Gun Laws in Maine

Subject/Law	Long Guns	Hand Guns	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
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?	No	No
Duty to inform?	No	Yes	25 M.R.S. § 2003-A	Only when carrying without a permit.

Gun Laws by State: Maine

Understanding Gun Laws in Maine

When it comes to gun laws, every state in the United States has its own unique set of rules and regulations. In this article, we will be focusing on the gun laws specific to the state of Maine. We'll cover everything from permits and registration to laws about assault weapons and magazine capacity.

Permits and Registration

In Maine, there is no state permit required to purchase either long guns or handguns. This means that individuals can purchase firearms without having to first obtain a permit from the state. Additionally, there is no firearm registration in Maine for both long guns and handguns, as stated in 25 M.R.S. § 2014.

Assault Weapon Laws and Magazine Capacity

Maine does not have any specific assault weapon laws or magazine capacity restrictions for either long guns or handguns. This means that there are no state laws that specifically regulate or restrict the possession, sale, or use of assault weapons or high-capacity magazines.

Owner License and Red Flag Law

There is no owner license required in Maine for both long guns and handguns. However, Maine does have a Red Flag Law, applicable to both long guns and handguns, as per 34-B M.R.S. § 3862-A. This law allows for temporary firearm confiscation from individuals deemed to be a risk to themselves or others.

Concealed and Open Carry

When it comes to carrying firearms, Maine is a "shall issue" state for citizens and lawful permanent residents who are 18 years or older. This means that the state must issue a concealed carry permit if the applicant meets certain requirements. However, as of October 12, 2015, no permit is required for concealed carry as per 25 M.R.S. § 2001-A and 25 M.R.S. § 2003.

As for open carry, there is no permit required to openly carry a firearm in Maine, except in state parks and some other locations.

Castle Doctrine and State Preemption

Maine does not have a Castle Doctrine or Stand Your Ground law, as per 17-A M.R.S. § 108. However, Maine does have a state preemption of local restrictions as per 25 M.R.S. § 2011. This means that local governments cannot enact gun laws that are more restrictive than state law.

NFA Weapons and Certification

There are no restrictions on NFA (National Firearms Act) weapons in Maine. Additionally, the state shall certify within 15 days for both long guns and handguns, as per 25 M.R.S. § 2013.

Private Sales and Duty to Inform

There are no background checks required for private sales of either long guns or handguns in Maine. However, there is a duty to inform if you're carrying without a permit, specifically for handguns, as per 25 M.R.S. § 2003-A.

Understanding the gun laws in your state is crucial for responsible gun ownership. Always make sure to stay informed and up-to-date with the latest laws and regulations.