{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-public-safety-5-207","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Public Safety § 5–207","heading":"","body":"(a) This section supersedes any restriction that a local jurisdiction in the State imposes on the transfer by a private party of a rifle or shotgun, and the State preempts the right of any local jurisdiction to regulate the transfer of a rifle or shotgun.\n(b) In this section, “loan” includes a temporary gratuitous exchange of a rifle or shotgun.\n(c) A licensee or any other person may not sell, rent, transfer, or loan a rifle or shotgun to a purchaser, lessee, transferee, or recipient who the licensee or other person knows or has reasonable cause to believe:\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 common law crime 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 purchaser, lessee, transferee, recipient, or another, unless the purchaser, lessee, transferee, or recipient has received a certificate from the Maryland Department of Health relieving the purchaser, lessee, transferee, or recipient of the disqualification;\n(7) has been found incompetent to stand trial under § 3–106 of the Criminal Procedure Article, unless the purchaser, lessee, transferee, or recipient has received a certificate from the Maryland Department of Health relieving the purchaser, lessee, transferee, or recipient of the disqualification;\n(8) has been found not criminally responsible under § 3–110 of the Criminal Procedure Article, unless the purchaser, lessee, transferee, or recipient has received a certificate from the Maryland Department of Health relieving the purchaser, lessee, transferee, or recipient of the disqualification;\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, unless the purchaser, lessee, transferee, or recipient has received a certificate from the Maryland Department of Health relieving the purchaser, lessee, transferee, or recipient of the disqualification;\n(10) has been involuntarily committed for more than 30 consecutive days to a facility as defined in § 10–101 of the Health – General Article, unless the purchaser, lessee, transferee, or recipient has received a certificate from the Maryland Department of Health relieving the purchaser, lessee, transferee, or recipient of the disqualification;\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, unless the purchaser, lessee, transferee, or recipient has received a certificate from the Maryland Department of Health relieving the purchaser, lessee, transferee, or recipient of the disqualification;\n(12) 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 Native American tribe and is in effect;\n(13) if under the age of 30 years at the time of the transaction, has been adjudicated delinquent by a juvenile court for an act that would be a disqualifying crime if committed by an adult;\n(14) is visibly under the influence of alcohol or drugs;\n(15) is a participant in a straw purchase; or\n(16) intends to use the rifle or shotgun to:\n(i) commit a crime; or\n(ii) cause harm to the purchaser, lessee, transferee, or recipient or another person.\n(d) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 5 years or a fine not exceeding $10,000 or both.","path":["Article - Public Safety"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gps\u0026section=5-207","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T20:00:18Z","sha256":"eedd577566894bd57421f588cc8de26a0521aebfd9721cf5c3014113f310d24d","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-public-safety-5-206","next":"us-md/md.-code-public-safety-5-301"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}