Maryland Gun Laws
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Maryland has no constitutional provision granting a “right to bear arms.”
Gun Laws Overview
RIFLES & SHOTGUNS | HANDGUNS | |
---|---|---|
Permit to Purchase | No | Yes |
Registration of Firearms | No | Yes |
Licensing of Owners | No | Yes |
Permit to Carry | No | Yes |
The list and map below are included as a tool to assist you in validating your information. We have made every effort to report the information correctly, however reciprocity and recognition agreements are subject to frequent change. The information is not intended as legal advice or a restatement of law and does not include: restrictions that may be placed on non-resident permits, individuals under the age of 21, qualifying permit classes, and/or any other factor which may limit reciprocity and/or recognition. For any particular situation, a licensed local attorney must be consulted for an accurate interpretation. YOU MUST ABIDE WITH ALL LAWS: STATE, FEDERAL AND LOCAL. |
STATE STATUS | |
---|---|
Castle Doctrine | Enacted |
No-Net Loss | Enacted |
Right to Carry Confidentiality | No Provisions |
Right to Carry in Restaurants | Legal |
Right To Carry Laws | Rights Restricted-Very Limited Issue |
Right To Carry Reciprocity and Recognition | None |
Right to Keep & Bear Arms State Constitutional Provisions | No Provisions |
Laws on Purchase, Possession and Carrying of Firearms
Antiques
An antique firearm is defined as a firearm manufactured before 1899, or any replica thereof, which is not designed for firing fixed ammunition or which uses fixed ammunition and is no longer manufactured in the United States or readily available commercially. Antique firearms are exempt from certain requirements of state law. |
Carrying and Transportation in Vehicles
It is unlawful for any person without a permit to wear or carry a handgun, openly or concealed, upon or about his person. It is also unlawful for any person to knowingly transport a handgun in any vehicle traveling on public roads, highways, waterways or airways, or upon roads or parking lots generally used by the public. This does not apply to any person wearing, carrying or transporting a handgun within the confines of real estate owned or leased by him, or on which he resides, or within the confines of a business establishment owned or leased by him. MORE |
Machine Guns
A machine gun is defined as a loaded or unloaded weapon wherein more than one shot may be automatically discharged from a magazine by a single function of the firing device. |
Miscellaneous
It is unlawful to alter or obliterate the manufacturer’s identification mark or number on any firearm. Any person in possession of such a weapon will be presumed to have committed the offense. MORE |
Permit To Carry
Application for a permit to carry a handgun is made to the Secretary of State Police. In addition to the printed application form, the applicant should submit a notarized letter stating the reasons why he is applying for a permit. MORE |
Possession
Subject to some exceptions, possession of "assault weapons" is generally prohibited in Maryland. Additionally, Maryland's prohibited person categories for possession of firearms are more extensive than federal law. MORE |
Preemption
The state generally preempts all aspects of firearm and ammunition regulation. MORE |
Purchase
Maryland does not regulate the sale of rifles or shotguns and no permit is required to purchase a rifle or shotgun that is not an "assault weapon." MORE |
Range Protection
§ 5-403. 1. Sport shooting ranges MORE |
Sources: Md. Code Ann., [Criminal Law] § 4 (2004) et seq.; [Public Safety] § 5 (2004) et seq.; NAT. RES., § 10 (2004) et seq. |
Friday, February 12, 2021
Yesterday, the Maryland House of Delegates voted to override Governor Larry Hogan’s veto of House Bill 4 after ...
Monday, February 8, 2021
Today, the House of Delegates will consider overriding Governor Larry Hogan’s veto of House Bill 4. Tomorrow, the ...
Wednesday, February 3, 2021
Yesterday, Senate Bill 309 received an assignment to the House Judiciary Committee after the Senate passed it unanimously on January ...
Wednesday, January 27, 2021
Today, the Plaintiffs in an NRA-backed lawsuit challenging Maryland’s Handgun Qualification License law asked the court to rule ...
Wednesday, January 27, 2021
The plaintiffs in an NRA-backed lawsuit today asked a federal court to declare Maryland’s handgun qualification license law ...
Monday, January 25, 2021
On January 21st, the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee voted unanimously to pass Senate Bill 309.
Monday, January 11, 2021
The General Assembly starts its 2021 session this week and House Bill 175, a bill with California-style restrictions ...
Thursday, December 17, 2020
There has been recent gnashing of teeth that firearm sales across the nation are shattering records. That is ...
Monday, August 10, 2020
Last Monday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit reinstated an NRA-supported challenge to Maryland’s convoluted ...
Monday, August 3, 2020
On July 28th, Maryland State Police (MSP) announced that due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, they amended their regulations to ...