HOW to APPLY for a MARYLAND Carry Permit

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  • bigmancrisler

    2A Preacher
    Jun 4, 2020
    1,263
    Martinsburg, WV
    Question- do you guys think that me carrying thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of equipment for work every day especially in high crime areas (going through Baltimore and DC areas) would be considered good and substantial?


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    Mark75H

    MD Wear&Carry Instructor
    Industry Partner
    MDS Supporter
    Sep 25, 2011
    17,174
    Outside the Gates
    Question- do you guys think that me carrying thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of equipment for work every day especially in high crime areas (going through Baltimore and DC areas) would be considered good and substantial?


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    That's simple: MSPLD says NO!
     

    Nobody

    Ultimate Member
    Jan 15, 2009
    2,810
    Question- do you guys think that me carrying thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of equipment for work every day especially in high crime areas (going through Baltimore and DC areas) would be considered good and substantial?


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    Are they yours for YOUR business or your bosses?

    NOBODY
     

    Kharn

    Ultimate Member
    Mar 9, 2008
    3,578
    Hazzard County
    Ahhhh ok


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

    If they're for your business, you can apply and get a permit with zero restrictions.
    If they're for your boss's business, your boss will need to sign off on you getting the permit as an employee and then your permit will be restricted to business purposes.
     

    bigmancrisler

    2A Preacher
    Jun 4, 2020
    1,263
    Martinsburg, WV
    If they're for your business, you can apply and get a permit with zero restrictions.
    If they're for your boss's business, your boss will need to sign off on you getting the permit as an employee and then your permit will be restricted to business purposes.


    Even if I’m always on call and work nights and days?


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    Occam

    Not Even ONE Indictment
    MDS Supporter
    Feb 24, 2018
    20,240
    Montgomery County
    Even if you are always on call. They say G&S applies to business owners.

    OR to employees with sufficient backing by their employers. It will still be a restricted permit, but then you're in the game of demonstrating (while carrying, if that ever comes up) that you're "on duty" or otherwise within the bounds of those restrictions. Back when "while doing business as..." restrictions were common even for business owners, there were lots of hotly debated techniques for demonstrating that you were on call, or carrying business checks and paperwork, or, or, or. I don't recall anyone ever relating a solid anecdote of that being an issue.

    But if you don't own the business or aren't a partner, etc., the boss has to get in on the act, and regardless of how one might demonstrate staying within them while on call, there will be restrictions on the permit.
     

    bigmancrisler

    2A Preacher
    Jun 4, 2020
    1,263
    Martinsburg, WV
    OR to employees with sufficient backing by their employers. It will still be a restricted permit, but then you're in the game of demonstrating (while carrying, if that ever comes up) that you're "on duty" or otherwise within the bounds of those restrictions. Back when "while doing business as..." restrictions were common even for business owners, there were lots of hotly debated techniques for demonstrating that you were on call, or carrying business checks and paperwork, or, or, or. I don't recall anyone ever relating a solid anecdote of that being an issue.

    But if you don't own the business or aren't a partner, etc., the boss has to get in on the act, and regardless of how one might demonstrate staying within them while on call, there will be restrictions on the permit.


    What would the restrictions be like?


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    Occam

    Not Even ONE Indictment
    MDS Supporter
    Feb 24, 2018
    20,240
    Montgomery County
    What would the restrictions be like?

    As mentioned, there would be words (printed on the back of the permit) to the effect of the permit being valid only "while conducting business on behalf of Acme Widget Services LLC."

    So the obvious question is: when are you, and are you NOT, "conducting business as" an employee of Acme Widget Services? You're out to dinner with Mrs. BMC, and your phone lights up saying you have to abandon dinner and scramble to a client emergency fifty miles away in the opposite direction of your house. And you get pulled over on the way.

