Citation(s) from the GunPolicy.org literature library
Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. 2024 ‘Location Restrictions in Maine.’ Guns in Public. San Francisco, CA: Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. 24 December
Relevant contents
Other Location Restrictions in Maine
Maine law criminalizes possession of any firearm in an establishment licensed to sell liquor for on-premises consumption if either: 1) the establishment has signs posted that prohibit or restrict the possession of firearms which patrons are likely to see; or 2) a patron possesses a firearm on the premises while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, drugs, a combination of liquor and drugs, or has an excessive alcohol level. In addition to the criminal penalty of imprisonment, a court is required, as part of every conviction and sentence for a violation of this provision, to revoke the convict's permit to carry a concealed handgun, if any.
With certain limited exceptions, Maine law criminalizes possession of a firearm in a courthouse. Maine law specifies that holding a valid permit to carry a concealed handgun is not a defense to a prosecution for unauthorized possession of a firearm in a courthouse.
In 2010, a new federal law went into effect that permits the possession of loaded firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges. In response to this dangerous legislation, Maine adopted a statute prohibiting the use or possession of a firearm in Acadia National Park. This provision is subject to various exceptions, including possession of a gun in a person's residential dwelling within park lands. Concealed handgun permit holders are also exempt.
In 2011, Maine enacted a law preventing the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands from adopting rules prohibiting concealed handgun permit holders from possessing concealed handguns in buildings and other public property under the Bureau's jurisdiction. This law effectively authorizes permit holders to carry concealed handguns in all state parks and historic sites and in certain national parks and other lands.
An innkeeper or campground owner may eject from a hotel, lodging house or campground, or may refuse or deny any accommodations, facilities or privileges to, any person the innkeeper or campground owner reasonably believes is bringing in firearms.
Maine has no statutes prohibiting firearms in the following places, although administrative regulations may apply:
- Hospitals;
- Places of worship;
- Sports arenas;
- Gambling facilities; or
- Polling places…
[Editor's note: The Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence regularly updates its webpages with new data as US gun regulation evolves state by state. For the most up-to-date information on US gun laws, please refer to the Giffords URL below]