The Legislature's Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted 7-6 in favor of a bill that would allow tenants who live in public housing or who receive a federal Section 8 er to keep guns in their apartments.

According to the Lewiston Sun Journal, the final vote came a few days after the panel split 4-4  on the measure. Lawmakers  were trying to balance the rights of landowners with the constitutional rights of tenants.

To try and make create that balance, landlords who own and live in multiunit properties with four apartments or fewer could still ban guns in the Section 8 units, if they chose to do so.

The bill has not affect on privately owned apartment buildings that do not accept Section 8. The owners of those rental units would still be able to ban or not ban firearms on their property.

 

 

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