Subtitle 03 WEAPONS REGULATIONS › Chapter 01 Regulated Firearms

.01 Definitions. A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated. B. Terms Defined. (1) “Adjudicated delinquent” means an act that was found to be a delinquent act, as defined in Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article, §3-801(k), Annotated Code of Maryland, a…

.02 Generally. A. This chapter restricts the sale, rental, transfer, purchase, receipt, possession, and transport of regulated firearms and assault weapons in the State. B. A dealer or other person may not: (1) Sell, rent, transfer, purchase, receive, or possess a regulated firea…

.03 Possession. A. A person may not possess a regulated firearm if the person: (1) Is a habitual drunkard; (2) Is addicted to or a habitual user of a controlled dangerous substance; (3) Is a fugitive from justice; (4) Has been convicted of: (a) A crime of violence; (b) Any violat…

.04 Lost or Stolen Firearms. A. If a regulated firearm is lost or stolen, the owner of the firearm shall report the loss or theft to the local law enforcement agency within 72 hours after the owner first discovers the loss or theft. B. On receipt of a report of a lost or stolen r…

.05 New Residents of the State. A. A person who moves into the State with the intent of becoming a resident shall register all regulated firearms within 90 days after establishing residency by submitting a registration application in the format prescribed by the Secretary. This r…

.06 Ammunition. A. A person may not possess ammunition if the person is prohibited from possessing a regulated firearm under Regulation .03A of this chapter or Public Safety Article, §5-133(b)—(c), Annotated Code of Maryland. B. A person who violates this section may be punished …

.07 Magazine Capacity. A. Except as provided in §B of this regulation, a person may not manufacture, sell, offer for sale, purchase, receive, or transfer a detachable magazine that has a capacity of more than ten rounds of ammunition for a firearm. B. This section does not apply …

.08 Straw Purchases. A. A person may not knowingly or willfully participate in a straw purchase of a regulated firearm. B. A person may not complete an application to purchase or transfer a regulated firearm with the intent to sell, rent, loan, or transfer that regulated firearm …

.09 Gifts. A. A person does not participate in a straw purchase in violation of Regulation .08 of this chapter when purchasing a regulated firearm as a gift if: (1) The recipient of the gift is a resident of the State; (2) The recipient of the gift is not prohibited from purchasi…

.10 Inheritance. A. For the transfer or receipt of a regulated firearm by inheritance, the recipient shall submit a completed firearm application to the Secretary in the prescribed format. B. For the transfer of a regulated firearm by inheritance to a recipient who is younger tha…

.11 Secondary Sales. A. A secondary sale is a transaction in which neither party is a dealer or involved in the dealing or repairing of firearms as a regular course of trade or business. B. A person may not sell, rent, or transfer a regulated firearm to: (1) An applicant whose fi…

.12 Reports of Sales. A. Sales, Rentals, and Transfers. (1) A sale, rental, or transfer of a regulated firearm shall be reported to the Firearms Registration Section within 7 days after the completed sale. (2) A dealer or person who sells, rents, or transfers a regulated firearm …

.13 Sale or Transfer After Seven-Day Waiting Period. A. If a dealer or person does not receive notification of disapproval or a hold for an open disposition of a criminal proceeding within the 7-day waiting period after submission of the regulated firearm application, then the de…

.14 Sales to Minors. A. A person may not sell, rent, or transfer a firearm, a regulated firearm, ammunition, pepper mace, or other deadly weapon to a minor. B. A person may not sell, rent, or transfer a regulated firearm to a person who is younger than 21 years old.

