On August 9, 2024, Public Law Chapter 678 will go into effect in Maine, requiring all firearm sellers to wait 72-hours before transferring a firearm to a buyer. The new waiting period runs from the time of an agreement “between a buyer and seller for the purchase and the sale of a firearm.” Advocates of the law argue that it will reduce suicides by allowing for a so-called “cooling off period” after the initial agreement to purchase a firearm is reached. Critics of the law, however, point out that it places an undue burden on law-abiding citizens that would hinder the ability of lawful gun owners to protect themselves. The waiting period does not apply if the purchaser is a law enforcement professional, private security officer, or a licensed firearm dealer. It also does not apply to private transfers between family members.
The enactment of Public Law Chapter 678 follows a series of other recent firearm regulations enacted in Maine. In April 2024, Governor Mills signed into law Public Law Chapter 675, which expanded the background check requirement for firearm purchases made at gun shows or as a result of any advertisement, such as where an individual seller lists a firearm for sale on Craigslist or on social media. The law requires firearm transfers that result from any such firearm sales be completed through a Federal Firearm Licensee (FFL). The law also amended Maine’s so-called “yellow flag law,” to expand the ability of law enforcement officers to take a person into custody for a mental health evaluation and request a hearing before a judge for the potential confiscation of that individual’s firearm(s) if they are determined to present a safety risk.
Renzulli Law Firm continues to monitor legislative developments affecting the industry across the United States. If you have any questions about cases involving the Second Amendment or the firearm industry, please contact John F. Renzulli or Christopher Renzulli.