Gun laws in Maine

Location of Maine in the United States

Gun laws in Maine regulate the sale, possession, and use of firearms and ammunition in the U.S. state of Maine. ^{[1] [2]}

Summary table

Subject / law	Long guns	Handguns	Relevant statutes	Notes
State permit required to purchase?	No	No
Firearm registration?	No	No	25 M.R.S. § 2014
Assault weapon law?	No	No
Magazine capacity restriction?	No	No
Owner license required?	No	No
Red flag law?	Yes	Yes	34-B M.R.S. § 3862-A	Yellow flag law
Permit required for concealed carry?	N/A	No	25 M.R.S. § 2001-A 25 M.R.S. § 2003	Maine is a "shall issue" state for citizens and lawful permanent residents who are 18 years or older. Permitless carry took effect on October 12, 2015.
Permit required for open carry?	No	No		May carry openly without permit, except in state parks and some other locations.
Castle Doctrine/Stand Your Ground law?	No	No	17-A M.R.S. § 108
State preemption of local restrictions?	Yes	Yes	25 M.R.S. § 2011
NFA weapons restricted?	No	No
Shall certify?	Yes	Yes	25 M.R.S. § 2013	Shall certify within 15 days.
Peaceable Journey laws?	No	No
Background checks required for private sales?	Some	Some		Required if the sales are at gun shows or the guns were advertised for sale. [3]
Duty to inform?	No	Yes	25 M.R.S. § 2003-A	Only when carrying without a permit.

State constitutional protection

Article I, Section 16 of the Constitution of Maine states:

"Every citizen has a right to keep and bear arms and this right shall never be questioned."

State provisions and prohibitions

• Maine has state preemption of firearms laws. No political subdivision of the state may adopt any law regulating firearms or ammunition, except for regulating the discharge of firearms. ^[1]

• A municipality may not sue a firearm or ammunition manufacturer for damages relating to the lawful design, manufacture, marketing or sale of firearms or ammunition. A municipality may bring legal action for breach of contract or warranty. ^[2]

• Employers in Maine may not prohibit their employees from keeping a firearm in the employee's vehicle if the employee has a valid permit to carry the concealed firearm and the firearm is concealed in the employee's own locked vehicle. ^[4] Employers may prohibit firearms on their premises other than in their parking lot under the conditions specified in the law. ^[5]

• Some localities have adopted Second Amendment sanctuary resolutions. ^[6]

Concealed carry

Maine ^{[7] [8]} is a constitutional carry (permitless concealed or open carry) and "shall issue" state for concealed carry. The issuing authority for permits are the local police, or the state police. As of October 15, 2015, a permit is not needed to carry a firearm – concealed or open – in the state of Maine, provided that the carrier is legally allowed to own a gun and is over 21 or a member or veteran of the military and over age 18. Concealed carry permits are still available (and are needed in order to legally carry weapons in various other states with which Maine has reciprocity agreements as well as for those under 21); such permits shall be issued within 30 days to a qualified applicant (who has to show proficiency in the use of pistols) and who has been a Maine resident for at least five years, or within 60 days to a nonresident or a resident for less than five years. The permit is valid for four years.

Open carry

Open carry is allowed without a permit. However, possession of firearms is not lawful in establishments licensed to serve alcohol for consumption on premises (bars, clubs, certain restaurants and so on) provided there is a "no firearms" sign posted in a manner reasonably likely to come to the attention of patrons or if the carrier of firearms is under the influence of alcohol or drugs by the same standards as applicable for operating a motor vehicle. ^[9] Open carry is not lawful in Federal buildings. ^{[10] [11] [12] [13]} Maine honors concealed carry permits from several other states. ^[14]

Hunting

For hunters, a semi-automatic firearm's magazine capacity can not exceed 6 cartridges (5 in the magazine +1 in the chamber). For migratory game bird hunting, shotgun capacity is 3 shells. ^[15] Upland bird hunting follows the semi-automatic laws. This is stated in Maine hunting law, but not Maine firearm law. Firearms, even if by definition it qualifies as a "hunting firearm", have no magazine capacity restriction. It only becomes a crime if one actively, or has previously, hunted while violating the magazine capacity restriction. These provisions do not apply to .22 caliber rimfire guns or to auto-loading pistols with a barrel length of less than 8 inches. ^[16] Maine allows the use of suppressors (also known as "silencers") for hunting, subject to the acquiring a permit. ^[17]

References

1. "State Gun Laws: Maine", National Rifle Association – Institute for Legislative Action. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
2. "Maine State Law Summary", Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
3. https://giffords.org/lawcenter/state-laws/background-check-procedures-in-maine/
4. Olivier, Elizabeth A. (October 19, 2011). "LD 35 Prohibits Maine Employers from Banning Concealed Guns in Vehicles on Workplace Property". Preti Flaherty Beliveau and Pachios.
5. Verrill Dana LLP (July 14, 2011). "Ten Questions On Every Employer's Mind About Maine's New Bring Your Gun To Work Law". martindale.com. LexisNexis.
6. Journal, Jon BolducSun (May 29, 2019). "Paris selectmen adopt Second Amendment Sanctuary Town resolution". Lewiston Sun Journal. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
7. "Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms – State Firearms Laws – Maine" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 3, 2006. Retrieved December 11, 2011.
8. "Search the Maine Statutes – "firearm"". Janus.state.me.us. October 1, 2010. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
9. "Title 17-A, §1057: Possession of firearms in an establishment licensed for on-premises consumption of liquor".
10. "Maine State Police – Weapons Permits & Professional Licensing". Maine.gov. Archived from the original on November 23, 2011. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
11. "State of Maine Laws Relating to Permits to Carry Concealed Firearms" (PDF). Retrieved November 23, 2011.
12. "Mainecarry.com". Archived from the original on February 3, 2017. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
13. "Maine Concealed Carry Permit Information on". Usacarry.com. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
14. "Concealed Handgun Permits" Archived December 17, 2011, at the Wayback Machine , Maine State Police. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
15. "Title 12, §11214: Unlawful use or possession of implements or aids".
16. 2013–14 Maine Hunting & Trapping Guide
17. "Title 12, §11161: Noise suppression devices".