An Act To Increase the Penalties for Possessing and Displaying a Firearm on School Property
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §6552, as amended by PL 2009, c. 614, §§2 and 3, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
§ 6552. Firearms
(1) A person who possesses and displays an unloaded firearm for use in a supervised educational program approved and authorized by the school board and for which the school board has adopted appropriate safeguards to ensure student safety; and
(2) A person who possesses or possesses and displays an unloaded firearm that is stored inside a locked vehicle in a closed container, a zipped case or a locked firearms rack while the person is attending a hunter's breakfast or similar event that:
(a) Is held during an open firearm season established under Title 12, Part 13 for any species of wild bird or wild animal;
(b) Takes place outside of regular school hours; and
(c) Is authorized by the school board.
summary
This bill increases the offense of possessing a firearm on public school property or the property of an approved private school from a Class E crime to a Class C crime and provides that the offense of displaying a firearm on public school property or the property of an approved private school is a Class B crime.