UPDATED as of 9/30/23 (also added some of the historical references cited by others).
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Ban on open carry of handguns and expansion of sensitive places to include museums, health care facilities, State parks & forests, mass transit, school grounds, government buildings, stadiums, amusement parks, and casinos. (Default prohibition on private businesses that do not affirm the right to carry temporarily enjoined). 10/1/2023
Ban on possession of un-serialized firearm/frames (exception for pre 10/22/68). 3/1/2023
Ban on purchase/transfer of unfinished firearm frames/kits. 6/1/2022
End of private long gun sales (exception for close family members). “Immediate family member” means a spouse, a parent, a stepparent, a grandparent, a step-grandparent, an aunt, an uncle, a sibling, a stepsibling, a child, a stepchild, a grandchild, a step-grandchild, a niece, or a nephew, as related by blood or marriage." 3/12/2021
Rapid fire trigger device ban. 10/1/2018
Red Flag / ERPO confiscations. 10/1/2018
Mandatory registration of regulated arms within 90 days of moving to MD. 10/1/2013
10 round magazine limit. 10/1/2013
Handgun Qualification License (HQL) required for handgun purchase other than C&R. 10/1/2013
Assault weapons /copy cat weapons ban (regulated rifles). 10/1/2013
Theft of handgun must be reported to MSP within 72 hrs. of discovery. 10/1/2013
5lb Limit on storage of smokeless powder / 5lb limit on black powder. 10/1/2003
Mandated safety course for regulated firearms purchase. 10/1/2000
Mandated trigger locks. 10/1/2000
Ballistic records / shell casings retained for new purchases (rescinded 2015). 10/1/2000
Firearms seizures in domestic violence cases. 10/1/1996
One regulated purchase per month. 10/1/1996
End of private handgun sales. 10/1/1996
Straw purchases banned. 10/1/1996
Assault pistol ban. 10/1/1996
20 round magazine limit. 1994
Firearms secured from children under 16. 1992
"Assault Rifles" added to handguns as "regulated firearms". 1989
Handgun Roster Board Established / Ban on "Saturday Night Specials". 1988
Wear and Carry Permit established. 1972
Good and Substantial reason for carry permits. 1972
Handguns prohibited from vehicles (excluding a few exceptions for transport). 1972
7-day wait for regulated firearms. 1966
Pistol registration for new purchases. 1966
Denial of handguns purchase for those who spent >30 consecutive days in a mental institution. 1966
Annual State machine gun registration. 1934
Concealed carry prohibited except when “carrying such weapon as a reasonable precaution against apprehended danger.” 1904
Good and Substantial reason to carry (open or concealed without a permit) (later rescinded). 1886
Concealed carry is only illegal when arrested and charged with another crime. 1884
Prohibition of free blacks from carrying arms following Nate Turner Slave Rebellion (later rescinded). 12/1831
Prohibition on carrying weapons with the intent feloniously to assault any person. 1809
Entitlement of Maryland Inhabitants to the Common Law of England, including the right of his majesty's Protestant subjects to have arms for their own defense and protect themselves and others. 1776
Prohibition on Negros or other slaves from carrying a gun or other offensive weapons (later rescinded). 1715
Prohibition on carrying arms in church. 1642 (earliest recorded gun law in the Colony of Maryland).
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Ban on open carry of handguns and expansion of sensitive places to include museums, health care facilities, State parks & forests, mass transit, school grounds, government buildings, stadiums, amusement parks, and casinos. (Default prohibition on private businesses that do not affirm the right to carry temporarily enjoined). 10/1/2023
Ban on possession of un-serialized firearm/frames (exception for pre 10/22/68). 3/1/2023
Ban on purchase/transfer of unfinished firearm frames/kits. 6/1/2022
End of private long gun sales (exception for close family members). “Immediate family member” means a spouse, a parent, a stepparent, a grandparent, a step-grandparent, an aunt, an uncle, a sibling, a stepsibling, a child, a stepchild, a grandchild, a step-grandchild, a niece, or a nephew, as related by blood or marriage." 3/12/2021
Rapid fire trigger device ban. 10/1/2018
Red Flag / ERPO confiscations. 10/1/2018
Mandatory registration of regulated arms within 90 days of moving to MD. 10/1/2013
10 round magazine limit. 10/1/2013
Handgun Qualification License (HQL) required for handgun purchase other than C&R. 10/1/2013
Assault weapons /copy cat weapons ban (regulated rifles). 10/1/2013
Theft of handgun must be reported to MSP within 72 hrs. of discovery. 10/1/2013
5lb Limit on storage of smokeless powder / 5lb limit on black powder. 10/1/2003
Mandated safety course for regulated firearms purchase. 10/1/2000
Mandated trigger locks. 10/1/2000
Ballistic records / shell casings retained for new purchases (rescinded 2015). 10/1/2000
Firearms seizures in domestic violence cases. 10/1/1996
One regulated purchase per month. 10/1/1996
End of private handgun sales. 10/1/1996
Straw purchases banned. 10/1/1996
Assault pistol ban. 10/1/1996
20 round magazine limit. 1994
Firearms secured from children under 16. 1992
"Assault Rifles" added to handguns as "regulated firearms". 1989
Handgun Roster Board Established / Ban on "Saturday Night Specials". 1988
Wear and Carry Permit established. 1972
Good and Substantial reason for carry permits. 1972
Handguns prohibited from vehicles (excluding a few exceptions for transport). 1972
7-day wait for regulated firearms. 1966
Pistol registration for new purchases. 1966
Denial of handguns purchase for those who spent >30 consecutive days in a mental institution. 1966
Annual State machine gun registration. 1934
Concealed carry prohibited except when “carrying such weapon as a reasonable precaution against apprehended danger.” 1904
Good and Substantial reason to carry (open or concealed without a permit) (later rescinded). 1886
Concealed carry is only illegal when arrested and charged with another crime. 1884
Prohibition of free blacks from carrying arms following Nate Turner Slave Rebellion (later rescinded). 12/1831
Prohibition on carrying weapons with the intent feloniously to assault any person. 1809
Entitlement of Maryland Inhabitants to the Common Law of England, including the right of his majesty's Protestant subjects to have arms for their own defense and protect themselves and others. 1776
Prohibition on Negros or other slaves from carrying a gun or other offensive weapons (later rescinded). 1715
Prohibition on carrying arms in church. 1642 (earliest recorded gun law in the Colony of Maryland).
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