Maine State Police Issues 11,000 Concealed Weapon Permits, Clears Backlog

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

For Immediate Release: Friday, Jan. 17  

Contact: Adrienne Bennett, Press Secretary, (207) 287-2531 

Maine State Police Issues 11,000 Concealed Weapon Permits, Clears Backlog

Special Investigations Unit issues 5,000 permits since summer

 AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage announced Friday that the Special Investigations Unit within the Department of Public Safety has cleared a backlog of more than 5,000 concealed weapon permit applications.

Through the use of cross training, new business practices and a great deal of teamwork, the Special Investigations Unit processed 5,000 permits since the summer. In 2013, the Special Investigations Unit alone issued more than 11,000 permits. This is an increase of 3,500 permits from the 7,500 issued in 2012.

“I want to thank the staff at the department for improving the permitting process for Maine citizens,” said Governor LePage. “Maine has one of the highest rates of firearm ownership in the country as a state that is fiercely protective of our right to bear arms. However, we also have one of the lowest rates of gun violence. We are a safe state, and we plan to keep it that way.”

Maine State Police issue permits to Maine residents residing in a town without a full-time police department and to all out of state residents. The State does not have data reflecting the total number of permits issued in municipalities throughout the Maine.

CONNECT WITH GOVERNOR LEPAGE:
Sign up for email updates Facebook Twitter
YouTube Flicker

###