§ 4–302
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 4-302 (2026)
Title 4. Weapon Crimes
Subtitle 3. Assault Weapons and Detachable Magazines
§ 4–302LinkCopy Citation
This subtitle does not apply to:
(1)
if acting within the scope of official business, personnel of the United States government or a unit of that government, members of the armed forces of the United States or of the National Guard, law enforcement personnel of the State or a local unit in the State, or a railroad police officer authorized under Title 3 of the Public Safety Article or 49 U.S.C. § 28101;
(2)
a firearm modified to render it permanently inoperative;
(3)
possession, importation, manufacture, receipt for manufacture, shipment for manufacture, storage, purchases, sales, and transport to or by a licensed firearms dealer or manufacturer who is:
(i)
providing or servicing an assault weapon, a detachable magazine, or a machine gun convertible pistol for a law enforcement unit or for personnel exempted under item (1) of this section;
(ii)
acting to sell or transfer an assault weapon, a detachable magazine, or a machine gun convertible pistol to a licensed firearm dealer in another state or to an individual purchaser in another state through a licensed firearms dealer; or
(iii)
acting to return to a customer in another state an assault weapon or a machine gun convertible pistol transferred to the licensed firearms dealer or manufacturer under the terms of a warranty or for repair;
(4)
organizations that are required or authorized by federal law governing their specific business or activity to maintain assault weapons and applicable ammunition, detachable magazines, and machine gun convertible pistols;
(5)
the receipt of an assault weapon, a detachable magazine, or a machine gun convertible pistol by inheritance, and possession of the inherited assault weapon, detachable magazine, or machine gun convertible pistol, if the decedent lawfully possessed the assault weapon, detachable magazine, or machine gun convertible pistol and the person inheriting the assault weapon, detachable magazine, or machine gun convertible pistol is not otherwise disqualified from possessing a regulated firearm;
(6)
the receipt of an assault weapon, a detachable magazine, or a machine gun convertible pistol by a personal representative of an estate for purposes of exercising the powers and duties of a personal representative of an estate;
(7)
possession by a person who is retired in good standing from service with a law enforcement agency of the State or a local unit in the State and is not otherwise prohibited from receiving an assault weapon, detachable magazine, or machine gun convertible pistol if:
(i)
the assault weapon, detachable magazine, or machine gun convertible pistol is sold or transferred to the person by the law enforcement agency on retirement; or
(ii)
the assault weapon, detachable magazine, or machine gun convertible pistol was purchased or obtained by the person for official use with the law enforcement agency before retirement;
(8)
possession or transport by an employee of an armored car company if the individual is acting within the scope of employment and has a permit issued under Title 5, Subtitle 3 of the Public Safety Article;
(9)
possession, receipt, and testing by, or shipping to or from:
(i)
an ISO 17025 accredited, National Institute of Justice–approved ballistics testing laboratory; or
(ii)
a facility or entity that manufactures or provides research and development testing, analysis, or engineering for personal protective equipment or vehicle protection systems;
(10)
the temporary transfer of a machine gun convertible pistol to a licensed regulated firearms dealer or gunsmith for the purpose of servicing the machine gun convertible pistol;
(11)
the receipt of a machine gun convertible pistol by a licensed regulated firearms dealer or gunsmith for the purpose of servicing the machine gun convertible pistol and the return of the machine gun convertible pistol to its lawful owner by a licensed regulated firearms dealer or gunsmith on the completion of servicing the machine gun convertible pistol;
(12)
the receipt of a machine gun convertible pistol by a law enforcement unit, barracks, or station, a State or local law enforcement agency, or a federally licensed firearms dealer if the person is surrendering the firearm;
(13)
the temporary gratuitous exchange of a machine gun convertible pistol; or
(14)
the sale, offer for sale, purchase, receipt, or transfer of a machine gun convertible pistol to or by a person who:
(i)
is currently a law enforcement official, as defined in § 4–201 of this title; or
(ii)
has retired as a law enforcement official in good standing from a law enforcement agency of the United States, the State or another state, or a local unit in the State or another state and possesses a valid credential issued under 18 U.S.C. § 926C.