Steve "Twinkie" Arsenault was coming to the gun show in full 3rd Maine uniform complete with musket. On his way there a police cruiser pulled up, said he couldn't carry a gun in the city limits without a permit & the gun in a case. They confiscated the musket & he now has to pay a $25 fine to get it back.
~Miss Patti

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind~Dr. Seuss

Part 5: PUBLIC SAFETY
Chapter 252-A: FIREARMS REGULATION (HEADING: PL 1989, c. 359 (new))

§2011. State preemption

1. Preemption. The State intends to occupy and preempt the entire field of legislation concerning the regulation of firearms, components, ammunition and supplies. Except as provided in subsection 3, any existing or future order, ordinance, rule or regulation in this field of any political subdivision of the State is void. [1989, c. 359 (new).]

2. Regulation restricted. Except as provided in subsection 3, no political subdivision of the State, including, but not limited to, municipalities, counties, townships and village corporations, may adopt any order, ordinance, rule or regulation concerning the sale, purchase, purchase delay, transfer, ownership, use, possession, bearing, transportation, licensing, permitting, registration, taxation or any other matter pertaining to firearms, components, ammunition or supplies. [1989, c. 359 (new).]

3. Exception. This section does not prohibit an order, ordinance, rule or regulation of any political subdivision which, with the exception of appropriate civil penalty provisions, conforms exactly with any applicable provision of state law or which regulates the discharge of firearms within a jurisdiction. [1989, c. 359 (new).]

4. Law enforcement agency. Nothing in this section limits the power of any law enforcement agency to regulate the type and use of firearms issued or authorized by that agency for use by its employees. For the purposes of this section "law enforcement agency" has the same meaning as set forth in section 3701. [1989, c. 502, Pt. D, §19 (new).]

http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/25/title25sec2011.html

Chapter 252: PERMITS TO CARRY CONCEALED FIREARMS

§2001-A. Threatening display of or carrying concealed weapon

1. Display or carrying prohibited. A person may not, unless excepted by a provision of law:

A. Display in a threatening manner a firearm, slungshot, knuckles, bowie knife, dirk, stiletto or other dangerous or deadly weapon usually employed in the attack on or defense of a person; or [2003, c. 452, Pt. N, §2 (new); Pt. X, §2 (aff).]

B. Wear under the person's clothes or conceal about the person's person a firearm, slungshot, knuckles, bowie knife, dirk, stiletto or other dangerous or deadly weapon usually employed in the attack on or defense of a person. [2003, c. 452, Pt. N, §2 (new); Pt. X, §2 (aff).]

[2003, c. 452, Pt. N, §2 (new); Pt. X, §2 (aff).]

2. Exceptions. The provisions of this section concerning the carrying of concealed weapons do not apply to:

A. Firearms carried by a person to whom a valid permit to carry a concealed firearm has been issued as provided in this chapter; [2003, c. 452, Pt. N, §2 (new); Pt. X, §2 (aff).]

B. Disabling chemicals as described in Title 17-A, section 1002; [2003, c. 452, Pt. N, §2 (new); Pt. X, §2 (aff).]

C. Knives used to hunt, fish or trap as defined in Title 12, section 10001; [2003, c. 452, Pt. N, §2 (new); Pt. X, §2 (aff).]

D. Law enforcement officers and corrections officers as permitted in writing by their employer; [2003, c. 452, Pt. N, §2 (new); Pt. X, §2 (aff).]

E. Firearms carried by a person engaged in conduct for which a state-issued hunting or trapping license is required and possessing the required license, or firearms carried by a resident person engaged in conduct expressly authorized by Title 12, section 11108 and section 12202, subsection 1. This paragraph does not authorize or permit the carrying of a concealed or loaded firearm in a motor vehicle; and [2003, c. 452, Pt. N, §2 (new); Pt. X, §2 (aff).]

F. A firearm carried by a person to whom a valid permit to carry a concealed firearm has been issued by another state if a permit to carry a concealed firearm issued from that state has been granted reciprocity. The Chief of the State Police may enter into reciprocity agreements with 2 other states. Reciprocity may be granted to a permit to carry a concealed firearm issued from another state if:
(1) The other state that issued the permit to carry a concealed firearm has substantially equivalent or stricter requirements for the issuance of a permit to carry a concealed firearm; and

(2) The other state that issued the permit to carry a concealed firearm observes the same rules of reciprocity in regards to a person issued a permit to carry a concealed firearm under this chapter.
[2003, c. 452, Pt. N, §2 (new); Pt. X, §2 (aff).]

[2003, c. 452, Pt. N, §2 (new); Pt. X, §2 (aff).]

http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/25/title25sec2001-A.html

He may of gotten a rough deal. I have not found any laws except in regards to having a concealed weapon where you would need a permit. It may be a city of Augusta ordinance. With him in uniform going to a gun show and it being black powder (which you can order them through the mail without a background check) it should be pretty obvious what he was up to.

Now, had he had the Springfield stuffed in his overcoat, out of sight as he walked with an obvious limp, that would be a different story.

It is worth digging deeper into to ensure no one else gets nabbed or special permits are needed for parades, etc in Augusta.

Cpl Marc Averill
29thGA