GIFFORDS celebrates new Maine law requiring all firearms to have a serial number

WASHINGTON — GIFFORDS, the national gun violence prevention organization led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, released the following statement celebrating Maine’s enactment of a new gun safety bill that will require all firearms in the state to have a serial number. This life-saving legislation, which becomes law as the legislature reconvenes, will help protect Mainers from the increasing threat of ghost guns and give law enforcement new tools  to deal with these dangerous, untraceable and potentially undetectable firearms. 

“The number of ghost guns recovered at crime scenes in Maine has more than tripled since 2017, and law enforcement in Maine have been calling on elected officials to act. Maine’s leaders have responded with strong action to protect their communities from this growing threat,” said Emma Brown, Executive Director at GIFFORDS. “GIFFORDS is especially thankful to Representative Sam Zager for his steadfast work fighting for this bill, which will undoubtedly save lives. ” 

Maine has taken a number of steps towards public safety in the last two years, by expanding background checks and implementing a waiting period for gun purchases. In 2025, the state enacted an extreme risk protection order law, which is also referred to as a red flag law, that allows family members to petition courts to remove firearms from a loved one in danger. The state currently holds a C+ grade on GIFFORDS Annual Gun Law Scorecard.