.15 Out-of-State Purchases. A. A person who purchases a regulated firearm from an out-of-State, federally-licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer shall have the out-of-State importer, manufacturer, or dealer ship the regulated firearm to a dealer in this State for processing. …

.16 Regulated Firearm Application — Generally. A. A regulated firearm application is required to purchase, rent, or transfer a regulated firearm. B. The regulated firearm application shall be submitted in the format prescribed by the Secretary. C. The regulated firearm applicatio…

.17 Regulated Firearm Application — False or Omitted Information. A. Any false information supplied or statement made in the application is a crime which may be punished by imprisonment for a period of not more than 3 years, or a fine of not more than $5,000, or both. B. An appli…

.18 Regulated Firearm Application — Investigation. A. Upon receipt of a properly completed application, the Secretary shall conduct an investigation of the applicant for the purpose of determining whether the applicant may purchase or receive a regulated firearm and whether the i…

.19 Regulated Firearm Application — Expiration. A. A firearm application expires 90 days after the application is marked by the Secretary as not disapproved. B. A dealer or person shall complete the sale, rental, or transfer of a regulated firearm before the application expires. …

.20 Regulated Firearm Application — Disapproval. A. If the Secretary disapproves a regulated firearm application, the Secretary shall provide written notice of the disapproval to the dealer or prospective seller, lessor, or transferor within seven days after receiving a properly …

.21 Regulated Firearm Application — Appeal. A. A person whose regulated firearm application is disapproved may submit a written request to the Secretary for a hearing within 30 days after the date that the written notice of disapproval was sent by the Secretary. B. Upon receipt o…

.22 Regulated Firearm Application — Conduct of Hearing. A. An applicant may be represented at a hearing by an attorney-at-law licensed to practice in Maryland. The attorney shall file a notice of appearance and, when appropriate, a notice of substitution before the hearing or at …

.23 Multiple Purchases — Generally. A. Except as provided in §§B and C of this regulation, a person may not purchase more than one regulated firearm in a 30-day period. B. The restriction in §A of this regulation does not apply to: (1) A law enforcement agency; (2) An agency auth…

.24 Multiple Purchases — Application. A. Except as provided in Regulation .23B of this chapter, a multiple purchase application is required to purchase more than one regulated firearm in a 30-day period. B. Except as provided in §F of this regulation, the multiple purchase applic…

.25 Multiple Purchases — Collectors. A. A person shall be designated as a collector by the Secretary before applying for a multiple purchase of regulated firearms as a collector. B. A person may submit an application to be designated as a collector if the person: (1) Devotes time…

.26 Handgun Qualification License — Generally. A. Except as provided in §B of this regulation, a person shall possess a valid Handgun Qualification License before the person may purchase, rent, or receive a handgun. B. A person is not required to possess a Handgun Qualification L…

.27 Handgun Qualification License — Eligibility. A. Exemptions. A person is not required to possess a Handgun Qualification License to purchase a handgun if the person satisfies one of the exceptions set forth in Regulation .26B of this chapter. B. Qualifications. In accordance w…

.28 Handgun Qualification License — Application. A. A Handgun Qualification License application shall be submitted in the format prescribed by the Secretary. B. The Handgun Qualification License application shall include: (1) The applicant’s name, address, driver’s license or pho…

.29 Handgun Qualification License — Training Requirement. A. Except as provided in §B of this regulation, an applicant shall complete a Firearms Safety Training Course and submit a Firearms Safety Training Certificate issued by a Qualified Handgun Instructor. The submission of th…

.30 Handgun Qualification License — False or Omitted Information. A. An applicant shall not provide false information on an application for a Handgun Qualification License, or omit significant information on the application, or cause false information to be given in connection wi…

.31 Handgun Qualification License — Investigation. A. Upon receipt of a properly completed application, the Secretary shall conduct an investigation of the applicant for the purpose of determining whether the applicant satisfies the criteria for issuance of a license. B. Informat…

.32 Handgun Qualification License — Issuance and Denial. A. In accordance with Public Safety Article, §5-117.1(h), Annotated Code of Maryland, the Secretary shall issue a Handgun Qualification License or provide a written denial of the application within 30 days after receiving a…

.33 Handgun Qualification License — Replacement. A. A person may submit a written request to the Secretary for a replacement license if the license is lost or stolen. B. A request for a replacement Handgun Qualification License must be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee of $20. C…

