Sec. 1. 17-A MRSA §554-A, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 263, §3, is amended to read:

2. A Except as provided in sections 554-B and 554-C, a person is guilty of unlawfully transferring a firearm to a minor if that person, who is not the parent, foster parent or guardian of the minor, knowingly transfers a firearm to a minor.

Sec. 2. 17-A MRSA §§554-B and 554-C are enacted to read:

§554-B.__Unlawful transfer of handgun to minor

1.__As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings.

A.__"Handgun" means a firearm that has a short stock and is designed to be held and fired by the use of a single hand, or any combination of parts from which a handgun can be assembled.

B.__"Minor" means a person under 18 years of age.

C.__"Transfer" means to sell, furnish, give, lend, deliver or otherwise provide, with or without consideration.

2.__A person is guilty of unlawfully transferring a handgun to a minor if that person knowingly transfers a handgun to a person who the transferor knows or has reasonable cause to believe is a minor.

3.__This section does not apply to:

A.__A temporary transfer of a handgun to a minor if the handgun is possessed and used by the minor:

(1)__With the prior written consent of the minor's parent or guardian and that parent or guardian is not prohibited by federal, state or local law from possessing a firearm; or

(2)__In the course of employment, target practice, hunting or instruction in the safe and lawful use of a handgun.

The minor may transport an unloaded handgun in a locked container directly from the place of transfer to a place at which an activity described in this subparagraph is to take place and directly from the