CHAPTER 188
S.P. 141 - L.D. 404
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 17-A MRSA §554-A, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 263, §3, is amended to read:
2. A Except as provided in section 554-B, a person is guilty of unlawfully transferring a firearm to a minor if that person, who is not the parent, foster parent or guardian of the minor, knowingly transfers a firearm to a minor.
Sec. 2. 17-A MRSA §554-B is enacted to read:
§554-B. Unlawful transfer of handgun to minor
1. As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings.
A. "Handgun" means a firearm that has a short stock and is designed to be held and fired by the use of a single hand, or any combination of parts from which a handgun can be assembled.
B. "Minor" means a person under 18 years of age.
C. "Transfer" means to sell, furnish, give, lend, deliver or otherwise provide, with or without consideration.
2. A person is guilty of unlawfully transferring a handgun to a minor if that person knowingly transfers a handgun to a person who the transferor knows or has reasonable cause to believe is a minor.
3. This section does not apply to:
A. A temporary transfer of a handgun to a minor:
(1) With the prior written consent of the minor's parent or guardian and that parent or guardian is not prohibited by federal, state or local law from possessing a firearm; or
(2) In the course of employment, target practice, hunting or instruction in the safe and lawful use of a handgun.
The minor may transport an unloaded handgun in a locked container directly from the place of transfer to a place at which an activity described in this subparagraph is to take place and directly from the place at which such an activity took place to the transferor;
B. A minor who is a member of the United States Armed Forces or the National Guard who possesses or is armed with a handgun in the line of duty;
C. A transfer by inheritance of title to, but not possession of, a handgun to a minor; or
D. The transfer of a handgun to a minor when the minor takes the handgun in self-defense or in defense of another person against an intruder into the residence of the minor or a residence in which the minor is an invited guest.
4. The State may not permanently confiscate a handgun that is transferred to a minor in circumstances in which the transferor is not in violation of this section and if the possession of the handgun by the minor subsequently becomes unlawful because of the conduct of the minor. When that handgun is no longer required by the State for the purposes of investigation or prosecution, the handgun must be returned to the lawful owner.
5. The following penalties apply.
A. A person who violates this section commits a Class D crime, except as provided in paragraph B.
B. A person who violates this section and, at the time of the offense, has a prior conviction for unlawfully transferring a handgun to a minor commits a Class C crime. Section 9-A governs the use of prior convictions when determining a sentence.
Effective September 13, 2003, unless otherwise indicated.
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