Citation(s) from the GunPolicy.org literature library
Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. 2024 ‘Preemption of Local Laws in Maine.’ Other Laws & Policies. San Francisco, CA: Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. 19 April
Relevant contents
Local Authority to Regulate Firearms in Maine
The Maine Legislature has adopted an express preemption statute, Maine Revised Statutes Annotated title 25, § 2011, which provides:
1. Preemption. The State intends to occupy and preempt the entire field of legislation concerning the regulation of firearms, components, ammunition and supplies. Except as provided in subsection 3, any existing or future order, ordinance, rule or regulation in this field of any political subdivision of the State is void.
2. Regulation restricted. Except as provided in subsection 3, no political subdivision of the State, including, but not limited to, municipalities, counties, townships and village corporations, may adopt any order, ordinance, rule or regulation concerning the sale, purchase, purchase delay, transfer, ownership, use, possession, bearing, transportation, licensing, permitting, registration, taxation or any other matter pertaining to firearms, components, ammunition or supplies.
3. Exception. This section does not prohibit an order, ordinance, rule or regulation of any political subdivision which, with the exception of appropriate civil penalty provisions, conforms exactly with any applicable provision of state law or which regulates the discharge of firearms within a jurisdiction.
4. Law Enforcement Agency. Nothing in this section limits the power of any law enforcement agency to regulate the type and use of firearms issued or authorized by that agency for use by its employees. For the purposes of this section "law enforcement agency" has the same meaning as set forth in section 3701.
The adoption of title 25, § 2011 in 1989 rendered invalid many local ordinances regulating firearms. In addition to affecting regulations by cities and counties, section 2011 preempts firearms regulations by municipal agencies or authorities.
Title 12, § 13201, which relates to inland fisheries and wildlife, states that while a "municipality or political subdivision of the State may not enact any ordinance, law or rule regulating the hunting, trapping or fishing for any species of fish or wildlife," this restriction on local power does not prohibit the enactment of "any ordinance generally regulating the discharge of firearms in a municipality or any part of a municipality."
Pursuant to title 30-A, § 3007(5), any municipality adopting or amending a firearm discharge ordinance shall consult with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife during the process. Furthermore, the area(s) in which the discharge of firearms is prohibited under an ordinance must be described using "clearly defined physical boundaries" as points of reference.
Maine also prohibits certain civil actions by municipalities against firearms and ammunition manufacturers under Tit…
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