Sec. 1. 25 MRSA §2043 is enacted to read:

§2043.__Operation of gun show

1.__Definitions.__As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

A.__"Gun show" means any event or function:

(1)__Whose purpose is to facilitate the purchase and sale of firearms;

(2)__At which 3 or more vendors of firearms offer firearms for sale; and

(3)__At which 25 or more firearms are offered for sale.

B.__"Licensed firearms dealer" means any person who is licensed pursuant to 18 United States Code, Section 923 as a firearms dealer.

C.__"National instant criminal background check" means the background check established under section 103 of the federal Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, Public Law 103-159.

2.__Background checks at gun shows; liability of gun show operator.__A firearm may not be sold or transferred at a gun show unless the seller or transferor conducts a national instant criminal background check of the purchaser or transferee.__Each sale or transfer made without the required national instant criminal background check is a violation of this section by the gun show operator and is subject to subsection 4.

3.__Gun show operator.__The operator of a gun show shall:

A.__At all times during the gun show conspicuously post and maintain signs at all__places where tickets to the gun show are sold stating:

"A national instant criminal background check must be completed prior to all firearm sales or transfers, including sales or transfers of rifles or shotguns."

Signs must be posted at all entrances to the gun show and at all places where admission tickets to the gun show are sold;