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Maryland Firearms Laws and Regulations

Maryland has quite a few laws applying to firearms. The ones covered here are related to “regulated” firearms and the carry of firearms. These are intended to be easy to understand, not comprehensive. This is not legal advice - consult a lawyer if you need legal advice.

Not all codes and regulations are quoted, and you should spend the time to familiarize yourself with the entirety of Maryland’s laws relating to firearms possession and use.

CHILDREN AND ACCESS TO FIREARMS

You may not leave a loaded firearm where you should have known that a child (Under 16) could gain access it.

NOTE: You should teach your children what to do - check out the Eddie Eagle Program and the Eddie Eagle Treehouse

PROHIBITIONS

You cannot wear, carry, or transport a handgun (concealed or open) on a person or in a vehicle unless you are:

  • A MD Wear and Carry holder

  • Law Enforcement

  • Military

  • Going to the gun store

  • Going to a repair shop

  • Going between homes

  • Boing between your home and business

  • participating in and on the way to or from:

    • an organized military activity

    • a target shoot

    • formal or informal target practice

    • a sport shooting event

    • hunting

    • A DNR sponsored firearms and hunter safety class

    • trapping

    • a dog obedience training class or show

  • The moving by a Designated Collector) of part or all of the collection for public or private exhibition

  • on real estate that you own, lease, or reside in

REGULATED FIREARM

A regulated firearm is:

  • a handgun

  • a machine gun

  • an SBR

  • a firearm that is an assault weapon EG: 

    • American Arms Spectre da Semiautomatic carbine;

    • AK–47 in all forms;

    • Barrett light .50 cal. semi–auto;

    • Bushmaster semi–auto rifle;

    • Colt AR–15, CAR–15, and all imitations

      • except Colt AR–15 Sporter H–BAR rifle;

    • ETC - Refer to the full list in the law​

HQL

  • A dealer or any other person may not sell, rent, or transfer a handgun unless they are presented a valid HQL

  • You may purchase, rent, or receive a handgun only if you:

    • have an HQL

    • are Law Enforcement

    • are an active or retired member of the armed forces with a valid military ID card

    • are purchasing, renting, or receiving an antique, curio, or relic firearm

    • are not prohibited from possessing a handgun

  • An HQL shall be issued to you if you are:

    • at least 21 years old;

    • a resident of the State;

    • have demonstrated satisfactory completion of a firearms safety training course

    • are not prohibited from buying or possessing a handgun.

APPLICATIONS TO PURCHASE (77R)

  • To purchase you shall:

    • Submit a firearm application to purchase a regulated firearm.

    • pay the application fee of $10.

TRANSFERS

  • You may not purchase more than one regulated firearm every 30 days.

  • You may not sell, rent, or transfer a regulated firearm to a an applicant that is placed on hold

POSSESSION

  • You must be 21 to possess a regulated firearm.

  • Under 21 temporary possession is allowed if you:

    • are under the supervision of a person at least 21 years old and have parental permission
    • ​are participating in marksmanship training

    • are under the supervision of a qualified instructor;

    • are a person who is required to possess a regulated firearm for employment

    • for defense against a trespasser into your home

  • You may not possess a regulated firearm if you:

    • have been convicted of a disqualifying crime

    • have been convicted of a  common law crime and imprisoned more than 2 years

    • are a fugitive from justice

    • are a habitual drunkard;

    • are addicted to a controlled dangerous substance or are a habitual user

    • suffer from a mental disorder with a history of violent behavior

    • have been found incompetent to stand trial

    • have been found not criminally responsible

    • have been voluntarily admitted for more than 30 consecutive days

    • have been involuntarily committed

    • is under the protection of a guardian appointed by a court

    • are a respondent against whom:

      • a current non ex parte civil protective order has been entered

      • an order for protection has been issued; or

    • are under the age of 30 and were adjudicated delinquent by a juvenile court

    • convicted of:

      • a crime of violence;

      • a violation of § 5–602, § 5–603, § 5–604, § 5–605, § 5–612, § 5–613, § 5–614, § 5–621, or § 5–622 of the Criminal Law Article; or

      • an offense under the laws of another state equal the prohibited crimes

  • Violation is a felony

    • with a mandatory sentence of 5 years and not eligible for parole during those 5 years.

