POWDER STORAGE LICENSE

[camobob]

I was poking around some old threads today and discovered that MD has a 5lb limit on powder in my house. Easy enough to stash some in my shed and get legal but that's not the ideal situation in summer. The law says I can get a license to store more but I haven't been able to find any solid information on how to do that. From what I gather I'll need NFPA compliant storage which amounts to a vented and lockable wood crate. Does anyone here have a license to store over 5lbs or have any experience with getting one?

 

[pilgrim]

Maryland State Fire Marshall
I didn't see the answer but tel & email are there.

 

[Deep Creek Rock]

Have your friends and family that dont reload, hold on to your extras, and piss on getting a license, that does nothing.

 

[camobob]

Whether I get the license or not I want to know what's involved so I can weigh the options. The Public safety article section 11-105 says:

" Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, a person shall obtain a license issued under this subtitle before the person engages in business as a manufacturer or dealer, possesses explosives other than explosives for use in firearms, or possesses or stores explosives for use in firearms in the State."

To me, that means there is a license to "possesses or stores explosives for use in firearms" when the amount is over 5lbs. I'm hesitant to call the fire marshal because it's just too easy for them to say there is no license except business or manufacture - neither of which apply to me. The marshal's web site only has those two licenses but the way I read the statute there should be four types.

I find it very helpful to know the answer before I ask the government any questions.

I'm really hoping to find someone who's done this before.....

 

[Ab_Normal]

Are you going to buy the powder online and have it shipped to your house all at once or are you going to buy it from a LGS and pay cash?

 

[camobob]

Hard to say - powder is still in short supply....why?

 

[DaemonAssassin]

Hard to say - powder is still in short supply....why?

If you buy it in bulk you will save a decent amount of money by paying the hazmat fee once every X weeks/months. The downside to getting the license is that there is a fee for it, yearly (?) inspections, and you have to have a special container. Last I saw one of those special containers, it was going for 250+ and it weighed a bloody ton.

If you ask me, the "reasons" for the license is a crock, and I don't want a LEO of any kind being able to do an "inspection" of any kind in my house, unless they have a warrant. I have no intention of giving up my 4th Amendment rights over a 5 pound limit and being put on a list that LEO's have access to, especially in this state...

 

[Ab_Normal]

Semi thread jack - why did the 5 lb limit and license come about? Was there some sort of massive fire/explosion with dead victims everywhere or were the politicians preemptively trying to save us from ourselves...again?

 

[camobob]

I don't know the reason for the original law but I suspect that it makes perfect sense to most Marylanders for the nanny state to decide how much of everything I can have in my home. Just part of the 'public good' that will be the end of civil liberty. When you buy that big gulp I help pay your medical bills kind of thing.

More to the point - I'm surprised that someone hasn't looked into this. Any first hand experience out there?

 

[DaemonAssassin]

Semi thread jack - why did the 5 lb limit and license come about? Was there some sort of massive fire/explosion with dead victims everywhere or were the politicians preemptively trying to save us from ourselves...again?

IIRC it came about so that if there was a fire at your house, the responding fire departments would know, before they arrived on the scene, that you have powder in the house and it is in a fire resistant locker. Also so they would know what area(s) of the house to stay away from. Logically I can understand why they have it, but not for 5 pounds. I would be ok with it if you had 10 pounds or 20 pounds, but again at the same time the destructive force of smokeless powder is less than blackpowder (correct me if I am wrong on this).

 

[camobob]

Okay, I can't resist the thread jack...How is my 6lbs of red dot a problem when I have thousands of loaded rounds, welding tanks and a 275 gallon tank of #2 fuel oil? It's sounds nice but it's based on paranoia not science.
Oh yea, they could (probably will) outlay my O2 tanks and ammo but where does that stop? no more than 3lbs of sugar? no more than 2 bags of fertilizer? How many BTUs are in a room full of carpet?

 

[Markp]

I was poking around some old threads today and discovered that MD has a 5lb limit on powder in my house. Easy enough to stash some in my shed and get legal but that's not the ideal situation in summer. The law says I can get a license to store more but I haven't been able to find any solid information on how to do that. From what I gather I'll need NFPA compliant storage which amounts to a vented and lockable wood crate. Does anyone here have a license to store over 5lbs or have any experience with getting one?

Okay, I can't resist the thread jack...How is my 6lbs of red dot a problem when I have thousands of loaded rounds, welding tanks and a 275 gallon tank of #2 fuel oil? It's sounds nice but it's based on paranoia not science.
Oh yea, they could (probably will) outlay my O2 tanks and ammo but where does that stop? no more than 3lbs of sugar? no more than 2 bags of fertilizer? How many BTUs are in a room full of carpet?

Don't worry, there is a SWAT and DHS enroute to your location. You won't be needing that license.

 

[DaemonAssassin]

The state views your loaded rounds as less dangerous than the powder, due to it being a fully assembled rounds. In regards to storage, you can have enough fully assembled ammo to crack the slab, but MD won't let you have enough powder to make all that ammo in one sitting. While there is a limit on powder, there is no limit on primers (yet).

I think it is a scam, just to get more people on a list and place a "fee" on them for wanting to pursue a hobby/exercise a right. You're right, it is paranoia, but then again that is what the Democratic machine in MD loves to propagate.

Where it will stop? It will stop as soon as the Democratic machine in MD makes everything except for being born illegal. If you have been paying attention to the laws already on the books, in addition to the ones they have currently passed, you will see I'm not too far off the truth. In time MD will become it's own little socialist paradise, while the rest of the US laughs at it.

We know your Red Dot is not an issue, but the GA won't listen to facts unless it will promote their agenda.

The sugar question? You need to look at NYC with the 16oz drink ban.

The fertilizer? Dude, really? They have been tracking purchases of fertilizer from Ag stores since the Oklahoma City bombing that are larger than X amount.

How am I supposed to know how many BTU's are in a room full of carpet? Although I do need to ask, is it Berber or Stainmaster carpet?

I do see your point with the items you have listed, but realize you are preaching to the choir, regarding the powder limit.

 

[methlab]

Here is a video of testing ammo in fire situations. It's very interesting, unfortunately it doesn't show just powder storage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SlOXowwC4c

 

[camobob]

WOW! That is a cool vid - I had no idea how little energy a bullet carried when fired outside of a barrel. I admit it, I thought loaded rounds were the real hazard. I'm a little concerned about being educated by someone who goes by Methlab but what the heck...science is science. Thanks!

 

[Robert]

Oh my, several hundred thousand rounds were killed, abused or damaged in the making of this film...

 

[BUFF7MM]

Here is a video of testing ammo in fire situations. It's very interesting, unfortunately it doesn't show just powder storage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SlOXowwC4c

fixed it for you

 

[BeltBuckle]

Oh my, several hundred thousand rounds were killed, abused or damaged in the making of this film...

it's enough to make one weep....

 

[Mark75H]

The sugar question? You need to look at NYC with the 16oz drink ban.

Nope, the sugar went over your head ... Google Domino Sugar & explosion - or Youtube & sugar target explosion

 

[DaemonAssassin]

Nope, the sugar went over your head ... Google Domino Sugar & explosion - or Youtube & sugar target explosion

Oooo.... Pretty...

But I was referring to the NYC BS intrusion into personal choices.