Maine

The parking lot bill will make it a lot easier for people to have a gun for protections at places between their home and work. From the Bangor Daily News:

AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage has signed into law three bills expanding the rights of concealed weapons permit holders . . .

One of the bills, signed Tuesday, would bar businesses from prohibiting employees who have concealed firearms permits from keeping a firearm in their vehicle, as long as the vehicle is locked and the firearm is not visible.

Another bill allows a law enforcement officer from another state to carry a concealed firearm in Maine, provided the officer also has proper police identification.

The third bill will allow concealed weapons permit holders to carry weapons in state parks and historic sites. The bill was scaled back to eliminate other locations, including bars and the State House.

Here is a strange related article. A state legislator doesn't want to allow permitted concealed handguns in the state capitol unless security is improved. By my reasoning, the exact opposite should be the case.

“It’s wide open here,” he said. “I could carry a weapon unchecked every day and so could others. That’s not a safe environment.”

There are no metal detectors in use that would indicate if a State House visitor had a weapon, although that could change as early as next week, officials said.

Still, many lawmakers, Republicans included, are uncomfortable with the idea of bringing guns into the State House. Even Crafts said if security were improved, he likely would abandon his bill to allow concealed weapons inside the Capitol.

House Minority Leader Emily Cain, D-Orono, said the incident involving Wintle, who allegedly threatened a man with a loaded gun last weekend, brings extra emotion to legislation that already has evoked strong emotions. . . .

Further down in the article the relevant point is made.

Restricting a person’s right to carry a concealed weapon only hurts innocent citizens, they claimed. . . .