There's a chance I might temporarily move to Maryland, but I'd still maintain my Nevada residency. Since I won't be purchasing any firearms in MD, what handgun laws do I have to worry about?

Thanks in advance.

I am a Maryland attorney. Here are the basics. Feel free to e-mail me (addy in profile) or just post here for any specific concerns not covered.

First off, why in the hell would you do that?! The only good thing about MD is that it's not NJ or D.C.

1) You can own just about anything. You can even bring in mags over 20 rounds, you just can't buy them here. Pretty much any pistols, long guns, it's all good. You can even have NFA stuff here. (Will you be bringing any? There are federal issues to consider there as well as state.)

2) You can store it however you like (secure from minors) and carry it in/on your residence and in a business that you OWN.

3) You will not be able to get a carry permit. (There are few exceptions. If you think you meet one, ask me and I'll tell you if it qualifies. Even so, it's a decidedly arbitrary decision.)

4) You CAN transport your firearms DIRECTLY to and from any place where it's legal to have them (i.e., your residence, FFL, shooting range, organized shooting sports event, etc.). Technically, you can't make any stops during these trips, but nobody is going to bust you if you have to stop for gas.

5) When you travel with them, they're unloaded, guns are secured in closed cases (a holster w/ flap counts - doesn't have to lock), and ammo is separate. I keep the ammo up front (glove box, console, under the seat) and the guns in the trunk. Bottom line is, make sure nobody in the vehicle can get to both at the same time.

6) The good news is that you don't need any "papers" for them. No FOID or similar device, no state permission to move them, etc.

7) A LOADED PISTOL MAGAZINE IS THE SAME AS A LOADED PISTOL. Not sure about revolver speed loaders. There hasn't been a test case on that yet. Don't be one.

8) Avoid school zones w/ firearms in the car. Deadly weapons are deadly weapons, even if they're unloaded. Learn where the schools are.

9) Good news - you can't conceal a fixed blade knife, but you can carry any folder you'd like (no auto blades!). There is no blade length restriction in MD. Pretty much any folder is defined as a pen knife in the statute and falls outside of any definition of a weapon (unless, but not until, you demonstrate an intent to use it as one).

10) Oh, and just so you know, the DC beltway does NOT run through DC, so you're either in MD or VA. If you happen to have any firearms in your vehicle and make a wrong exit and end up in DC, just get out. Even though they'd be in a condition where you'd be protected under FOPA, you don't want to have that fight with D.C.

-Rob

Thank you : )

The maximum I'd be in MD is 11 months, and even then it'd be intermittent. I really don't want to move from NoVA but I might have an opportunity to have very favorable living conditions in MD. I'm in DC almost every day and most restaurants I frequent serve alcohol so even though I can carry in VA, I almost never have the opportunity.

My main concern was transporting to and from the NRA Range in Fairfax and possession in my place of residence. The firearms I have are all non-NFA handguns and have 13 round magazines (strange coincidence). Everything else more interesting lives in Nevada. Looks like I'll be good though during my stay.

Again, much obliged for the reply.

No problem.

Point of clarification, though. I meant to say that you can carry in your residence (regardless of whether you own, rent, lease, borrow, etc.) or in your business (but only if you are the owner of the business).

I wouldn't want you to be sitting around your living room unarmed because you don't own the place!

Welcome to Maryland. Don't mind the dirt under the carpet.

Another little oddity in the Maryland area.... There are a couple roads like the GW Parkway in Virginia and the BW Parkway in Maryland which come under the National Park Service, and are patrolled by the Park Police.

Our local gun club posted a warning that if you get stopped and your weapon is noticed it could be treated like having a weapon in a national park.

quote:

Originally posted by rstickle:
...the BW Parkway in Maryland which come under the National Park Service, and are patrolled by the Park Police...

No way is someone going to get nailed by the Park Police on 295 if they're traveling with a properly unloaded and secured firearm. It's just not going to happen. Besides, if they have any reason to know it's in the car, you've already screwed up.

Since your a lawyer, why don't you take my case probono and we can cause them a great discompfort?

Burt, not to side track this but I am retiring and may be taking a Job with AA county. I know I'm good under LEOSA but could I obtain a MD Permit?

quote:

Originally posted by Citadel:
...could I obtain a MD Permit?

Okay... now that I've stopped laughing, let's review the criteria for obtaining a Maryland carry permit.

1) Be a high-profile member of the Democratic party;

2) Be a judge, elected official, or close personal friend of an elected Democratic official;

3) Own a business AND carry large sums of cash on a regular basis, verifiable by bank deposit receipts; OR

4) Be actively threatened with grievous bodily harm, verifiable by numerous police reports, restraining orders, AND history of attack and actual harm.

Note that only 1 and 2 are likely to be unrestricted. A permit issued under 3 will be restricted to times when you're actually carrying said sums of money.

As for 4, I have personally met a woman who worked late hours in a horrible neighborhood and was raped 3 times over the course of a year. After her permit application was denied, she was pulled aside by one of the sympathetic members and told that if she had been raped 4 times, they would have approved her.

Welcome to Maryland!

quote:

Originally posted by BurtonRW:
After her permit application was denied, she was pulled aside by one of the sympathetic members and told that if she had been raped 4 times, they would have approved her.

WTF??? That almost makes me want to cry.

quote:

Originally posted by raising_arizona:

quote:

Originally posted by BurtonRW:
After her permit application was denied, she was pulled aside by one of the sympathetic members and told that if she had been raped 4 times, they would have approved her.

WTF??? That almost makes me want to cry.

Here is one man's attempt to get a permit in MD. It's a few years old, but you'll get the pointless, helpless, stupidity of the process. Lots of good info on MDShooters.com.

quote:

Originally posted by inconel710:

quote:

Originally posted by raising_arizona:

quote:

Originally posted by BurtonRW:
After her permit application was denied, she was pulled aside by one of the sympathetic members and told that if she had been raped 4 times, they would have approved her.

WTF??? That almost makes me want to cry.

Here is one man's attempt to get a permit in MD. It's a few years old, but you'll get the pointless, helpless, stupidity of the process. Lots of good info on MDShooters.com.

OMFG, that is amazingly frustrating to read. May Issue sure sucks.

quote:

Originally posted by BurtonRW:
2) or close personal friend of an elected Democratic official;

I tried that...then found out that he was anti-gun and had simply been putting up with my pro gun ways.

Someone had told me that doctors and lawyers can sometimes get one too. I was hoping to get one once I took the MD bar. I guess I'll just NC bar (which is where I'd like to practice anyways, but it'd be nice to be able to practice in my home state)

quote:

Originally posted by caneau:
Thank you : )

The maximum I'd be in MD is 11 months, and even then it'd be intermittent. I really don't want to move from NoVA but I might have an opportunity to have very favorable living conditions in MD. I'm in DC almost every day and most restaurants I frequent serve alcohol so even though I can carry in VA, I almost never have the opportunity.

My main concern was transporting to and from the NRA Range in Fairfax and possession in my place of residence. The firearms I have are all non-NFA handguns and have 13 round magazines (strange coincidence). Everything else more interesting lives in Nevada. Looks like I'll be good though during my stay.

Again, much obliged for the reply.

You will be fine as long as you follow Burton's advice on transporting them. I live in Maryland just minutes from DC and used to shoot competitively in VA. Never had a problem transporting to and from. Now I had to drive around DC even through the quickest way was right through the city. As was said even through Federal law lets you transport through DC understand the DC Metro police will arrest you and let you fight it in court. Just not worth the trouble sad as it may be.