Weapons Charges in Maryland

Maryland has a number of laws that regulate who may carry handguns and other dangerous weapons—and where—as well as which types of weapons are prohibited. This article summarizes these laws and the penalties for violating them.

Carrying a Handgun Without a Permit

Unless you have a Maryland handgun permit, it’s illegal to carry a handgun—either openly or concealed, on your body or in a vehicle on a public road or parking lot.

The permit requirement doesn’t apply if you’re on your own property or business. Other exceptions include law enforcement officials, supervisors who are authorized to have handguns at work, and those who are transporting unloaded handguns in enclosed cases to certain places (such as between your home and business) or for certain purposes (like target practice or gun exhibitions).

Unless you meet one of the exceptions, carrying a handgun without a permit is a misdemeanor in Maryland, punishable by 30 days to three years imprisonment and/or a fine of $250 to $2,500. The punishment increases for repeat violators or those who were carrying the weapon with the purpose of injuring someone.

(Md. Code Crim. Law § 4-203 (2026); Md. Code Pub. Safety § 5-303 (2026).)

How to Get a Maryland Handgun Permit

Maryland places a variety of restrictions on who can obtain a handgun permit, and requires applicants for a permit to complete a background check and a firearms training course.

Age requirements. You must be at least 21 (or, if you’re younger, a member of the U.S. military or National Guard) to get a handgun permit in Maryland.

Drugs and alcohol. You will be denied a permit if you are an active alcoholic, drug addict, or habitual illegal drug user. In addition, permits are not available to anyone who is on probation for driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, or has been convicted of possessing, using, or distributing drugs.

Violent, threatening, or criminal behavior. You cannot get a handgun permit if:

• you’ve been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor and sentenced to more than one year in prison (unless you’ve been pardoned or had your gun rights restored under federal law)
• you are subject to a civil protective order, an extreme risk protective order, or any other court order prohibiting you from purchasing or possessing a gun
• you are on probation for violating a domestic violence protective order, or
• you are on probation for any crime punishable by one year or more in prison.

Mental health. Permits are not granted to anyone who:

• suffers from a mental disorder (as defined in state law) and has a history of violent behavior, or
• has been involuntarily admitted for more than 30 consecutive days to a mental health care facility.

Unsafe storage of firearms. It is a crime in Maryland to store or leave a loaded firearm in a place where it could be accessed by an unsupervised minor. People convicted of breaking this law will not be issued a permit for five years. A person permanently loses their right to a permit if they are convicted a second time, or if the first conviction was for an incident that resulted in the death or serious injury of the child or anyone else.

Crimes committed as a juvenile. Certain judgments in juvenile court disqualify someone from obtaining a handgun permit until they’re 30 years old. This ban applies to serious juvenile offenses, including ones that resulted in more than one year in a juvenile detention facility, or that would have been felonies, crimes of violence, or serious misdemeanors if committed by an adult.

Background checks and firearms training. People who meet the requirements above must complete a firearms training course and submit an application that includes a background check. The background check verifies that the applicant is allowed under state and federal law to purchase and possess a firearm, and that they don’t have a disqualifying “propensity for violence and instability.” Applications are required for permit renewals, as well.

The training requirement is significant, involving 16 hours of in-person instruction for new applicants. People seeking permit renewals must complete eight hours of in-person instruction (a training course is valid for two years from the date of completion). The training covers state and federal firearms laws, the legal rules for using force to defend yourself or other people, and the safe operation and storage of handguns. Both the initial course and renewal courses include a live-fire component.

People who already have verifiable firearms training are exempt from the requirement to take a separate course. This exemption covers:

• law enforcement officers and members of the military
• former members of the military who were honorably discharged
• former law enforcement officers who left their jobs in good standing
• certified handgun instructors, and
• people who have taken a state-approved training course within the past two years.

(Md. Code Pub. Safety § 5-306 (2026).)

Maryland's Handgun Qualification License

Even if you have a permit to wear and carry a handgun, Maryland requires (with limited exceptions) a separate Handgun Qualification License (HQL) if you want to buy, receive, or rent a handgun. But the requirements for a carry permit are more rigorous than the ones for an HQL. This means that, if you've been granted a carry permit, Maryland will issue you an HQL if you note in the online application form that you're already a permit-holder, and pass the same kind of background check you had to pass to get your permit.

