Maryland Gun Laws in Plain English
In Maryland, you face significant hurdles to buy and own guns. You must get a license (HQL) with fingerprints just to buy a handgun, and then wait 7 days to pick it up. Most AR-15s are banned unless they have a specific 'Heavy Barrel'. You cannot buy magazines that hold more than 10 rounds inside the state, but you can legally bring them in from other states. To carry a concealed gun, you need a separate permit that requires 16 hours of training.
Critical: Maryland Gun Law Gotchas
These are the most important things to know that could get you arrested or charged with a crime:
- #1The 'HBAR Rule': A standard AR-15 is a banned Assault Weapon. It is ONLY legal if the barrel is marked or marketed by the manufacturer as a 'Heavy Barrel' (HBAR). (Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 4-301(e))
- #2The '29-Inch Rule': Any semi-automatic centerfire rifle that is less than 29 inches in overall length is a banned 'Copycat Weapon'. This bans many bullpups. (Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 4-301(e))
- #3Magazine Loophole: You cannot buy, sell, or receive >10 round magazines in MD, but it is legal to go to Virginia or Pennsylvania, buy them, and bring them back. (Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 4-305)
- #4HQL vs. WCP: Your concealed carry permit (WCP) exempts you from needing an HQL to buy a gun, but an HQL does NOT let you carry. They are separate licenses.
- #5Transport Trap: Without a carry permit, you can only transport handguns between specific locations (home, range, shop). There is no general 'peaceable journey' law for residents driving around with a locked gun. (Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 4-203)
- #6New Resident Registration: If you move to MD, you must register all your handguns within 90 days. You cannot bring banned assault weapons unless you owned them before Oct 1, 2013. (Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 5-143)
- #7Ghost Gun Retroactivity: If you own a home-built gun (PMF) made before the ban, you must have had it serialized by a dealer by March 1, 2023, or it is illegal contraband. (Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 5-703)
- #8SB 1 Sensitive Places: Even with a permit, you cannot carry in museums, state parks, or healthcare facilities. (Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 4-111)
- #9Private Sale Trap: You cannot sell a gun to your neighbor privately. You must go to a gun store or State Police barracks to process the transfer. (Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 5-124)
- #10Constructive Possession: Possessing the parts to assemble a banned assault weapon (like a standard AR upper and a lower) can be charged as possession of the weapon itself.
- #11Medical Marijuana: Having a medical marijuana card in MD makes you a prohibited person under federal law, regardless of state legality.
- #12SBR Classification: A Short Barreled Rifle is legally a 'handgun' in MD. This helps it bypass the 29-inch rifle rule, but requires it to be registered as a handgun.
Read these carefully - they cover common mistakes that lead to felony charges.