Maryland
Total prohibition Total freedom
0 ------ 10 ------ 20 ------ 30 ------ 40 ------ 50 ------ 60 ------ 70 ------ 80 ------ 90 ------ 100
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Traveler's checklist:
*Firearms ownership:
unrestricted, no permit or license required*Assault weapon ownership: restricted, assault pistol ownership prohibited
*Machine Gun Ownership:
state registration; otherwise compliance with federal law*Firearm law uniformity:
preemption law, firearm laws uniform throughout state*Right of Self-Defense: no castle doctrine
*Open carry:
prohibited in all public areas *Concealed carry: license required; granted on a discretionary basis; no reciprocity fornon-residents with carry permits from other states
*Vehicle
carry and transportation: loaded,
readily accessible handguns may not be
carried within a vehicle without a
Maryland permit, certain
exceptions exist; rifles and shotguns must remain
unloaded
Travelers to Maryland will experience a multitude of
restrictions on the
ownership and possession of handguns. Maryland requires that all handguns
be
pre-approved by a governmental board before being sold in the state.
Some
handguns, such as assault pistols, are banned from possession entirely.
And the
sale, transfer or receipt of any over 20 shot firearm magazine is prohibited.
The open or concealed carry of handguns is similarly regulated so that
it is
almost impossible for an unlicensed individual to carry a handgun legally.
The state
requires a license to carry a loaded handgun on one's person or in a
vehicle. The
state police issue such permits
on a highly discretionary
basis to persons
demonstrating a compelling need. Maryland will issue permits to
nonresidents on
rare occasions. But the state will not recognize carry permits from other states.
A traveler without a Maryland permit may not carry a handgun on
foot or in
a vehicle in a loaded or readily accessible manner. But he may
transport an
unloaded handgun in a secure case if he is traveling
to a recognized shooting
competition, bonafide gun show, hunting exercise, or
some other gun-related event.
Travelers passing through the state may transport
handguns in the same condition
even if they are not traveling to one of these
events as long as the weapons are
unloaded, cased and stowed in the trunk. Rifles and shotguns may be
transported
in a vehicle for any reason. But the
weapons must be unloaded and secured in
commercial cases or gun racks regardless
of whether one has a permit.
Maryland's preemption statute provides uniformity for most gun
laws
throughout the state. But localities may still regulate the discharge of
firearms
within their limits and the carry of firearms within 100 yards of
schools, parks,
churches, public buildings, and places of public assembly.