Maine is a permitless ("constitutional carry") state, but possessing or carrying firearms — concealed or otherwise — remains subject to important...
Reviewed by Will Luker, Founder of CCW Hub. USCCA Training Counselor, USCCA Certified Instructor, NRA Certified Instructor, Law Enforcement.
Maine is a permitless ("constitutional carry") state, but possessing or carrying firearms — concealed or otherwise — remains subject to important restrictions. The most consequential restrictions fall into three categories: (1) prohibited persons, (2) prohibited weapons and accessories, and (3) prohibited locations and circumstances. This guide focuses on weapon-type and accessory restrictions; for location restrictions, see Maine's separate "Where You Cannot Carry" reference.
Important: Even though Maine permits unlicensed concealed carry of a handgun by qualifying adults under 25 M.R.S.A. ch. 252, every person carrying a firearm — with or without a permit — must independently satisfy the prohibited-persons rules under 15 M.R.S. §393. A Maine concealed handgun permit does not override federal restrictions.
Under 15 M.R.S. §393(1), a person may not own, possess, or have under their control a firearm if any of the following apply:
| Category | Statutory Reference | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Convicted of (or found NCRI for) a Maine crime punishable by ≥ 1 year | §393(1)(A‑1)(1) | Class C crime |
| Convicted of a federal crime punishable by > 1 year | §393(1)(A‑1)(2) | Class C crime |
| Convicted of an out-of-state crime punishable by > 1 year (non-misdemeanor) | §393(1)(A‑1)(3) | Class C crime |
| Convicted of an out-of-state crime elementally similar to a Maine ≥ 1-year crime | §393(1)(A‑1)(4) | Class C crime |
| Convicted of any crime committed with a firearm or other dangerous weapon against a person | §393(1)(A‑1)(5) | Class B crime |
| Subject to a qualifying domestic-violence protection order | §393(1)(D) | Class C crime |
| Involuntarily committed, found NCRI, or found not competent to stand trial | §393(1)(E) | Class C crime |
| Currently a "restricted person" under 34‑B §3862‑A (Yellow Flag / extreme-risk order) | §393(1)(E‑1) | Class D crime |
| Subject to a progressive treatment program weapons restriction (34‑B §3873‑A) | §393(1)(E‑2) | Class D crime |
| Fugitive from justice | §393(1)(F) | Class C crime |
| Unlawful user of, or addicted to, any controlled substance (per 18 U.S.C. §922(g)(3)) | §393(1)(G) | Class C crime |
| Illegal alien or admitted on a nonimmigrant visa (per 18 U.S.C. §922(g)(5)) | §393(1)(H) | Class C crime |
| Dishonorably discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces | §393(1)(I) | Class C crime |
| Renounced U.S. citizenship | §393(1)(J) | Class C crime |
Note on penalty classes: Class designations shown reflect the current statute as amended by PL 2023, c. 491 and c. 675. Pre-2023 versions of §393 classified some offenses differently. Always consult the current statute.
A person convicted (or found NCRI) of a Class D domestic-violence offense under 17‑A §§207‑A, 209‑A, 210‑B, 210‑C, or 211‑A — or an elementally similar out-of-state crime — may not possess a firearm. This prohibition lasts 5 years from final discharge of the sentence and resets if a new conviction occurs in that period. Applies to convictions on or after October 15, 2015. Violation is a Class C crime.
A juvenile adjudicated for conduct that, if committed by an adult, would have been a disqualifying conviction (and that did not involve threatened or actual bodily injury) may not possess a firearm for 3 years after disposition or until age 18, whichever is later. Violation by an adult is a Class C crime.
Under §393(1)(G), the Maine-law use, possession, or transport of cannabis in accordance with 22 M.R.S. ch. 558‑C or 28‑B does not trigger the state prohibited-person bar. The statute expressly preserves the federal prohibition under 18 U.S.C. §922(g)(3) — consult current federal guidance and ATF materials for the scope of the federal prohibition as applied to state-legal cannabis users.
Five years after final discharge from the disqualifying sentence, a person convicted under §393(1)(A‑1)(1)–(4) or §393(1)(C) may apply to the Office of the Governor for a permit to possess a firearm. The permit is limited in scope: for purposes of §393(2), "firearm" does not include a firearm defined under 18 U.S.C. §921(a)(3). Because the federal §921(a)(3) definition broadly covers most modern firearms (excluding antique firearms), the Governor's permit does not authorize possession of ordinary federally-defined firearms. A person whose rights are restored under §393(2) is not eligible for a Maine concealed handgun permit under Title 25, ch. 252. A permit issued under §393(2) is valid for 4 years unless sooner revoked by the Governor.
Maine addresses machine guns through a set of related statutes:
Unlawful possession is prohibited; lawful possession under §1052 generally requires compliance with applicable state and federal (NFA) requirements. Consult the current statutes and, where applicable, federal NFA rules for the specific conditions.
Possession of armor-piercing ammunition is prohibited, with narrow exceptions. Maine does not impose general background checks on ordinary ammunition purchases and has no statewide magazine-capacity limit as of this writing.
Maine has not enacted a state-level ban on undetectable or untraceable ("ghost gun") firearms; legislation such as LD 1569 has been proposed but not enacted. The federal Undetectable Firearms Act (18 U.S.C. §922(p)) continues to apply: it is unlawful to manufacture, import, sell, ship, deliver, possess, transfer, or receive a firearm that is not as detectable as the federal Security Exemplar by walk-through metal detectors, or whose major components do not produce an accurate x-ray image.
These statutes restrict who may lawfully give, sell, or otherwise provide firearms to a person under 18, and supplement federal handgun-transfer rules.
Possession of a firearm in an establishment licensed for on-premises consumption of liquor is a separate offense and a permit-disqualifying event if it occurred within the past 5 years (see 25 M.R.S.A. §2003).
Passengers under 19 must ride in the passenger compartment of a pickup truck. Licensed hunters being transported to or from a hunting location are exempt, provided they comply with all laws on possession and transportation of firearms in a motor vehicle (§2088(2)(B)).
Maine's inland fisheries and wildlife laws (Title 12) and IF&W rules contain restrictions on transporting firearms in or on motor vehicles, ATVs, and snowmobiles in the hunting context. Because those provisions are not contained in the sources cited in this guide, readers should consult the Maine IF&W Hunting Laws & Rules and current Title 12 statutes directly for specific rules on loaded/unloaded transport, permit exceptions, and hunting-related carry.
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (IF&W) imposes location- and method-specific restrictions even for otherwise lawful firearm owners:
Additional municipal ordinances may further restrict hunting methods. Always consult IF&W's Hunting Laws & Rules and local ordinances before carrying afield.
Any person who knows or has reason to believe they have inflicted injury on another by use of a firearm or archery equipment must identify themselves to the victim, render first aid as they are able, and report the incident by the quickest means to a game warden or other law enforcement officer.
For those who choose to obtain a Maine concealed handgun permit (required for reciprocity in many other states), the issuing authority must verify the applicant:
A full list of yes/no disclosure questions is contained in §2003(1)(D)(5) and must be truthfully answered on the application.
This guide is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Maine and federal firearms laws change frequently. Always consult current statutes and a qualified Maine attorney before relying on these summaries — particularly if you have any criminal history, mental health adjudication, protection order, or non-citizen status that may affect your right to possess a firearm.
This page covers one part of our Maine concealed carry guide.
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