Last Updated: May 27, 2026
Maine's gun laws changed significantly after the Lewiston mass shooting in October 2023 — the deadliest in Maine's history. In response, Maine passed two major laws: L.D. 2224, which requires background checks for advertised private sales, and L.D. 2238, which created a 72-hour waiting period. The waiting period law is currently blocked by a federal court injunction, but the advertised sales background check rule remains in effect. If you found this gun through an online listing, forum post, or any public advertisement, the sale must go through an FFL dealer. If the sale came through a private conversation, no background check is required. This Bill of Sale documents how the sale was arranged and protects you either way.
How to Legally Sell a Gun Privately in Maine
Generating your official Maine gun bill of sale takes less than 5 minutes using our interactive builder above. Under Maine Rev. Stat. tit. 25 § 2014, recording the precise serial number, weapon specifications, and verifying the buyer's ME Driver License / State ID # is your primary line of legal defense should the firearm ever be traced back to you.
Need a field-by-field breakdown on how to legally execute this transfer? Read our comprehensive, nationwide Step-by-Step Firearm Bill of Sale Guide.
💡 Maine Permitless Carry Framework
Maine has been a Constitutional Carry state since October 15, 2015, when Governor Paul LePage signed LD 652 into law. Permitless carry applies to anyone 21 or older who can legally possess a firearm — under-21 carriers still need a permit under state law, though military and honorably discharged veterans aged 18+ are exempt. Maine's state constitution Article I, Section 16 states the right to bear arms 'shall never be questioned' — one of the strongest state constitutional protections in the Northeast. Maine also allows suppressors for hunting, which is notable since many neighboring states prohibit this. The 2016 ballot initiative to require universal background checks for all private sales was rejected by Maine voters, which is why the post-Lewiston laws targeted only advertised sales rather than all private transfers.
🚫 Dangerous Criminal Liabilities for Maine Sellers
- Not knowing the advertised sale rule — if you posted the gun online, on a forum, or in any written or broadcast advertisement, the sale must go through an FFL dealer for a background check under L.D. 2224. Only genuinely private, unadvertised sales are exempt.
- Assuming the 72-hour waiting period is currently in effect — L.D. 2238 created a mandatory 72-hour wait but a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction in February 2025 blocking enforcement. Verify current status before assuming any waiting period applies.
- Getting the age rules wrong — the minimum age for handgun purchases in Maine is 18 for private sales. For long guns, it is also 18. Maine prohibits knowingly transferring a handgun to anyone under 18, and long gun transfers to under-16s require parental involvement.
- Assuming Maine is like other Northeast states — Maine is one of the most gun-friendly states in the Northeast, with Constitutional Carry, no assault weapons ban, no magazine limits, and suppressors legal for hunting. It is very different from its neighbors Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut.
- Selling to an out-of-state buyer directly — Maine borders only New Hampshire by land, but federal law prohibits private sales to residents of any other state without FFL involvement.
- Not knowing about Maine's felony restoration path — Maine allows felons to apply for a permit to carry a firearm five years after discharge from prison or probation, but they cannot receive a concealed weapon permit. If a buyer mentions a past felony, verify carefully before proceeding.
Maine Commercial Ad & Transfer Mandates:
📄 Pine Tree State Form Blueprint Preview:
Maine Firearm Transfer FAQ
Is a background check required for private sales in Maine?
It depends on how the sale was arranged. Maine's L.D. 2224, enacted April 26, 2024, requires background checks through an FFL dealer for any private sale that resulted from a public advertisement — including online listings, forums, and social media. If the sale came about through a purely private conversation with no public advertisement involved, no background check is required.
Is the 72-hour waiting period currently in effect in Maine?
As of 2026, the 72-hour waiting period (L.D. 2238) is NOT currently being enforced due to a federal court injunction issued in February 2025. However, this legal status can change — always verify the current enforcement status before completing a transfer. The Bill of Sale timestamps the agreement date, which is vital if the law is reinstated.
What changed after the Lewiston shooting in 2023?
The October 2023 Lewiston mass shooting prompted the legislature to pass L.D. 2224 (background checks for advertised sales) and L.D. 2238 (waiting periods). These laws specifically targeted advertised private transfers rather than universal background checks, which Maine voters had previously rejected in a 2016 ballot initiative.
What is the minimum age for private gun sales in Maine?
The minimum age to purchase any firearm in a private sale in Maine is 18. Maine specifically prohibits knowingly transferring a handgun to anyone under 18. Note that 21 is the minimum age for Constitutional Carry without a permit, but not for the legal purchase of a firearm.
Does Maine have a Red Flag law?
Yes. Maine enacted an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) law in 2020. It allows law enforcement and family members to petition a court to temporarily remove firearms from someone deemed a danger to themselves or others. Always ask the buyer to certify on the Bill of Sale that they are not subject to an active ERPO.
Is Maine gun-friendly compared to other Northeast states?
Significantly more so. Maine has been a Constitutional Carry state since 2015. Under Article I, Section 16 of the Maine Constitution, the right to bear arms 'shall never be questioned'. Maine has no assault weapons ban and no magazine capacity limits.
Does Maine have a gun registry?
No. Maine law does not maintain any registry of firearm transfers or ownership. Maine also has strong statewide preemption under Title 25, § 2011, which prevents municipalities from adopting their own firearm registration or sale ordinances.
Can I sell to a resident of New Hampshire or another state?
No. Federal law prohibits private person-to-person firearm transfers across state lines. If the buyer is not a Maine resident, the transaction must go through an FFL dealer in the buyer's home state. International transfers (e.g., to Canada) are a federal and international felony.
Related Forms & Regional Compliance:
Maine is a pro-gun stronghold in the Northeast, but it is geographically isolated. Its only US neighbor, New Hampshire, shares Maine's permissive stance, but federal law strictly prohibits hand-to-hand private sales between residents of different states. If your buyer is from New Hampshire or Massachusetts, the firearm must be shipped to an FFL in their home state. Be extremely cautious of Maine's international border with Canada, where private firearm transfers are a severe federal and international felony.