<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<baltimore-city-law heading="§ 59-5 Illegal carrying, etc., of handguns.">
  <section prefix="§" num="59-5" heading="Illegal carrying, etc., of handguns.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="“Handgun” defined.">In this section, “handgun” means a firearm, as defined in &lt;cite data-doc="Md. Code" data-path="gps|5-101"&gt;State Public Safety Article § 5-101(h), &lt;/cite&gt;the barrel of which is 14 inches or under in length.</para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Carrying prohibited.">A person may not:<para num="(1)">wear, carry, or knowingly transport a handgun, whether concealed or open, on or about the person within 100 yards of, or in, a:<para num="(i)">park;</para>
        <para num="(ii)">church;</para>
        <para num="(iii)">school;</para>
        <para num="(iv)">public building; or</para>
        <para num="(v)">other place of public assembly;</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(2)">wear, carry, or knowingly transport a handgun, whether concealed or open, in a vehicle traveling on a road within 100 yards of a:<para num="(i)">park;</para>
        <para num="(ii)">church;</para>
        <para num="(iii)">school;</para>
        <para num="(iv)">public building; or</para>
        <para num="(v)">other place of public assembly; or</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(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:<para num="(i)">park;</para>
        <para num="(ii)">church;</para>
        <para num="(iii)">school;</para>
        <para num="(iv)">public building; or</para>
        <para num="(v)">other place of public assembly.</para>
      </para>
    </para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Permissible inference.">The finder of fact may infer that a person who transports a handgun in violation of this section transports the handgun knowingly.</para>
    <para num="(d)" heading="Exceptions.">This section does not prohibit the wearing, carrying, or transporting of a handgun by a person covered by an exception in &lt;cite data-doc="Md. Code" data-path="gcr|4-203"&gt;State Criminal Law Article § 4-203(b)&lt;/cite&gt;.</para>
    <para num="(e)" heading="Penalties.">
      <para num="(1)">A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to the following penalties for each offense:<para num="(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;</para>
        <para num="(ii)">if the person has a previous conviction for a violation of this section or &lt;em&gt;{of} &lt;/em&gt;&lt;cite data-doc="Md. Code" data-path="gcr|4-203"&gt;State Criminal Law Article § 4-203 &lt;/cite&gt;{“Wearing, carrying, or transporting handgun”}, mandatory imprisonment for 1 year and a mandatory fine of $1,000; or</para>
        <para num="(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.</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(2)">The court may not impose less than, or suspend any part of, any mandatory sentence provided in paragraph (1) of this subsection.</para>
      <para num="(3)">A person who violates this section is not eligible for a probation before judgment.</para>
      <para num="(4)">A person who violates this section is not eligible for parole.</para>
      <para num="(5)">Each violation of this section is a separate offense.</para>
    </para>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 17-064</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 19-332</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 22-125</annotation>
  </section>
</baltimore-city-law>
