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<baltimore-city-law heading="Part 3 – Other Weapons">
  <section prefix="§" num="59-21" heading="Metal knuckles, etc.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Sale prohibited.">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.</para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Exceptions.">Except that black jacks may be sold to:<para num="(1)">duly qualified police officers; or</para>
      <para num="(2)">any person having a permit from the Police Commissioner to permit him to make such purchase or purchases.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Penalties.">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.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1950, art. 24, §178</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">1966, art. 19, §6</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">1976/83, art. 19, §7</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 51-1528</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 51-066</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="59-22" heading="Switchblade knives – Possession or sale, etc.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Prohibited possession or sale, etc.">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.</para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Penalties.">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.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1950, art. 24, §155</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">1966, art. 19, §160</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">1976/83, art. 19, §185</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 44-057</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 16-466</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 22-125</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="59-23" heading="Dangerous knives – Transfer, etc.; Commercial displays.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Definitions.">
      <para num="(1)" heading="In general.">In this section, the following terms have the meanings indicated.</para>
      <para num="(2)" heading="Dangerous knife.">“Dangerous knife” means any:<para num="(i)">Bowie knife;</para>
        <para num="(ii)">dirk knife;</para>
        <para num="(iii)">gravity knife;</para>
        <para num="(iv)">shooting knife, as described in &lt;cite data-doc="Md. Code" data-path="gcr|4-105"&gt;State Criminal Law Article § 4-105&lt;/cite&gt;;</para>
        <para num="(v)">star knife, as defined in &lt;cite data-doc="Md. Code" data-path="gcr|4-101"&gt;State Criminal Law Article § 4-101&lt;/cite&gt;;</para>
        <para num="(vi)">straight razor;</para>
        <para num="(vii)">switchblade knife, as described in &lt;cite data-path="|19|§59-22"&gt;§ 59-22 of this subtitle&lt;/cite&gt; or in &lt;cite data-doc="Md. Code" data-path="gcr|4-105"&gt;State Criminal Law Article § 4-105&lt;/cite&gt;; or</para>
        <para num="(viii)">any knife with a blade that is longer than 3 inches.</para>
      </para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Prohibited transfer, etc., to individuals under 21.">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.</para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Commercial display.">
      <para num="(1)" heading="Placement in windows or glass display cases prohibited.">
        <para num="(i)">Except as provided in part (ii) of this paragraph, no person may place a dangerous knife in an exterior window or glass display case of a commercial establishment that offers knives for sale.</para>
        <para num="(ii)">The display of a dangerous knife in a glass display case is permitted in a commercial establishment that sells primarily sporting goods.</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(2)" heading="Placement in establishments open to individuals under 21.">In any commercial establishment open to individuals under the age of 21, a dangerous knife available for sale must be placed behind a sales counter and be inaccessible to individuals under the age of 21.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(d)" heading="Penalties.">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.</para>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 16-466</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 18-144</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="59-24" heading="Mini- and pistol-crossbows.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Definitions.">
      <para num="(1)" heading="In general.">As used in this section, the following words have the meanings indicated unless their context clearly indicates otherwise.</para>
      <para num="(2)" heading="Mini-crossbow; pistol-crossbow.">“Mini-crossbow” or “pistol-crossbow” means a weapon:<para num="(i)">consisting of a bow fixed across a stock or pistol-shaped device having a groove or barrel for the arrow or similar missile and a mechanism for holding and releasing the string;</para>
        <para num="(ii)">used for shooting arrows or similar missiles; and</para>
        <para num="(iii)">having an overall length of less than 18 inches.</para>
      </para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Possession or sale, etc., prohibited.">A person shall not wear, carry, possess, sell, purchase, transfer, give, or trade a mini-crossbow or pistol-crossbow in the City of Baltimore.</para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Exceptions.">The provisions of this section shall not apply to:<para num="(1)">a sworn police officer;</para>
      <para num="(2)">a museum or similar institution for historical display purposes; or</para>
      <para num="(3)">a demonstration by an organization at a public event approved by the Police Commissioner of Baltimore City.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(d)" heading="Penalties.">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.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 19, §116A</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 94-320</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 22-125</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="59-25" reserved="true" />
  <section prefix="§" num="59-26" heading="Gas- or air-pellet guns.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Definitions.">
      <para num="(1)" heading="In general.">In this section, the following terms have the meanings indicated.</para>
      <para num="(2)" heading="“Gas- or air-pellet gun”.">“Gas- or air-pellet gun” means any gun or other device, by whatever name or description known, that is designed to discharge or can readily be converted to discharge a pellet or other object by the expansion of gas or air.</para>
      <para num="(3)" heading="Paintball gun.">“Paintball” means any gun or other device, including a gas- or air- pellet gun, that is used or designed or intended to be used to discharge a paintball or other object designed or intended to mark a target with pigmentation.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Giving, etc., to minor prohibited.">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.</para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Possess, discharge, or use.">No person may possess, discharge or use any gas- or air- pellet gun or paintball gun in Baltimore City except:<para num="(1)">if the gun is kept within his or her domicile or is used by him or her exclusively for the purpose of teaching the use and care of firearms at a properly constructed indoor or outdoor range;</para>