So, for most people, the most straightforward approach to legal gun ownership is to obtain a carry permit first, and then fill out the additional form to obtain the HQL. However, for people who are sure they will never carry their handgun off of their own property (or outside of their own business), a carry permit isn't strictly necessary. Someone in that situation might prefer to only get an HQL, because an HQL is valid for ten years and requires only four hours of training (this training still includes a live-fire requirement).

If you aren't sure how these permitting requirements apply to you, you can learn more on the website of the Maryland State Police, or speak with an attorney familiar with Maryland's firearms laws.

Sensitive Places: Where You Can't Carry a Gun in Maryland

Maryland law restricts the carry of handguns in specific sensitive locations. These include:

• Places like schools and health care facilities where particularly vulnerable people are present.
• Bars and cannabis dispensaries.
• Places where large groups congregate, like stadiums, museums, and amusement parks
• Public transit.
• Government buildings and locations that serve a public function, like power plants and active polling places.

This is not a complete list, so make sure you check to make sure you know where you're legally allowed to carry a handgun in Maryland. Intentionally carrying a gun into a sensitive location is a misdemeanor that can be punished by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.

This law was challenged in court, with the plaintiffs arguing it violated the Second Amendment. So far, though, the law is still in effect. In early 2026 a federal appeals court upheld the law and allowed nearly all of its restrictions to remain in effect.

(Md. Code Crim. Law § 4-111 (2026).)

Carrying Dangerous Weapons

Maryland also makes it a crime to carry a dangerous weapon other than a handgun concealed on your body unless you:

• have a handgun permit
• are carrying the weapon as a reasonable precaution against perceived danger, or
• are an authorized official entitled to have the weapon as part of your official equipment.

It’s also illegal to carry a dangerous weapon openly if you intend to hurt someone illegally with it.

The law defines dangerous weapons as including pepper mace, bowie knives, star knives, switchblades, nunchakus, brass knuckles, and razors. Although the statute doesn’t specifically mention stun guns or Tasers, a court could consider them dangerous weapons if they were used in a dangerous manner.

Unlawful carrying of a dangerous weapon is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to three years in prison and/or a fine of up to $1,000. The court must impose the longest prison sentence if the evidence showed that you were carrying the weapon in order to injure someone. (Md. Code Crim. Law § 4-101 (2026).)

Deadly Weapons at Schools

Maryland outlaws possession of firearms, knives, or any deadly weapons on public school property, except for those who:

• are on duty as law enforcement or school security officers
• are retired or off-duty law enforcement officers who are authorized to carry concealed handguns and are parents or visitors of students at the school
• are participating in organized shooting education courses, or
• have been invited by the school to put on a historical weapons demonstration.

The penalty for this misdemeanor is up to three years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $1,000. (Md. Code Crim. Law § 4-102 (2026).)

Maryland's Banned and Prohibited Weapons

Certain types of weapons are prohibited in Maryland, including

• assault weapons (unless they were legally purchased before June 1994 for pistols or October 2013 for long guns)
• machine guns, and
• bombs, grenades, Molotov cocktails, poison gas, and other destructive devices.

Penalties for possessing these banned weapons range from a maximum of three years in prison and/or a $5,000 fine for possession of an assault gun to a maximum of 25 years and/or a $250,000 fine for possession of a destructive device. (Md. Code Crim. Law §§ 4-303, 4-306, 4-404, 4-405, 4-501, 4-503 (2026).)

Criminal Use or Storage of Guns

Use of a gun while committing a violent crime or any felony is a misdemeanor, punishable by five to 20 years in prison, in addition to the penalty for the underlying crime. (Md. Code Crim. Law § 4-204 (2026).)

You could face a fine of up to $1,000 for the misdemeanor of leaving a loaded firearm where you know (or should know) that an unsupervised minor could get access to it. (Md. Code Crim. Law § 4-104 (2026).)

Local Ordinances

Counties and municipalities in Maryland may have ordinances that regulate firing guns in certain places (except at firing ranges) or possession of firearms by minors or within 100 yards of parks, schools, and some other public places. Otherwise, however, local governments may not enact new regulations (after 1984) that regulate gun possession or ownership. (Md. Code Crim. Law § 4-209 (2026).)

Getting a Lawyer’s Help

You should speak to a lawyer as soon as possible if you’re facing criminal charges for weapons possession or use. An experienced criminal defense attorney can explain how Maryland law applies to your situation and help you put together the strongest defense possible. And if you’ve been served with an ERPO, a lawyer can help protect your rights at the hearing and, if necessary, appeal the judge’s decision.