Brief Overview Of Maine State Laws Concerning Air Guns
Maine state law prohibits selling or giving an air rifle to anyone under the age of 16 years old. Maine also restricts the sale of air guns to convicted felons. Outside of this restriction, Maine has no other state laws regulating air guns.
Maine State Air Gun Law References:
M.R.S.A. Title 12 laws includes pellet/ air guns. Laws that pertain to the use of firearms also apply to pellet/ air guns. Convicted felons are prohibited from possessing firearms unless specifically pardoned by the Governor of Maine or granted a permit by the Maine Department of Public Safety.
ME. REV. STAT. ANN. tit. 17-A, § 554 (West 2005)
Endangering the welfare of a child.
1. A person is guilty of endangering the welfare of a child if that person:
C. The defendant was the parent, foster parent, guardian or an adult approved by the parent, foster parent or guardian who furnished a child under 16 years of age an air rifle, gunpowder, smokeless powder or ammunition for a firearm for use in a supervised manner.
3. Endangering the welfare of a child is a Class D crime, except that a violation of subsection 1, paragraph B-2 is a Class C crime.
- A defense exists if the defendant was the parent, foster parent, guardian or an adult approved by the parent, foster parent or guardian who furnished the child under 16 years of age an air rifle for use in a supervised manner. Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17-A, § 554(2)(C).
How old do you need to be to purchase a BB gun, airgun, air rifle or pellet gun in Maine?
In Maine you must be 16 Years Old to purchase or own a BB gun, airgun, air rifle or pellet gun.
Maine Air Gun Hunting Regulations
Maine allows air gun hunting for certain species. These species include:
• Coyote
• Rabbit
• Raccoon
• Squirrel
• Woodchuck
Air Gun Laws In Local Jurisdictions
In addition to state laws, local jurisdictions may also have their own laws regulating airguns. Below are the laws for local jurisdictions in the state of Maine.
AUBURN, MAINE – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
ARTICLE I. IN GENERAL Auburn, Maine Code of Ordinances
Sec. 32-6. Discharge of firearms.
(a) Purpose and intent. The purpose of this section is to regulate the discharge of firearms within the city in order to promote and enhance the safety and welfare of its inhabitants. It is intended to protect the rights of landowners and the interests of persons who use firearms in work and recreation.
(b) Discharge prohibited in certain areas. No person shall fire or discharge any gun, revolver, pistol, air-operated or gas-operated gun or firearm of any description within the area as designated by the map attached to the ordinance from which this section is derived, except in cases where such act is expressly permitted by state law. A copy of such map is on file in the city clerk’s office.
(c) Exceptions. The provisions of this section shall not apply to officers charged with the enforcement of law; to persons discharging firearms in the defense of person or property; to the discharge of firearms in duly authorized rifle ranges, pistol ranges, target ranges or shooting galleries; to the discharge of firearms during military exercises; to the discharge of firearms by members of veterans’ organizations and other similar organizations in connection with public ceremonies; or to the discharge of blank cartridges for theatrical purposes or for signal purposes in athletic contests or sporting events.
(d) Enforcement. Police officers of the city shall have the authority to enforce this section.
(e) Shooting nuisance dogs or wild animals. Except in emergency circumstances under which a property owner is permitted by state law to kill dogs or wild animals found in the act of attacking or worrying that person’s domestic animals or destroying that person’s property, no person shall discharge firearms within the city limits for the purpose of shooting such nuisance dogs or wild animals without first notifying the police department of his/her intention to do so and of the approximate time and place where the shooting is to occur. In the emergency circumstances described in this subsection (e), any person shooting a dog or wild animal shall notify the police department immediately following such shooting.
(Code 1967, § 27-1.13)
AUGUSTA, MAINE – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
No listed air-gun ordinances.
BELFAST, MAINE – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
No listed air-gun ordinances.
BRUNSWICK, MAINE – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
DIVISION 2. REGULATIONS – Brunswick, Maine – Code of Ordinances
Sec. 14-135. – Hunting and firearms.
A person shall not hunt, trap, or disturb wildlife. A person shall not possess or discharge a firearm, blank gun, air rifle, spring gun, bow and arrow, sling, or any other type of weapon which is potentially dangerous to human beings or to wildlife. The second sentence of this section does not apply to blank guns or bows and arrows being used for sporting events authorized by the director. This section does not prohibit a licensed hunter in possession of a weapon, which is not ready to fire a projectile, from passing through a park to other areas lawful for hunting during hunting season.
(Ord. of 6-13-83, § 114; Ord. of 3-1-99)
ARTICLE I. IN GENERAL – Brunswick, Maine – Code of Ordinances
(c) Creation of certain noises upon public right-of-way prohibited.
