Maine legal term
Handgun in Maine Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Maine legislative session
In Maine criminal law, “Handgun” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the Maine criminal code.
What does “Handgun” mean in Maine criminal law?
"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. (17-A M.R.S. § 554-B)
Statutes defining or using this term
Charges using this term
- Possession of armor-piercing ammunition
- Possession of firearms in an establishment licensed for on-premises consumption of liquor
- Unauthorized possession of a firearm in a correctional facility or jail
- Unauthorized possession of firearm in courthouse
- Unlawful transfer of a firearm other than a handgun to a minor
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.