AS OF FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2026, Maine’s 72 Hour Wait time is back in effect.
PLEASE NOTE: This time starts from the “agreement to purchase” a specific firearm. The agreement may be written or verbal.
IF you are transferring in a firearm, the “agreement to purchase” is easily documented from when you made the online/out-of-town purchase. Be sure a copy of your receipt gets to us. In most cases the 72 hours will be up by the time you come in to complete your 4473.
IF you are purchasing from us, we can speak/txt/email when you make your appointment to come in and satisfy this “agreement to purchase” requirement.
We don’t like it any more than you do. See below for the law itself and what you can do to stop it.
AS OF THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2025, a Federal injunction has been entered against the 72 Hour Wait in Maine. The State of Maine has of course appealed and asked for a stay. Until such time as there is a stay in this case, the 72 Hour Wait rule is no longer in effect.
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Effective August 9, 2024, Maine requires a 72 hour wait period for retail firearms sales and certain person-to-person transfers.
Maine 131 – SP 958 item 1
“This bill requires a 72-hour waiting period between an agreement for the purchase and sale of a firearm and the delivery of that firearm to the purchaser. Certain exemptions, such as the sale to a federally licensed firearm dealer or a law enforcement officer, are specified.”
The little direction there is has come in the form of a three page unsigned, undated, FAQ style document titled “Advisory on 72 Hour Waiting Period” with the seals of the Maine Department of Public Safety and Maine Office of the Attorney General at the top.
Advisory on 72 Hour Waiting Period
For walk in transactions without prior “agreement”, Call To Arms Gun Works, LLC policy shall be a completed 4473 and 72 hours from the date & time a NICS check is submitted.
Exception: Firearms purchased by the transferee from an outside dealer/wholesaler and sent to Call To Arms Gun Works, LLC for completion of the 4473/background check satisfy the “agreement for the purchase and sale of a firearm” as of the date/time on their receipt from the outside dealer/wholesaler. No additional wait time is necessary.
Don’t agree with the 72 hour waiting period? Consider joining Gun Owners of Maine to help fund the fight against this law.