State Gun Laws

Maine law prohibits anyone from possessing a firearm if s/he is subject to a protection from abuse order where the victim is an “intimate partner,” which the law defines only as: 1) a current or former spouse; 2) someone s/he has a child in common with; or 3) someone who s/he currently lives with or used to live with. It does not cover other dating partners.¹

The protection order must have been issued after notice and a hearing in Maine or in any other state, U.S. territory, commonwealth or tribe, and it must do both of the following:

• order the abuser to not:
  • harass, stalk, or threaten an intimate partner or a child of his/her intimate partner; or
  • act in a way that would place the intimate partner in reasonable fear or bodily injury to himself/herself or to his/her child; and
• either:
  • include a determination that s/he represents a credible threat to the physical safety of an intimate partner or child; or
  • specifically prohibit the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against an intimate partner or child that would reasonably be expected to cause bodily injury.²

¹ ME ST T. 15 § 393(1)(D); 18 USC § 921(a)(32)
² ME ST T. 15 § 393(1)(D)