Subtitle 59 – Weapons

It shall be unlawful for any person to carry in any about his person any rifle, shotgun, or other firearms the barrel of which is over 14 inches in length with the intent to use the rifle, shotgun, or other firearm in the commission of a crime against the person or property of another.

Any violation of the provisions of this section shall be deemed a misdemeanor, subject upon conviction to a fine of not more than $500 or to imprisonment for not longer than 60 days or to both fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the Court.

If any person shall fire or discharge any gun, pistol, or firearm within the City, unless it be on some occasion of military parade, and then by order of some officer having the command, every such person for every such offense shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, pay a fine not to exceed $1,000, or be imprisoned for a term not to exceed 1 year, or both.

If any gun, pistol, or firearm shall be discharged from on board any vessel within the harbor of Baltimore, the captain of the vessel, as well as the offender, shall be liable to the said penalty.

Nothing in this section shall be held to apply to or prohibit the discharge or firing of any such firearms on permanently located, properly posted and bona fide target ranges, the location of which has been fled with the Police Department of Baltimore City.

In this section, “handgun” means a firearm, as defined in <cite data-doc="Md. Code" data-path="gps|5-101">State Public Safety Article § 5-101(h), </cite>the barrel of which is 14 inches or under in length.

A person may not:

The finder of fact may infer that a person who transports a handgun in violation of this section transports the handgun knowingly.

This section does not prohibit the wearing, carrying, or transporting of a handgun by a person covered by an exception in <cite data-doc="Md. Code" data-path="gcr|4-203">State Criminal Law Article § 4-203(b)</cite>.

In <em>general</em>. In this Part, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

“Ammunition” means any cartridge, shell, or other device that contains explosive or incendiary material and is designed or intended for use in any firearm.

“Child safety lock” means:

“Firearm” means any pistol, revolver, rifle, shotgun, short-barreled rifle, short-barreled shotgun, or other firearm, except an inoperable antique firearm.

Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a person may not leave a loaded firearm, or an unloaded firearm that is in close proximity to ammunition, in any location where the person knows or reasonably should know that an unsupervised minor might gain access to the firearm.

Subsection (a) of this section does not apply if:

the firearm’s caliber, make, model, manufacturer, and serial number; and

any other distinguishing number or identification mark on the firearm.

In addition to any other civil or criminal remedy or enforcement procedure, <cite data-path="|19|§59-18">§ 59-18 of this Part 2</cite>A may be enforced by issuance of a civil citation under City Code <cite data-path="|1">Article 1</cite>, Subtitle 41 {“Civil Citations”}.

The issuance of a civil citation to enforce <cite data-path="|19|§59-18">§ 59-18 of this Part 2</cite>A does not preclude pursuing any other civil or criminal remedy or enforcement action authorized by law.

for a 1^st offense, a fine of not more than $500; and

for any subsequent offense, a fine of not more than $750 or imprisonment for not more than 90 days or both fine and imprisonment.

It shall be unlawful for any person to sell any metal knuckles, sling shot, slung shot, sand club, or black jack in the City of Baltimore.

Except that black jacks may be sold to:

Any person violating the provisions of this section shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not more than $500 or be imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both, in the discretion of the court.

No person may sell, carry, or possess any knife with an automatic spring or other device for opening or closing the blade, commonly known as a switchblade knife.

Any person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, is subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 or to imprisonment for not more than 12 months or to both fine and imprisonment for each offense.

No person may sell, give, or otherwise transfer a dangerous knife to, or permit the use or possession of a dangerous knife by, any individual that the person knows or has reasonable cause to believe is under the age of 21.

Any person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, is subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 or to imprisonment for not more than 12 months or to both fine and imprisonment for each offense.

A person shall not wear, carry, possess, sell, purchase, transfer, give, or trade a mini-crossbow or pistol-crossbow in the City of Baltimore.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to:

Any person who violates a provision of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment for not more than 90 days or both fine and imprisonment.

No person may sell, give away, or otherwise transfer a gas- or air-pellet gun or paintball gun to, or permit the use or possession of a gas- or air-pellet gun or paintball gun by, any individual whom that person knows or has reasonable cause to believe is a minor.

No person may possess, discharge or use any gas- or air- pellet gun or paintball gun in Baltimore City except:

Any person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, is subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 or to imprisonment for not more than 12 months or to both fine and imprisonment for each offense.

It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to sell, offer for sale by any means whatsoever, give away, lend, rent, or otherwise transfer or attempt to transfer, or to own, possess, use, handle, or permit the use of, any dart gun, blow gun, or other device by whatever name or description known, which is discharged or operated by introducing air or any type of gas into any part of a hollow tube or shaft and thereby causing to be ejected therefrom any dart, needle, arrow, pin, pellet, or any other object which is capable of inflicting any injury, damage, or harm to or upon any person, animal, or bird.

Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prevent the use of any such device for the treatment, capture, or destruction of animals when any such use takes place under the supervision of a veterinarian, policeman, or any other person who is regularly engaged or employed in the handling, training, treatment, or maintenance of animals.

Any violation of the provisions of this section shall be deemed to be a misdemeanor, subject upon conviction to a fine of not more than $500 or to imprisonment for not longer than 60 days or to both fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the Court.

In addition to all State law prohibitions and penalties on the sales of electronic control devices, including no sales to minors, no sales to those convicted of certain crimes, and no sales without background checks, it is unlawful in the City:

Nothing in this section shall be held to apply to any member of the Baltimore City Police Department or any other law enforcement officer while in the performance of his or her official duty.

Any violation of the provisions of this section shall be deemed to be a misdemeanor, subject upon conviction to a fine of not more than $1,00 or to imprisonment for not longer than 12 months or to both fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the Court.

A stench bomb is herein defined as any liquid, gaseous, or solid substance or matter of any kind which is intended to be thrown, dropped, poured, deposited, or discharged for the purpose of producing a noxious, nauseating, sickening, irritating, or offensive odor.

It is unlawful for any person to:

Nothing in the above provisions shall apply to:

Any person who violates any of the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, is subject to a fine of not less than $5 and not more than $500 at the discretion of the court.

It shall be unlawful for any person under the age of 18 years to carry, use, or discharge any weapon or device commonly known as a tear gas gun, or any tear gas device.

Any person violating the provisions of this section shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not more than $100 for each such violation.

The Court or Police Magistrate who convicts any person of any criminal offense shall declare as forfeited and confiscated any gun, pistol, firearm, switch-blade knife, or other dangerous weapon which was in the possession of the person at the time of committing the offense and which either was used or held for possible use in connection with the offense.

The said weapon shall be turned over to the Police Department of Baltimore City for disposal and shall not be treated or considered as the property of the person so convicted.