Lawmaker’s incident with gun changes concealed weapons debate

[Maine-ah]

http://new.bangordailynews.com/2011/05/25/politics/wintle-incident-changes-concealed-weapons-debate/

AUGUSTA, Maine — Some legislators have grown wary about further debate this session over changes to state gun control laws in light of a bizarre incident during which a Maine lawmaker allegedly pointed a loaded gun at another man.

Although there is no direct connection between the recent arrest of Rep. Frederick Wintle, R-Garland, and a handful of Republican-led bills aimed at loosening Maine’s concealed weapons permit laws, the emotional connection is inevitable.

House members on Wednesday voted down LD 658, a bill that would allow Maine residents to carry concealed weapons without a permit except in specific places such as schools. Another bill, LD 446, which would grant a law enforcement officer or retired law enforcement officer who lives in another state to carry a firearm in Maine without a concealed weapons permit, passed in the House.

Neither vote was preceded by much discussion.

The two more controversial bills, LD 932 and LD 1347, which among other things would allow those with a valid concealed weapons permit to bring a firearm into the State House, were not acted on Wednesday. They are likely to carry over to the next legislative session.