COMCOR 57-8. (formerly § 57-5A) CHILD SAFETY HANDGUN DEVICES AND HANDGUNS - REGULATIONS

The director of the Department of Housing and Community Affairs or the director's authorized representative must initially inspect each firearm dealer to determine compliance with this regulation. Thereafter, random inspections will be made at the discretion of the director or when a complaint is filed.

A child safety handgun device that meets the requirements of 57.08.01.03 is approved unless the director of the Department of Housing and Community Affairs finds in a review that the device is not effective in rendering the handgun inoperable. The director of Housing and Community Affairs will maintain a publicly available list of unapproved child safety handgun devices.

A. The firearm dealer must maintain a record indicating that a child safety handgun device was provided to the recipient of a handgun. The director of the Department of Housing and Community Affairs, the director's authorized representative, or any officer or other authorized employee of a law enforcement agency may inspect these records.

B. The child safety handgun device must be either:

1. a lock that attaches to the handgun to prevent movement of the trigger of the handgun or otherwise renders the handgun inoperable until removed by a key or combination; or

2. a lockable box designed to hold the handgun being transferred that requires a key or combination to open and renders the handgun inoperable when locked.

A. Signs for Firearm Dealers Having a Retail Store

1. A sign must be posted in plain view in the sales area.

2. The sign must state the following: “Section 57-5A of the Montgomery County Code requires that a child safety handgun device be provided by the firearm dealer at the time of purchase, lease, or transfer of each handgun. State law prohibits keeping firearms anywhere an unsupervised child could gain access to the firearm”.

3. The sign must have letters at least 3/4 inches in height and a contrasting color to the sign background.

B. Notices for Firearm Dealers Not Having a Retail Store

1. A firearm dealer not having a retail store must provide a written notice with the wording in A.2 above.

2. The notice must be given by the firearm dealer to the recipient of any handgun at the time of purchase, lease; or transfer.

3. The notice must be at least font size 12 and on paper of a contrasting color.

C. Source of Signs and Notices

1. The sign or notice may be purchased from the Department of Housing and Community Affairs. The Department of Housing and Community Affairs may charge a fee for the sign or notice not to exceed the cost of producing the sign or notice.

2. The firearm dealer may provide the sign or notice provided that they comply with 57.08.01.04, A or B, above.

If a court holds that a portion of this regulation is invalid, the other portions remain in effect.