    • Each violation is a separate crime.

AMMUNITION POSSESSION

If you cannot possess a regulated firearm, you cannot possess ammunition.

GIFTS

  • You can gift a regulated firearm if you both follow the laws and can possess it.

  • If you give them a gift certificate only they have to qualify for possession. 

  • If you gift it to your spouse, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, or child they

    • must complete a 77r​

    • there is no fee for gift transfers

​DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN STRAW PURCHASES

WEAR AND CARRY

YOU MUST HAVE A PERMIT TO CARRY BEFORE YOU CARRY

  • Permits are issued to adults that:

    • are not prohibited

    • are not drunkards

    • are not addicts

    • have successfully completed training

    • does not exhibit a propensity for violence

    • if under 30, does not have a juvenile record

  • Wear and Carry permit holders may get an HQL for FREE if:​

    • they were issued a permit​

    • do not already have an HQL

DEFINITIONS

For the most part these are straight forward definitions but you should read them and their related citations if you encounter ambiguity.

GENERAL REGULATIONS

Restrictions on the sale, rental, transfer, purchase, receipt, possession, and transport of regulated firearms in MD.

  • You may not:

    • Sell, rent, transfer, purchase, receive, or possess a regulated firearm

    • ever participate in a straw purchase

    • Traffic in regulated firearms and unlawfully sell them

    • Obliterate, remove, change, or alter the markings on a firearm

    • ​Possess, sell, offer to sell, transfer, purchase, or receive an assault weapon in the State

    • ​Transport an assault weapon into the State.

  • You can inherit legally owned assault weapons

  • Various exemptions exist for:

    • Antique firearms

    • Disabled Firearms

    • Law enforcement personnel

    • Members of the armed forces

    • Firearms dealers

    • A signal pistol or other visual distress signal approved by the Coast Guard as a marine safety device.

  • Violate these things and you go to jail and your property will be seized as contraband.

POSSESSION

Basically you have to be 21 and not prohibited. There are lots of intricacies so you are encouraged to go read it.

LOSTOR STOLEN FIREARMS

You must report lost or stolen regulated firearms within 72 hours.

NEW RESIDENT REGISTRATIONS

If you become a resident you MUST register ALL regulated firearms within 90 days

AMMUNITION

If you are prohibited from possessing a regulated firearm you also cannot possess ammunition.

REMOVABLE MAGAZINES

  • You may not do these things with magazines with a capacity greater than 10 rounds:

    • Manufacture

    • Sell

    • Offer for sale

    • Purchase

    • Receive

    • Transfer

STRAW PURCHASES

DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN STRAW PURCHASES

If you are not purchasing for YOURSELF or as a gift for a non-prohibited family member it is a STRAW PURCHASE. 

GIFTS

You can gift regulated firearms to non-prohibited direct family members. They must complete a 77r application.

INHERITANCE

You can inherit legally owned regulated firearms but must submit a 77r.

REGULATIONS ON TRAINING

You have to follow the training requirements.

Requirements pursuant to COMAR12.04.01.12

HOME AND BUSINESS DEFENSE

You are not liable for using force, to include deadly force if reasonable, to defend your home or business

ASSISTANCE IN AN EMERGENCY

...You are not civilly liable for any act or omission in providing assistance or medical aid to a victim at the scene of an emergency, if:

        (1)    The assistance or aid is provided in a reasonably prudent manner;

        (2)    The assistance or aid is provided without fee or other compensation; and

        (3)    The individual relinquishes care of the victim when someone who is licensed or certified by this State to provide medical care or services becomes available to take responsibility.

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