(1) No person, while occupying any public right-of-way in the town, shall emit any noise or operate any noise-creating device in such a manner that the public’s attention is drawn to the source of the noise.
(2) The prohibition of this section shall include, but not be limited to, the following activity or conduct:
a. Discharging fireworks or any exploding device;
b. Firing a starter pistol, air gun, BB gun or a firearm;
ELIOT, MAINE – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
No listed air-gun ordinances.
FALMOUTH, MAINE – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
ARTICLE IV. USE OF PARKS AND PUBLIC GROUNDS Falmouth, Maine Code of Ordinances
Possession and use of weapons/firearms/fireworks. It shall be unlawful for any person to:
a. Possess, fire or discharge, or cause to be fired or discharged across, in or into any portion of a posted park or public land, any gun or firearm, spear, bow and arrow, crossbow, sling shot, air or gas weapon, paintball gun, or any other dangerous weapon or projectile, without permission from the director of parks and community programs or designee.
LISBON, MAINE – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
No listed air-gun ordinances.
OLD ORCHARD BEACH, MAINE – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
ARTICLE II. WEAPONS Old Orchard Beach, Maine Code of Ordinances
Sec. 38-25. Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Firearm means any instrument used in the propulsion of pellets, shot, shells, or bullets by action of gunpowder, compressed air or gas exploded or released within it.
Muzzleloader means a firearm that is capable of being loaded only through the muzzle; is ignited by a matchlock, flintlock, or cap lock, including an in-line cap lock or shotgun or rifle primer mechanism; has a rifled or smooth-bored barrel or barrels, each barrel capable of firing only a single charge; propels a ball, bullet or charge of shot and may have any type of sights, including scopes.
(Ord. of 5-4-10(2)
Sec. 38-27. Discharge causing projectile to pass near dwelling or occupied building or structure.
It shall be unlawful for any person to shoot or discharge a firearm of any kind or description in the town which causes or permits the bullet or projectile from such firearm to pass or results in the bullet or projectile from such firearm passing within 100 yards of a dwelling or occupied building or structure without having received the prior consent in writing of the owner of such dwelling or occupied building or structure.
(Ord. of 9-17-1980, § 3)
ORONO, MAINE – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
No listed air-gun ordinances.
PORTLAND, MAINE – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
Sec. 17-41. Firearms–Shooting prohibited; exceptions.
(a) No person shall shoot with or use a bow and arrow, BB
gun, air gun of any kind, gas pellet gun of any kind, slingshot, a
firearm of any kind or description or any other such weapon within
the city, except in the performance of official duties, at
authorized galleries or ranges, or in self-defense.
Sec. 17-42. Same–Carrying at nighttime prohibited; exception.
(a) No person shall have in his possession in or on any
street, way, sidewalk, park or other public place, or in any motor
vehicle on or in any street, way, sidewalk, park, or other public
place between the time of sunset of any day and sunrise of the
following day any loaded BB gun, air gun of any kind, gas pellet
gun of any kind, firearm of any kind or description or any other
such weapon.
The prohibition of this section shall include, but not be limited
to, the following activity or conduct:
b. Firing a starter pistol, air gun, BB gun or a firearm,
SOUTH PORTLAND, MAINE – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
City ordinance to make possession in public places of weapons such as bows and arrows, BB guns, air guns, and slingshots a civil offense. Violators of the law would be subjected to a fine, though they would not be required to hand over the weapon.
(Code 1966, §§ 6-4-2.3, 6-4-2.3.2, 6-4-2.4, 6-4-2.5; Ord. No. 2-70, 1-19-70; Ord. No. 4-10/11, 9/20/10
[Fiscal Note: Less than $1000])
Sec. 26-6. Firing, discharging weapons in city; possession of certain types of
weapons in city.
(a) No person shall, without a permit from the chief of police, fire or discharge any revolver, gun, fowling piece, cannon or firearm within the limits of the city; provided, however, that this section shall not apply to the use of such weapons at any military exercise or review or in the lawful defense of one’s person, family or property.
(b) No person shall have in his possession in or on any street, way, sidewalk, park or other public place any bow and arrow, BB gun, air gun of any kind, gas pellet gun of any kind, spring gun, slingshot or any other instrument or weapon made for the purpose of throwing or projecting missiles of any kind by any means whatsoever within the city, except in the performance of official law enforcement duties, at authorized shooting galleries or ranges or when en route to or from the same, or during transport within an enclosed container, or in self-defense. In addition, no person shall shoot with or use the types of weapons set forth in this subsection in or on any street, way, sidewalk, park or other public place whatsoever within the city, except in the performance of official law enforcement duties, at authorized shooting galleries or ranges, or in self-defense.
Disclaimer
These rules and regulations were compiled to the best of my ability. The information on this article should not constitute as legal advice. Always check with your local jurisdiction for the final ruling.