State Gun Laws

Maryland state law says that a person cannot have or buy a gun if s/he:

1. has been convicted of a “disqualifying crime;”¹
2. has been convicted of certain drug-related offenses or firearms-related offenses in Maryland or elsewhere, which are listed in section 5-133(c)(1)(ii) of the Maryland Criminal Code;²
3. has been convicted of a “crime of violence” in Maryland or elsewhere. “Crimes of violence” include any of the following crimes or an attempt to commit any of them:
   • abduction;
   • arson in the first degree;
   • assault in the first or second degree;
   • burglary in the first, second, or third degree;
   • carjacking and armed carjacking;
   • escape in the first degree;
   • kidnapping;
   • voluntary manslaughter;
   • maiming;
   • mayhem;
   • murder in the first or second degree;
   • rape in the first or second degree;
   • robbery;
   • robbery with a dangerous weapon;
   • sexual offense in the first, second, or third degree;
   • home invasion;
   • felony sex trafficking;
   • forced marriage; and
   • assault with intent to commit any of the above crimes or a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year;³
4. has been convicted of a violation classified as a common law crime and was sentenced to prison for more than two years;
5. is under the age of 30 and s/he has been found “delinquent” by a juvenile court for an act that would be a disqualifying crime if committed by an adult;
6. is a fugitive from justice; or
7. has been found guilty of driving while intoxicated three times, one of which must have been within the last year.⁴

Also, federal laws, which apply to all states, restrict a person’s right to have a gun under certain circumstances. Go to Federal Gun Laws to get more information.

¹ MD Code, Public Safety §§ 5-133(b)(1); 5-101(b-1)
² MD Code, Public Safety § 5-133(c)(1)(ii)
³ MD Code, Public Safety §§ 5-133(c)(1)(i); 5-101(c)
⁴ MD Code, Public Safety §§ 5-133(b); 5-101(l)