Maryland Visitor, Handgun In Trunk NOT OK?

[esq_stu]

From what I could understand from a summary of MD's gun laws, it's unlawful to transport a handgun in a vehicle in MD unless it's to or from a gun shop, range, or between personal residences/owned businesses. Can anyone from MD verify that, other than passing through the state, one can't legally visit MD with a handgun, even if it is locked in the trunk (like New Jersey)?

 

[chipperi]

I dont think its changed since I lived there. As long as the gun is unloaded and stored unaccessible from the ammo you are ok. Gun in trunk ammo in glove box (not in mags) you should be fine.

 

[kingpin008]

Legally, it's true. If you're not going to or from a range, shop, smith or other similar destination, you may not have a gun in the car.

For instance - if you're headed to the range, and you have your pistol locked in a case, away from ammo and unloaded and you stop at the gas station down the street for a cup o' joe or a quick pit-stop - you're in violation. Whether or not the cop would actually charge you with it if you happened to be pulled over...that's another story. But technically, you're breaking the law.



*and when you have a gun in the car, it MUST be in the trunk, in a case, unloaded (including mags - no loaded mags, even seperate from the gun)*

 

[jpk1md]

Legally, it's true. If you're not going to or from a range, shop, smith or other similar destination, you may not have a gun in the car.

For instance - if you're headed to the range, and you have your pistol locked in a case, away from ammo and unloaded and you stop at the gas station down the street for a cup o' joe or a quick pit-stop - you're in violation. Whether or not the cop would actually charge you with it if you happened to be pulled over...that's another story. But technically, you're breaking the law.

True

*and when you have a gun in the car, it MUST be in the trunk, in a case, unloaded (including mags - no loaded mags, even seperate from the gun)*

Not true. There is no statute in Md that requires that the firearm must be transported in the trunk.

Check out Md's gun laws http://www.nraila.org/GunLaws/#?st=MD

 

[kingpin008]

Ah, right on. Thanks for setting that straight, Jp.

 

[Andras]

Legally, it's true. If you're not going to or from a range, shop, smith or other similar destination, you may not have a gun in the car.

Handgun, not rifle. You could have an unloaded rifle in your car everyday and it's not illegal.

§4-203. Wearing, carrying, or transporting handgun.

(a) Prohibited.-
(b) Exceptions.- This section does not prohibit:

(3) the carrying of a handgun on the person or in a vehicle while the person is transporting the handgun to or from the place of legal purchase or sale, or to or from a bona fide repair shop, or between bona fide residences of the person, or between the bona fide residence and place of business of the person, if the business is operated and owned substantially by the person if each handgun is unloaded and carried in an enclosed case or an enclosed holster;

(4) the wearing, carrying, or transporting by a person of a handgun used in connection with an organized military activity, a target shoot, formal or informal target practice, sport shooting event, hunting, a Department of Natural Resources-sponsored firearms and hunter safety class, trapping, or a dog obedience training class or show, while the person is engaged in, on the way to, or returning from that activity if each handgun is unloaded and carried in an enclosed case or an enclosed holster;

§ 10-410. Restrictions on hunting wildlife generally [Amendment subject to abrogation].
(c) Hunting from vehicles.-

(1) A person may not ... possess in or on an automobile or other vehicle a loaded handgun or shotgun, or a rifle containing any ammunition in the magazine or chamber.

 

[jpk1md]

Andras, that is true but the question posed in the OP is specific to Handgun not Gun in general.

 

[Andras]

That is so, but I wanted to clarify for other readers, since /edited/ Kingpin did make a sweeping statement by using gun instead of handgun.

 

[jpk1md]

Your statement is false Andras. I made no sweeping statement as you claim above that is not 100% accurate.

Please re-read the thread.

 

[Andras]

edited- mistaken about who said what.

 

[kingpin008]

Actually Andras, I was the one who used the word gun rather than handgun, not JPK.

And as noted earlier, I stand corrected on the parts I was incorrect on.

 

[Andras]

posts edited due to a case of mistaken identity

 

[jpk1md]

Sorry Andras, I didn't mean to come across as a complete jerk.....as I reread my posts I realize they were a bit...abrupt....

-J