    Are you having a chat with the officer about whether the job-related work is part of "doing business on behalf of," but he's really asking why you were already carrying when you didn't leave from home, but from a restaurant, instead?" One county cop may not care in the least, but a state trooper, or a transit cop, or a park ranger, or a city cop or or or may have a different notion, and off you go (minus your confiscated gun) to see the judge, probably having been arrested. No fun.

    So who can you ask, to clarify when you're working and when you're not, so you don't run in to trouble? Many have directly asked the MSP that very question, and CANNOT get a straight answer. They insist that only you know and can explain that you're on call, working, etc., and that they aren't able to know that objectively. Which means your attitude, circumstances, and a thousand other variables are going to determine if a rare interaction with the police is going to result in them knowing you're carrying, or caring that you're carrying. But heaven forbid you have to actually pull that piece in self defense, you ARE going to have interaction with the police, and the question of whether you were "doing business" at the time (in the grocery store? etc) WILL come into play.

    There are people who always carry work paperwork, a work-only mobile phone, and other work artefacts around with them as evidence of being on call, or on the way to/from work activities. Yes, it's all theater. Your best bet is launching a little side business that actually makes a little trickle of money at odd hours throughout the month, and applying as the owner of that business.
     

    Mark75H

    MD Wear&Carry Instructor
    Industry Partner
    MDS Supporter
    Sep 25, 2011
    17,174
    Outside the Gates
    First you'd have to have that love letter from your employer.

    The restriction would probably be only while WORKING and transporting that expensive equipment. It likely wouldn't cover you while waiting for work nor while working and not transporting the expensive equipment. You would need to prove you were actually on the clock and being paid.

    They always write the restricions to be as tight as possible.
     

    bigmancrisler

    2A Preacher
    Jun 4, 2020
    1,263
    Martinsburg, WV
    As mentioned, there would be words (printed on the back of the permit) to the effect of the permit being valid only "while conducting business on behalf of Acme Widget Services LLC."

    So the obvious question is: when are you, and are you NOT, "conducting business as" an employee of Acme Widget Services? You're out to dinner with Mrs. BMC, and your phone lights up saying you have to abandon dinner and scramble to a client emergency fifty miles away in the opposite direction of your house. And you get pulled over on the way.

    Are you having a chat with the officer about whether the job-related work is part of "doing business on behalf of," but he's really asking why you were already carrying when you didn't leave from home, but from a restaurant, instead?" One county cop may not care in the least, but a state trooper, or a transit cop, or a park ranger, or a city cop or or or may have a different notion, and off you go (minus your confiscated gun) to see the judge, probably having been arrested. No fun.

    So who can you ask, to clarify when you're working and when you're not, so you don't run in to trouble? Many have directly asked the MSP that very question, and CANNOT get a straight answer. They insist that only you know and can explain that you're on call, working, etc., and that they aren't able to know that objectively. Which means your attitude, circumstances, and a thousand other variables are going to determine if a rare interaction with the police is going to result in them knowing you're carrying, or caring that you're carrying. But heaven forbid you have to actually pull that piece in self defense, you ARE going to have interaction with the police, and the question of whether you were "doing business" at the time (in the grocery store? etc) WILL come into play.

    There are people who always carry work paperwork, a work-only mobile phone, and other work artefacts around with them as evidence of being on call, or on the way to/from work activities. Yes, it's all theater. Your best bet is launching a little side business that actually makes a little trickle of money at odd hours throughout the month, and applying as the owner of that business.


    But the business can be anything really as long as it’s making some money?


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    Occam

    Not Even ONE Indictment
    MDS Supporter
    Feb 24, 2018
    20,240
    Montgomery County
    But the business can be anything really as long as it’s making some money?

    Yup. You could mow lawns, build doll houses, "consult" on pretty much anything (I advise legal activies!), sell other people's junk on eBay, groom dogs, haul trash, you name it. Doesn't even have to be an LLC or Inc - it can be a sole proprietorship.

