Introduction
Over 385,000 Maine residents experience intimate partner violence in their lifetimes. Fortunately, many victims survive these traumatic events; however, Maine reported 113 domestic abuse homicides from 2011 to 2020. From 2000 to 2019, 52% of domestic abuse homicides in Maine were committed with a firearm. An abuser’s access to firearms can determine a victim’s chances of survival; domestic violence firearm prohibitions and removal laws save lives.
Maine prohibits possession of firearms by persons convicted of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence and persons subject to certain final protection from abuse orders. A court issuing a temporary or final protection from abuse order may prohibit possession of firearms. If the court issuing a temporary or final order of protection prohibits possession of firearms, the court shall order the removal of firearms from the subject of the order.
