Any help for an Ohio traveler visiting VA and MD

[AlanM]

A member of the Ohioans For Concealed Carry forum has to travel to VA and then spend some time in MD on business and is wondering if there is anything he can do to in the form of personal protection on this trip.
Would someone more knowledgeable than be please offer him some suggestions?
Here's the thread: Travelling....Maryland?

This gets back to storage of firearms & ammo while in a no gun area.

[MarcSpaz]

My recommendation is to just not go to Maryland... but since that is likely not going to happen... he is going to have to leave his weapon somewhere when he goes into MD. In MD, it is only legal to transport an unloaded, cased weapon, separate from ammo and out of reach of the driver AND you have to be traveling to or from someplace that it is legal to posses and use that weapon.

i.e. heading to or from a range, competitive event, gun store or repair facility, or traveling through the state from a state where it is legally stored to a location in another state where it is legal to be in possession of the firearm.

In VA, as long as its cased and unloaded, he is legally OC'ing or has a CHP, his fine here.

[ProShooter]

I replied back to him.

[cdb]

There seems to be a little misunderstanding and incorrect info in the original thread. This is the current state of things (to the best of my understanding).

The good:
- you can legally bring a handgun into MD (the handgun registry and HQL only apply to purchasing/transferring, not possession)
- you can legally bring regular-capacity (e.g. over 10-round) magazines into MD (the mag ban only applies to purchasing/transferring, not possession)
- there is no required registration of handguns for possession (again only for transferring/purchase)
- there are no ammo type restrictions in MD (hollowpoints are fine)

The bad:
- restrictive rules on transport, the firearm must be unloaded and cased and carried in a separate compartment of the vehicle from ammo
- MD law is peculiar (and obviously stupid) in that you can only transport a firearm between residence, to a gunshop/smith or range, or a business you own


The guy should be perfectly safe transporting (in the prescribed manner) a handgun directly to a residence, without stopping for gas/food/rest and directly back out of the state, and any direct trips to/from range or gunshop while here. But, as plenty of others have noted, the safest bet is not to try, for as we know the state police here have absolutely no compunction about tossing people in jail for minor or inadvertant violations of the state code, or whatever they currently interpret it to mean.

Also, it would be good to ask the same question on mdshooters.com, the site has thousands of well-informed members who can probably give more in depth information.



Relevant excerpt of state code on capacity limitation (http://law.justia.com/codes/maryland/20 ... 4-305.html):

4–305. (a) This section does not apply to:
(1) a .22 caliber rifle with a tubular magazine;
(b) A person may not manufacture, sell, offer for sale, purchase, receive, or transfer a detachable magazine
that has a capacity of more than 10 rounds of ammunition for a firearm.

From the MD State Police website (https://www.mdsp.org/Organization/Suppo ... cense.aspx and https://www.mdsp.org/FAQs.aspx):

Unless otherwise exempt, as of October 1, 2013, a Maryland resident must possess a valid Handgun Qualification License before he/she may purchase, rent, or receive a handgun. Details on exemptions may be found below. You do not need a Handgun Qualification License to own a gun you already have. The Handgun Qualification License is only needed for purchasing, transferring, or renting a regulated firearm after October 1, 2013.

How can I legally transport firearms within / through Maryland?
Answer: They must be unloaded, in a carrying case, holster with a flap and the ammunition should be separate. It would be best to keep the unloaded weapon in the trunk where you do not have access to it. There are further regulations but essentially you can only transport a handgun between residence, to and from a repair shop, a shooting sporting event, between a residence and place of business if substantially owned and operated by the person. For more information please contact our Licensing Division.

[wittmeba]

Check out this. At a glance looks like good information - Same as cdb.

https://www.mdsp.org/FAQs.aspx