State suppressor law

Maine Suppressor Laws in 2026: No State Ban, and a 2021 Hunting Change

By Cole Harlan, EditorUpdated Oct 26, 2026How we verifyEditorial standards

We found no Maine statute that bans owning a suppressor, and the state's hunting law no longer lists them among unlawful hunting implements. Paragraph C of 12 M.R.S. 11214(1), which once sat between the autoloader and tracer-bullet rules, is now shown only as "[PL 2021, c. 112, §3 (RP)]," meaning repealed. The same 2021 law added a harsh penalty: a hunter convicted of certain violations while carrying a suppressed firearm loses their license for at least three years. ATF's registry shows 22,332 suppressors in Maine. Here's the statute, what we couldn't confirm, and how ATF's October 9, 2026 change plays out.

Not legal advice. This page summarizes the Maine Revised Statutes as published by the Maine Legislature and federal guidance as of the date above. Some of it rests on what we didn't find, and we say where. Talk to your dealer, a Maine attorney or the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife if you're unsure.

The short answer

Suppressors appear legal to own in Maine. Title 17-A, chapter 43 ("Weapons") lists these sections: possession of a machine gun, armor-piercing ammunition, firearms in liquor establishments, courthouses and jails, and undetectable firearms. We found no silencer offense in that list. We read the list of titles, not every section.
No registration tie found. Without a state offense, there's nothing in Maine criminal law that makes ownership depend on NFA registration.
The hunting paragraph is repealed. 12 M.R.S. 11214(1)(C) is shown as repealed by PL 2021, c. 112, §3, and the word "suppress" doesn't appear anywhere in the section's current text.
Hunting violations cost more with a can. 12 M.R.S. 10902(6-A): "The commissioner shall suspend a person's hunting license for at least 3 years" for a listed violation if the person had "a firearm with a device used to suppress or deaden the sound or natural report of the firearm."
Federal rules that didn't change still apply: Form 4473 and a background check at the dealer, and Form 20 approval before taking an SBR or SBS across state lines.

What Maine's hunting statutes say

Section 11214 is titled "Unlawful use or possession of implements or aids." Subsection 1 begins "A person may not:" and lists automatic firearms, autoloading firearms with magazines over five cartridges (with exceptions), tracer and explosive bullets, set bows, artificial lights and similar items. Paragraph C reads in full: "[PL 2021, c. 112, §3 (RP).]" We don't quote what it used to say, because the current page doesn't show it.

The same 2021 law added the penalty in section 10902, "Suspension or revocation of or refusal to issue license or permit." Subsection 6-A is headed "Mandatory hunting license revocation when using a suppressor" and reads: "The commissioner shall suspend a person's hunting license for at least 3 years if that person is convicted of any violation listed in subsection 6 and found to have been in possession, at the time of the offense, of a firearm with a device used to suppress or deaden the sound or natural report of the firearm." Subsection 6 lists violations such as a closed-season violation for bear, deer or moose, hunting under the influence, and night hunting. We read the first four paragraphs of that list.

What we haven't confirmed: the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife's own rules and the current law book. We found no rule banning suppressors, but we didn't read them all. Before you hunt with a can, check with the Department.

Maine and ATF's October 9 change

ATF's October 9 open letter stops enforcement of NFA approval and registration for suppressors, SBRs, SBSs and AOWs. Because we found no Maine suppressor offense, we found no state registration requirement for the change to collide with. Maine wasn't one of the 15 plaintiff states in Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF (see our case explainer), and we found no Maine Attorney General statement about suppressors after October 9 and no 2026 Maine bill or lawsuit on the subject. Follow the national picture on the NFA lawsuit tracker.

What federal law still requires

The October 9 policy doesn't touch the Gun Control Act, so:

Dealers still run a Form 4473 and NICS check and keep records, and prohibited persons still can't possess these items.
Interstate travel with an SBR or SBS still needs Form 20 approval under 18 U.S.C. 922(a)(4), registered or not. Suppressors don't need a Form 20.
A voluntary Form 4 or Form 1 is still available at $0 tax. See NFA wait times.

Short-barreled rifles and shotguns

The chapter 43 section list we read has no short-barreled rifle or shotgun provision, but we did not read the individual sections or search the rest of the Maine Revised Statutes, so we treat Maine's SBR status as not verified. Check with an attorney before you build or buy one. See our SBR state table for the states we have verified.

What to do if you live or hunt in Maine

Buying a suppressor: a dealer can sell on a Form 4473 and NICS check. We found no Maine permit or registration on top.
Hunting: the statutory bar is gone, but a violation committed while carrying one means a license suspension of at least three years. Keep every other detail of the hunt clean and confirm with the Department.
Coming from another state: your home state's law governs what you can own there. Maine's hunting rules govern the hunt.

Maine has 22,332 registered suppressors, according to ATF registry data obtained by the American Suppressor Association. For comparison, see New Hampshire, the only state that borders Maine, or every state in the 2026 State Gun Law Scorecard.

Frequently asked questions

Are suppressors legal in Maine in 2026?

We found no Maine statute banning them. Title 17-A, chapter 43 (Weapons) lists no silencer offense in its section list. Federally, ATF stopped enforcing NFA approval and registration for suppressors on October 9, 2026; a Form 4473 and background check are still required at the dealer.

Can you hunt with a suppressor in Maine?

The statutory bar was repealed. 12 M.R.S. 11214(1)(C) is shown as repealed by PL 2021, c. 112, §3. We haven't read the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife's rules, so confirm with the Department before you hunt.

What is Maine's 3-year license suspension for suppressors?

12 M.R.S. 10902(6-A) requires the commissioner to suspend a hunting license for at least 3 years if the person is convicted of a violation listed in subsection 6 and had a firearm with a sound-suppression device at the time.

Does Maine require NFA registration for a suppressor?

We found no Maine requirement. We found no state suppressor offense for registration to satisfy, but we read only the section list of Title 17-A, chapter 43.

Are SBRs legal in Maine?

Not verified. The Title 17-A, chapter 43 section list shows no SBR provision, but we didn't read individual sections or search other titles. Federal rules still apply, including Form 20 approval before taking an SBR or SBS across state lines.

Sources

Supplementary sources

News reports, advocacy groups, dealer practice and unofficial copies. They add context or report statements; the primary sources above control.

American Suppressor Association via NASGW: The Suppressor Map, state counts from ATF FOIA request 2026-01285 (May 2026) (industry group)