# Part 1 – Firearms — In General

Current through 2026-07-17. Source: City of Balt., Md., Ord. 26-129. Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.

## § 59-1 Carrying long-barrel firearms.

Balt., Md., Code art. 19, § 59-1 (2026)

(a)

  (1) It shall be unlawful for any person to carry in any vehicles or about his person, except in his place of abode, fixed place of business, target range, gun show, historic reenactment, or civic event held on a National Monument or a Historic Shrine or parade for which a permit has been obtained, any rifle, shotgun or other firearm the barrel of which is over 14 inches in length.

  (2) Provided that this subsection shall not apply to:

    (i) marshals, sheriffs, prison or jail wardens, or their deputies while in the performance of their official duty;

    (ii) policemen or other law enforcement officers;

    (iii) members of the armed forces of the United States or of the National Guard or organized reserves when on duty;

    (iv) holders of special police commissions issued under <cite data-doc="Md. Code" data-path="41">Title 4, Subtitle 9, of Article 41 of the Maryland Code</cite>, while actually on duty on the property for which the commission was issued or while traveling to or from such duty;

    (v) uniformed security guards, special railway police, and watchmen who have been cleared for such employment by the appropriate governmental agency, while in the course of their employment or while traveling to or from the place of employment;

    (vi) guards in the employ of a bank, savings and loan association, building and loan association, or express or armored car agency, while in the course of their employment or while traveling to or from the place of employment;

    (vii) manufacture, transportation, or sale of weapons to persons authorized under law to possess such under the laws of the United States;

    (viii) transportation of firearms unloaded and carried in an enclosed case or rack designed for that purpose;

    (ix) antique firearms, meaning:

      (A) any firearm (including any firearm with a matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap, or similar type of ignition system) manufactured in or before 1898; and

      (B) any replica of any firearm described in subitem (A) if such replica:

        1. is not designed or redesigned for using rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition; or

        2. uses rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition which is no longer manufactured in the United States and which is not readily available in the ordinary channels of commercial trade.

(b) 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.

(c) 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.

*History: Ord. 80-154*

*History: Ord. 81-215*

## § 59-2 Discharging firearms.

Balt., Md., Code art. 19, § 59-2 (2026)

(a) 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.

(b) 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.

(c) 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.

*History: Rev. Ords. 1858-033*

*History: Ord. 19-001*

*History: Ord. 37-549*

*History: Ord. 56-423*

*History: Ord. 87-922*

## §§ 59-3 and 59-4

Balt., Md., Code art. 19, § 59-3 and 59-4 (2026)

Reserved

## § 59-5 Illegal carrying, etc., of handguns.

Balt., Md., Code art. 19, § 59-5 (2026)

(a) 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.

(b) A person may not:

  (1) wear, carry, or knowingly transport a handgun, whether concealed or open, on or about the person within 100 yards of, or in, a:

    (i) park;

    (ii) church;

    (iii) school;

    (iv) public building; or

    (v) other place of public assembly;

  (2) wear, carry, or knowingly transport a handgun, whether concealed or open, in a vehicle traveling on a road within 100 yards of a:

    (i) park;

    (ii) church;

    (iii) school;

    (iv) public building; or

    (v) other place of public assembly; or

  (3) wear, carry, or knowingly transport a handgun in connection with the commission of a crime against a person or property, within 100 yards of, or in, a:

    (i) park;

    (ii) church;

    (iii) school;

    (iv) public building; or

    (v) other place of public assembly.

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

(d) 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>.

(e)

  (1) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to the following penalties for each offense:

    (i) if the handgun was worn, carried, or transported in connection with the commission of a crime against a person or property, mandatory imprisonment for 1 year and a mandatory fine of $1,000;

    (ii) if the person has a previous conviction for a violation of this section or <em>{of} </em><cite data-doc="Md. Code" data-path="gcr|4-203">State Criminal Law Article § 4-203 </cite>{“Wearing, carrying, or transporting handgun”}, mandatory imprisonment for 1 year and a mandatory fine of $1,000; or

    (iii) if neither item (i) nor item (ii) of this paragraph apply, a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment for not longer than 12 months or both fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the Court.

  (2) The court may not impose less than, or suspend any part of, any mandatory sentence provided in paragraph (1) of this subsection.

  (3) A person who violates this section is not eligible for a probation before judgment.

  (4) A person who violates this section is not eligible for parole.

  (5) Each violation of this section is a separate offense.

*History: Ord. 17-064*

*History: Ord. 19-332*

*History: Ord. 22-125*

## §§ 59-6 to 59-10

Balt., Md., Code art. 19, § 59-6 to 59-10 (2026)

Reserved