      <para num="(2)">on a properly constructed target range or recreational paintball facility;</para>
      <para num="(3)">on private grounds or residence under circumstances in which the gun is operated so as to not endanger person or property and in a manner that prevents the projectile from traversing any grounds or space outside of the private grounds or residence; or</para>
      <para num="(4)">if the gun is being transported in a motor vehicle for any lawful purpose and is not being carried on a person.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(d)" heading="Penalties.">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.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1966, art. 19, §99(a) - (c), (e)</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">1976/83, art. 19, §115(a) - (c), (f)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 56-233</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 63-1655</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 85-385</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 07-383</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 12-064</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 14-307</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 22-125</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="59-27" heading="Dart or blow guns.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Possession or sale, etc., prohibited.">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.</para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Exception.">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.</para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Penalties.">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.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1966, art. 19, §99(d), (e)</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">1976/83, art. 19, §115(d), (f)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 56-233</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 63-1655</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 85-385</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="59-28" heading="Electronic control devices.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Definitions.">
      <para num="(1)" heading="In general.">In this section, the following terms have the meanings indicated.</para>
      <para num="(2)">“&lt;em&gt;Electronic control device&lt;/em&gt;”.
“Electronic control device” means a portable device designed as a weapon capable of injuring, immobilizing, or inflicting pain on an individual by the discharge of electrical current.</para>
      <para num="(3)">“&lt;em&gt;Adjudicated as a mental defective&lt;/em&gt;”.
“Adjudicated as a mental defective” means a determination by a court, board, commission, or other lawful authority, that, as a result of marked subnormal intelligence, mental illness, incompetency, condition, or disease, a person:<para num="(i)">is a danger to themselves or to others; or</para>
        <para num="(ii)">lacks the mental capacity to contract or manage his or her own affairs.</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(4)">“Mental disorder”.<para num="(i)">“Mental disorder” means a behavioral or emotional illness that results from a psychiatric disorder.</para>
        <para num="(ii)">“Mental disorder” includes a mental illness that so substantially impairs the mental or emotional functioning of an individual as to make care or treatment necessary or advisable for the welfare of the individual or for the safety of the person or property of another.</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(5)">“Protective order”.
“Protective order” means a temporary or final protective order entered under the authority of Maryland Code, Family Law Article, §§ &lt;cite data-doc="Md. Code" data-path="gfl|4-505"&gt;4-505&lt;/cite&gt; and &lt;cite data-doc="Md. Code" data-path="gfl|4-506"&gt;4-506&lt;/cite&gt;.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Possession or sale, etc., prohibited.">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:<para num="(1)">for any person to possess an electronic control device in a:<para num="(i)">public school;</para>
        <para num="(ii)">State public building; or</para>
        <para num="(iii)">City public building;</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(2)">for any person to sell or ship an electronic control device to any other person knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the other person has been:<para num="(i)">adjudicated as a mental defective; or</para>
        <para num="(ii)">committed to any mental institution;</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(3)">for any person to possess an electronic control device if the person suffers from a mental disorder and has a history of violent behavior against themselves or another; and</para>
      <para num="(4)">for any person subject to a protective order to possess an electronic control device for the duration of the protective order.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Exceptions.">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.</para>
    <para num="(d)" heading="Penalties.">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.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 19, §115(e), (f)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 56-233</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 85-385</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 17-020</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="59-29" reserved="true" />
  <section prefix="§" num="59-30" heading="Stench bombs.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="“Stench bomb” defined.">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.</para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Possession, sale, use, etc., prohibited.">It is unlawful for any person to:<para num="(1)">sell, barter, or trade a stench bomb;</para>
      <para num="(2)">manufacture, make, or prepare a stench bomb;</para>
      <para num="(3)">throw, drop, pour, deposit, or discharge a stench bomb; or</para>
      <para num="(4)">aid or abet another in throwing, dropping, pouring, depositing, or discharging a stench bomb.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Exceptions.">Nothing in the above provisions shall apply to:<para num="(1)">regularly appointed police officers acting in line of duty; nor</para>
      <para num="(2)">proprietors of business places who may keep or use certain acid diffusing bombs solely for the purpose of repelling robbers, thieves, or other law violators.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(d)" heading="Penalties.">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.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 19, §117</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 70--903</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="59-31" reserved="true" />
  <section prefix="§" num="59-32" heading="Tear gas devices.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Possession, use, etc., by minors prohibited.">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.</para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Penalties.">Any person violating the provisions of this section shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not more than $100 for each such violation.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 19, §116</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 69-330</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§§" num="59-33 to 59-40" reserved="true" />
</baltimore-city-law>
