Maine Gun Laws
Gun Laws Overview
RIFLES & SHOTGUNS | HANDGUNS | |
---|---|---|
Permit to Purchase | No | No |
Registration of Firearms | No | No |
Licensing of Owners | No | No |
Permit to Carry | No | No* |
*No permit is necessary to carry openly while in this state, or to carry a concealed handgun if the person is at least 21 years old, or between 18 and 21 and on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard or is an honorably discharged veteran, and is not otherwise prohibited from carrying a firearm. The list and map below are included as a tool to assist you in validating your information. We have made every effort to report the information correctly, however reciprocity and recognition agreements are subject to frequent change. The information is not intended as legal advice or a restatement of law and does not include: restrictions that may be placed on non-resident permits, individuals under the age of 21, qualifying permit classes, and/or any other factor which may limit reciprocity and/or recognition. For any particular situation, a licensed local attorney must be consulted for an accurate interpretation. YOU MUST ABIDE WITH ALL LAWS: STATE, FEDERAL AND LOCAL. RECIPROCITY NOTES: MAINE honors RESIDENT permits from states it recognizes. Alaska, Arizona, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and North Dakota permit holders must be at least 21 years of age to carry in this state; Virginia permit holders must be 21 or older and possess government-issued identification; see https://www.maine.gov/dps/msp/licenses-permits/concealed-carry-maine/reciprocity Florida, Michigan and New Hampshire recognize Maine RESIDENT permits only. |
STATE STATUS | |
---|---|
Castle Doctrine | Enacted |
No-Net Loss | Enacted |
Right to Carry Confidentiality | Provisions Enacted |
Right to Carry in Restaurants | Partial Ban |
Right To Carry Laws | No Permit Required |
Right To Carry Reciprocity and Recognition | Conditional Recognition |
Right to Keep & Bear Arms State Constitutional Provisions | With Provisions |
Laws on Purchase, Possession and Carrying of Firearms
Antiques and Replicas
The provisions of law on possession, purchase, and carrying apply to antiques and replicas. |
Possession
No permit is required to possess a rifle, shotgun, or handgun. MORE |
Purchase
No state permit is required to purchase a rifle, shotgun, or handgun. MORE |
Carrying
It is not unlawful to carry a firearm openly. In 2015, Maine enacted a permitless carry law. MORE |
Machine Guns, Magazines, Ammunition, etc.
“Machine gun” is defined as “a weapon of any description, by whatever name known, loaded or unloaded, which is capable of discharging a number of projectiles in rapid succession by one manual or mechanical action on the trigger or firing mechanism.” MORE |
Miscellaneous Provisions
State law prohibits a government agency of the state or a political subdivision from keeping or causing to be kept any registry of privately-owned firearms and the owners of those firearms. 25 M.R.S.A. § 2014. MORE |
Preemption
The State intends to occupy and preempt the entire field of legislation concerning the regulation of firearms, components, ammunition and supplies MORE |
Restoration of Rights
Maine has enacted a restoration of rights procedure for persons under a mental health-based firearm disability, but it appears applications are no longer being accepted by the Commissioner of Public Safety. Gun rights lost due to a criminal conviction may be restored by pardon, through application to the Office of the Governor, or in some cases, on the expiry of stated time periods. MORE |
Range Protection
A municipal noise control or other ordinance cannot require or be applied so as to require a sport shooting range to limit or eliminate shooting activities that have occurred on a regular basis at the range prior to the enactment date of the ordinance, as long as the range conforms to generally accepted gun safety and shooting range operation practices or is constructed in a manner not reasonably expected to allow a projectile to cross the boundary of the range MORE |
SOURCES: Maine Code Title 12, Sections 11102, 11208, 11209, 11212, 11214, 13201; Title 15, Sections 455; 455-A; Title 17-A, Sections 1051, 1052, 1057; 2001-2006 2011; 2012 |
Friday, May 12, 2017
Yesterday, the Legislative Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs voted both Legislative Document 1370 and Legislative Document 988 out of committee ...
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
Tomorrow, the Legislative Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs has scheduled a work session and possible vote on both ...
Monday, May 8, 2017
On Friday, May 5, the Legislative Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs voted Legislative Document 31 out of committee with ...
Friday, May 5, 2017
Yesterday, the Maine House of Representatives failed to act on both Legislative Document 351 and Legislative Document 9. Both ...
Thursday, May 4, 2017
On Friday, May 5, the Legislative Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs has scheduled a work session for ...
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Tomorrow, May 4, Legislative Document 351 is scheduled for consideration and a possible House floor vote. LD 351 would allow municipalities to prohibit ...
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
Maine’s public colleges currently forbid guns on campus except by express permission from officials and in certain situations, ...
Friday, April 28, 2017
On Monday, May 1, the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs is scheduled to hold a public hearing ...
Friday, April 21, 2017
The Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted “ought not to pass” Legislative Document 1154.
Thursday, April 20, 2017
Tomorrow, April 21, Legislative Document 1154, sponsored by state Representative Owen Casas (I-Rockport), is scheduled for a public hearing in ...