    BUT: you do want to be able to show that there is actual business activity taking place, they'll often ask for signs of life in the way of bank activity, and they may ask (if enough time has passed) to see a tax filing document where the business's income clearly flows into your personal finances/taxes. But all of that could happen with a cash business in your own name, as long as you can show it's actually happening for real, and is compliant.

    If you do form an LLC or whatnot, you'll need to keep that compliant/current. You might have then give in a collect/remit sales taxes and all of the other crap that comes with being your own little business. But it's very doable. Get a few months of business activity under your belt (to leave a paper trail), and apply as the business owner. If the MSP notes that the business looks pretty small/slow, just point out you've only just started it.
     

    bigmancrisler

    2A Preacher
    Jun 4, 2020
    1,263
    Martinsburg, WV
    Yup. You could mow lawns, build doll houses, "consult" on pretty much anything (I advise legal activies!), sell other people's junk on eBay, groom dogs, haul trash, you name it. Doesn't even have to be an LLC or Inc - it can be a sole proprietorship.

    BUT: you do want to be able to show that there is actual business activity taking place, they'll often ask for signs of life in the way of bank activity, and they may ask (if enough time has passed) to see a tax filing document where the business's income clearly flows into your personal finances/taxes. But all of that could happen with a cash business in your own name, as long as you can show it's actually happening for real, and is compliant.

    If you do form an LLC or whatnot, you'll need to keep that compliant/current. You might have then give in a collect/remit sales taxes and all of the other crap that comes with being your own little business. But it's very doable. Get a few months of business activity under your belt (to leave a paper trail), and apply as the business owner. If the MSP notes that the business looks pretty small/slow, just point out you've only just started it.


    Awesome thanks!


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    Biggfoot44

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 2, 2009
    32,884
    And have whatever State or Local licencing or zoning required for your business .

    If not directly required , it is highly advised to have separate bank account(s) for your business, for multiple reasons .

    At absolute minimum , a letter from bank that you have an active business account has been sufficient at times . But the individual Investigator has wide latitude to request further documentation . Not uncommon is for X number of deposits/ withdrawals from previous 90 days . ( Kind of backhanded of implying 90 days of operations .)

    ********************

    On the other track :
    You need a moderately impressive job title , and letter from employer * Requesting * you to be armed in conjunction with your employment . Not " they're ok with it " or " they don't mind " , they must use the exact word " Request " .

    The default language would be to the effect of " Valid while conducting business as Assistant Chief Regional Widget Wrangler for Acme Widget Works Inc .

    Much broader language than say 20yrs ago , but not unlimited .
     

    Biggfoot44

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 2, 2009
    32,884
    And have whatever State or Local licencing or zoning required for your business .

    If not directly required , it is highly advised to have separate bank account(s) for your business, for multiple reasons .

    At absolute minimum , a letter from bank that you have an active business account has been sufficient at times . But the individual Investigator has wide latitude to request further documentation . Not uncommon is for X number of deposits/ withdrawals from previous 90 days . ( Kind of backhanded of implying 90 days of operations .)

    ********************

    On the other track :
    You need a moderately impressive job title , and letter from employer * Requesting * you to be armed in conjunction with your employment . Not " they're ok with it " or " they don't mind " , they must use the exact word " Request " .

    The default language would be to the effect of " Valid while conducting business as Assistant Chief Regional Widget Wrangler for Acme Widget Works Inc .

    Much broader language than say 20yrs ago , but not unlimited .
     

    Darkemp

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Aug 18, 2009
    7,808
    Marylandistan
    Application submitted today 5/17 on the merits of my small business. Used copy of Articles of Organization/ copies of MD Trader’s license showing the establishment of the LLC business that I have as well as several months of bank statements on the business bank account.
     

    zwilliams0408

    Member
    Feb 19, 2021
    16
    moving along

    application submitted - 5/3, application accepted - friday 5/7, assigned to investigator - 5/16


    3/4 references contacted - 5/17...

    only got info from 2 and when #3 returned call, told reference #3 "youre all good, already got what i needed from the first two references"
     

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