.34 Handgun Qualification License — Renewal. A. A Handgun Qualification License may be renewed for successive periods of 10 years. B. The Handgun Qualification License renewal application shall be submitted in the format prescribed by the Secretary. C. The Handgun Qualification L…

.35 Handgun Qualification License — Revocation. A. The Secretary may revoke a Handgun Qualification License on a finding that the licensee no longer satisfies the qualifications set forth in Public Safety Article, §5-117.1(d), Annotated Code of Maryland. B. The Secretary shall pr…

.36 Handgun Qualification License — Appeal. A. A person whose original or renewal Handgun Qualification License application is denied or whose Handgun Qualification License is revoked may submit a written request to the Secretary for a hearing within 30 days after the date that t…

.37 Qualified Handgun Instructor — Generally. A. A person is a Qualified Handgun Instructor if the person has: (1) A valid Qualified Handgun Instructor License issued by the Secretary in accordance with Regulation .38 of this chapter; (2) Been recognized by the Maryland Police an…

.38 Qualified Handgun Instructor License — Application. A. If a person has not been recognized by the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commissions or does not have a valid certification issued by a nationally recognized firearms organization, then the person shall obtain…

.39 Qualified Handgun Instructor License — Renewal. A. A Qualified Handgun Instructor License may be renewed for successive periods of 4 years. B. A Qualified Handgun Instructor License renewal application shall be submitted in the format prescribed by the Secretary. C. The Quali…

.40 Qualified Handgun Instructor License — Revocation. A. The Secretary may revoke a Qualified Handgun Instructor License for cause. Sufficient cause may include, but is not limited to, evidence of: (1) Unsafe range practices; (2) False reporting of Firearm Safety Training Course…

.41 Qualified Handgun Instructor License — Appeal. A. A person whose original or renewal Qualified Handgun Instructor License application is denied or whose Qualified Handgun Instructor License is revoked may submit a written request to the Secretary for an informal review within…

.42 Dealers — Generally. A. A person shall lawfully possess a dealer’s license issued by the Secretary before the person engages in the business of selling, renting, or transferring regulated firearms. B. A dealer’s license is required for each place of business where regulated f…

.43 Dealers — Records. A. Recordkeeping. (1) A dealer shall keep records of all acquisitions, receipts, sales, rentals, transfers, and other dispositions of firearms affected in connection with the dealer’s business, including a copy of all firearm applications, for a minimum of …

.44 Dealer’s License — Generally. A. A dealer shall have a valid dealer’s license conspicuously displayed at each place of business. The license shall identify the dealer and the location of the place of business. B. A dealer’s license is not transferable to a new place of busine…

.45 Dealer’s License — Application. A. A dealer’s license application is required for each place of business where the applicant intends to sell or rent regulated firearms. B. A dealer’s license application shall be submitted in the format prescribed by the Secretary. C. The deal…

.46 Dealer’s License — False or Omitted Information. A. An applicant may not provide false information on an application for a dealer’s license, or omit significant information on the application, or cause false information to be given in connection with the verification investig…

.47 Dealer’s License — Investigation. A. Upon receipt of a properly completed application, the Secretary shall conduct an investigation of the applicant for the purpose of determining whether the applicant possesses the qualifications for a license and whether the information and…

.48 Dealer’s License — Issuance and Denial. A. The Secretary shall issue a dealer’s license or provide a written denial of the application within a reasonable time after receiving a properly completed application. B. The Secretary shall deny a dealer’s license application if the …

.49 Dealer’s License — Renewal. A. A dealer’s license may be renewed for successive periods of 1 year. A renewal license expires each year on June 30. B. A dealer seeking a renewal license shall submit a renewal application on or before June 1. C. The renewal application shall in…

.50 Dealer’s License — Suspension or Revocation. A. The Secretary shall suspend a dealer’s license if the dealer is: (1) Under indictment for a crime of violence; or (2) Arrested for a violation that would prohibit the purchase or possession of a regulated firearm. B. The Secreta…