An Act To Establish Restrictions on Ammunition Feeding Devices
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 0997
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Sponsors: ALFOND, GERZOFSKY, BERRY, DION, LAJOIE
Amends: 17-A MRSA §1059

Legislative Document 
No. 997 
S.P. 342 
In Senate, March 12, 2013 
An Act To Establish Restrictions on Ammunition Feeding Devices 
Reference to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety suggested and ordered 
printed. 
DAREK M. GRANT 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by President ALFOND of Cumberland. 
Cosponsored by Senator GERZOFSKY of Cumberland, Representative BERRY of 
Bowdoinham and 
Representatives: DION of Portland, LAJOIE of Lewiston. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  17-A MRSA §1059 is enacted to read: 
§1059.  Possession, transfer or importation of ammunition feeding device 
1.   A person is guilty of possession, transfer or importation of an ammunition feeding 
device if the person, without authority to do so, possesses, transfers or imports into the 
State an ammunition feeding device. 
2.   As used in this section, "ammunition feeding device" means a device used with a 
firearm such as a magazine, belt, drum, feed strip or similar device that has a capacity of, 
or that can be readily restored or converted to accept, more than 10 rounds of 
ammunition. 
3.   Possession, transfer or importation of an ammunition feeding device is a Class D 
crime. 
4.   This section does not apply to: 
A.  Possession of an ammunition feeding device by a person who: 
(1)  Lawfully possessed the ammunition feeding device before the effective date 
of this section; or 
(2) Is retired from service with a law enforcement agency and is not otherwise 
prohibited from receiving ammunition, as long as the ammunition feeding device 
was transferred to the person by the law enforcement agency upon the person's 
retirement; or 
B.  Possession, transfer or importation of an ammunition feeding device by: 
(1)  A governmental department or agency or law enforcement officer for 
purposes of law enforcement;  
(2)  A licensee under Title I of the federal Atomic Energy Act of 1954, Public 
Law 83-703 or an employee or contractor of that licensee for purposes of 
establishing and maintaining a physical protection and security system or 
organization required by federal law; or 
(3)  A person who is engaged in testing of or experimentation with the 
ammunition feeding device authorized by the commissioner. 
SUMMARY 
This bill makes the possession, transfer or importation of an ammunition feeding 
device for a firearm a Class D crime.  An ammunition feeding device is a device such as a 
magazine, belt, drum or other device that has a capacity of more than 10 rounds of 
ammunition.  Exceptions include: 
1.  The possession of an ammunition feeding device by: 
A.  A person who lawfully possessed the device before the effective date of this Act; 
or 
B. A person who has retired from a law enforcement agency and received the device 
from the agency upon the person's retirement; or 
2.  The possession, transfer or importation of an ammunition feeding device by: 
A.  A governmental agency, department or law enforcement officer for purposes of 
law enforcement; 
B.  A licensee under Title I of the federal Atomic Energy Act of 1954 or an employee 
or contractor of the licensee for purposes of establishing and maintaining a physical 
protection and security system or organization required by federal law; or 
C.  A person who is engaged in the authorized testing of or experimentation with the 
ammunition feeding device.