Maryland Law

[JasonMD85]

I am picking up my Bersa in about a week, and was just curious about one of the sections in Maryland law.

More specifically the section about transporting to a "bone fide repair shop." I work at a restoration shop, and have unlimited access to acetone, ATF, basically everything to make "Ed's Red," not to mention all kinds of rags and tables I can ruin. We also have compressed air, just like any other auto repair shop. My question is, could I legally pick up the gun, take it to my AUTOMOTIVE repair shop to work on my handgun, than take it straight to my house without having legal issues? I dont like pushing the buttons of the Howard County police, but having unlimited compressed air and cleaning fluids is a little hard to pass up.

Any advice will be helpful.


Thanks, -Jason

 

[ApexinM3]

Technically, you are in violation of the law if you transport a weapon from home to someplace other than a bona-fide gunsmith, gunshop, or gun range. Anything else & you run the risk of raising the temper of the local cops. Especially a pistol. Were it me, I wouldn't tempt fate-and I've lived here long enough to know MD ain't gun friendly.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I would think their take on repair shop is for firearms, not other items.

I would be careful taking it there and back again (or just not do it at all).

 

[cslinger]

As far as I remember if the owner of the shop allows you to have a firearm there then you have no problem. The key is the OWNER of the shop/property must allow this, not some manager etc.

Take this with a grain of salt as I have been out of MD for a while.

 

[Norton]

I think cslinger has it sort of right.....but that is in specific regard to being able to carry the firearm for protection.

My humble opinion is that you would be violating the letter of the law by hauling your Bersa there for the sake of working on it.

FWIW....since the Bersa is so easy to break down and is all steel, just buy yourself some break cleaner from the auto shop and shoot it down real good. Just follow up with some lube and you're good to go.

 

[MikeH]

Can't find the exact chapter and verse, but this below should cover the transportation of handguns in MD:

No violation is committed by any person who can demonstrate that the handgun is being carried,
worn or transported:

1. To or from a place of legal purchase or sale, or repair shop.

2. Between such person's bona fide residences, or between his residence and place of business, if
the business is operated and substantially owned by that person.

3. While engaged in, or traveling to and from a "target shoot, formal or informal target practice,
sport shooting event, hunting, trapping, or dog obedience training class or show."

4. By a bona fide gun collector who is "moving any part or all of his gun collection from place to
place for public or private exhibition," and while such handguns are actually on exhibition.

During transportation to and from the above places, the handgun must be unloaded, and carried in an enclosed case or enclosed holster.

The "repair shop" reference seems kinda weak, but I'd think that "private exhibition" can be interpreted rather loosely. Does anyone know if bringing your guns to a friend's property under his/her consent can be considered a private exhibition or not?