• Has been convicted of committing or found not criminally responsible because of insanity of committing:  
  • A crime in this state that is punishable by imprisonment for a term of one year or more;  
  • A crime under the laws of the United States that is punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year;  
  • A crime under the laws of any other state that, by the laws of that jurisdiction, is punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year. This subparagraph does not include a crime under the laws of another state that is classified by the laws of that state as a misdemeanor and is punishable by a term of imprisonment of two years or less;  
  • A crime under the laws of any other state that, by the laws of that jurisdiction,^[2] but is elementally substantially similar to a crime in this state that is punishable by a term of imprisonment for one year or more or  
  • A crime under the laws of the United States, this state or any other state or the Passamaquoddy Tribe or Penobscot Nation in a proceeding in which the prosecuting authority was required to plead and prove that the person committed the crime with the use of:  
    • A firearm against a person; or  
    • Any other dangerous weapon.  
• Has been adjudicated in this state or under the laws of the United States or any other state to have engaged in conduct as a juvenile that, if committed by an adult, would have been a disqualifying conviction;^[3]  
• Is subject to an order of a court of the United States or a state, territory, commonwealth, or tribe that restrains that person from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner,^[4] of that person or a child of the intimate partner of that person, or from engaging in other conduct that would place the intimate partner in reasonable fear of bodily injury to the intimate partner or the child, except that this paragraph applies only to a court order that was issued after a hearing for which that person received actual notice and at which that person had the opportunity to participate and that:  
  • Includes a finding that the person represents a credible threat to the physical safety of an intimate partner or a child or  
  • By its terms, explicitly prohibits the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against an intimate partner or a child that would reasonably be expected to cause bodily injury.  
• Has been:  
  • Committed involuntarily to a hospital under an order of the District Court^[5] because the person was found to present a likelihood of serious harm,^[6]
  • Found not criminally responsible because of insanity concerning a criminal charge or  
  • Found not competent to stand trial concerning a criminal charge.  
• Is currently a restricted person^[7] except that the prohibition applies to possession and control, not ownership. Violation of this paragraph is a Class D crime; 
• Has been ordered to participate in a progressive treatment program^[8] and, as part of that order, directed not to possess a dangerous weapon^[9] for the duration of the treatment program, except that the prohibition applies to possession and control, not ownership. Violation of this paragraph is a Class D crime;
• Is a fugitive from justice. For this paragraph, “fugitive from justice”^[10] has the same meaning as in. Violation of this paragraph is a Class D crime; 
• Is an unlawful user of or is addicted to any controlled substance and, as a result, is prohibited from possession of a firearm, except those related to the use, possession, or transport of cannabis.^[11] Violation of this paragraph is a Class D crime; 
• Is an alien who is illegally or unlawfully in the United States or was admitted under a nonimmigrant visa and prohibited from possessing a firearm.^[12] 
• Has been discharged from the United States Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions. Violation of this paragraph is a Class D crime; 
• Has, having been a citizen of the United States, renounced that person’s citizenship. Violation of this paragraph is a Class D crime. 

Anyone who is 21 years old or older and eligible to own a firearm can carry a concealed weapon without a permit. However, anyone between 18 and 20 must obtain a permit to carry a concealed weapon.

How to Apply

To obtain a permit to carry a concealed handgun, a person must be 18 years of age or older.

1. Find out if the State Police issues permits in the applicant’s city of residence or if the city issues permits directly.^[14]
2. Complete a Resident Concealed Handguns Permit Application.
3. Attach proof of completing a federally recognized handgun safety course.
4. Attach a passport-quality photo of the applicant.
5. Attach a copy of the applicant’s birth certificate.
6. Apply to the local city authority or the Maine State Police Special Investigations Department (164 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333-0164).
7. Pay the appropriate application fee.^[15]

Reciprocity

The law explains that Maine recognizes the concealed carry permits of all states that, in turn, recognize Maine’s permit. Licenses from the following states are not recognized in Maine: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.^[16]