As Maine held an April 8 legislative hearing on Senator Eric Brakey’s (R-Auburn) proposal to abolish the concealed carry permit requirement for that state, one thing was for sure—Maine State Police support Brakey’s proposal.

According to WCSH 6, residents of Maine packed the Augusta State House to support Brakey’s contention that having a concealed carry permit requirement in an open carry state is the same thing as punishing concealed carriers.

They pointed out how people who want to legally carry a concealed handgun have to apply for a license and literally wait to receive a document from the government before they can exercise their Second Amendment rights.

Senator Brakey again indicated how strangely carry laws are currently structured, that carrying openly without a permit is legal but a resident has to have a permit if he or she puts on a jacket that covers their gun. Brakey said, “When someone with a credible death threat against them has to wait for months before they can carry legally and defend themselves with their jacket on, that says it is not working.”

Maine State Police shared Brakey’s concern over differentiating between when a gun is or isn’t concealed, referring to “inconsistencies with the existing law.” They contend that Maine would “be better off” without a concealed permit requirement.

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