{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-public-safety-5-205","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Public Safety § 5–205","heading":"","body":"(a) This subtitle does not apply to a rifle or shotgun that is an antique firearm as defined in § 4–201 of the Criminal Law Article.\n(b) A person may not possess a rifle or shotgun if the person:\n(1) has been convicted of a disqualifying crime as defined in § 5–101 of this title;\n(2) has been convicted of a violation classified as a crime under common law and received a term of imprisonment of more than 2 years;\n(3) is a fugitive from justice;\n(4) is a habitual drunkard as defined in § 5–101 of this title;\n(5) is addicted to a controlled dangerous substance or is a habitual user as defined in § 5–101 of this title;\n(6) suffers from a mental disorder as defined in § 10–101(i)(2) of the Health – General Article and has a history of violent behavior against the person or another;\n(7) has been found incompetent to stand trial under § 3–106 of the Criminal Procedure Article;\n(8) has been found not criminally responsible under § 3–110 of the Criminal Procedure Article;\n(9) has been voluntarily admitted for more than 30 consecutive days to a facility as defined in § 10–101 of the Health – General Article;\n(10) has been involuntarily committed to a facility as defined in § 10–101 of the Health – General Article;\n(11) is under the protection of a guardian appointed by a court under § 13–201(c) or § 13–705 of the Estates and Trusts Article, except for cases in which the appointment of a guardian is solely a result of a physical disability;\n(12) except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, is a respondent against whom:\n(i) a current non ex parte civil protective order has been entered under § 4–506 of the Family Law Article; or\n(ii) an order for protection, as defined in § 4–508.1 of the Family Law Article, has been issued by a court of another state or a Native American tribe and is in effect; or\n(13) if under the age of 30 years at the time of possession, has been adjudicated delinquent by a juvenile court for an act that would be a disqualifying crime if committed by an adult.\n(c) This section does not apply to:\n(1) a person transporting a rifle or shotgun if the person is carrying a civil protective order requiring the surrender of the rifle or shotgun and:\n(i) the rifle or shotgun is unloaded;\n(ii) the person has notified the law enforcement unit, barracks, or station that the rifle or shotgun is being transported in accordance with the civil protective order; and\n(iii) the person transports the rifle or shotgun directly to the law enforcement unit, barracks, or station; or\n(2) the carrying or transporting of a rifle or shotgun by a person who is carrying a court order requiring the surrender of the rifle or shotgun, if:\n(i) the rifle or shotgun is unloaded;\n(ii) the person has notified a law enforcement unit, barracks, or station that the rifle or shotgun is being transported in accordance with the order; and\n(iii) the person transports the rifle or shotgun directly to a State or local law enforcement agency or a federally licensed firearms dealer.\n(d) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 3 years or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both.\n(e) A person who is disqualified from owning a rifle or shotgun under subsection (b)(6), (7), (8), (9), (10), or (11) of this section may seek relief from the disqualification in accordance with § 5–133.3 of this title.","path":["Article - Public Safety"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gps\u0026section=5-205","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T20:00:18Z","sha256":"086fd447e47615f5305e9b24cc244f69db63b8446b57a519312005a0b670e8c2","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-public-safety-5-204.1","next":"us-md/md.-code-public-safety-5-206"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}