Title 5. Firearms — Subtitle 4. Handgun Roster
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 5-401 (2026)
Title 5. Firearms
Subtitle 4. Handgun Roster
§ 5–401LinkCopy Citation
(a)
In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.
(b)
“Board” means the Handgun Roster Board.
(c)
(1)
“Handgun” means a pistol, a revolver, or any other firearm capable of being concealed on the person.
(2)
“Handgun” does not include a shotgun, a rifle, a short–barreled rifle, a short–barreled shotgun, or an antique firearm.
(d)
“Handgun roster” means the roster of authorized handguns compiled by the Board under § 5–405 of this subtitle.
(e)
“Secretary” means the Secretary of State Police or the Secretary’s designee.
Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 5-402 (2026)
Title 5. Firearms
Subtitle 4. Handgun Roster
§ 5–402LinkCopy Citation
(a)
This subtitle does not affect a person’s right to:
(1)
manufacture, sell, or offer to sell a rifle or other weapon that is not defined as a handgun in § 4-201 of the Criminal Law Article;
(2)
manufacture a prototype handgun model required for design, development, testing, and approval by the Board; and
(3)
manufacture in this State a handgun that is not on the handgun roster by a federally licensed gun manufacturer who is also licensed as a regulated firearms dealer in this State for direct sale to a unit of:
(i)
the federal government;
(ii)
a state other than this State;
(iii)
a local government in a state other than this State; or
(iv)
a law enforcement agency in a state other than this State.
(b)
(1)
A person is not strictly liable for damages for injuries to another that result from the criminal use of a firearm by a third person.
(2)
Paragraph (1) of this subsection does not apply if the person conspired with the third person to commit the criminal act in which the firearm was used or willfully aided, abetted, or caused the commission of the criminal act in which the firearm was used.
(3)
This subtitle does not otherwise negate, limit, or modify the doctrine of negligence or strict liability that relates to abnormally dangerous products or activities and defective products.
Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 5-403 (2026)
Title 5. Firearms
Subtitle 4. Handgun Roster
§ 5–403LinkCopy Citation
The Secretary shall adopt regulations necessary to carry out this subtitle.
Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 5-404 (2026)
Title 5. Firearms
Subtitle 4. Handgun Roster
§ 5–404LinkCopy Citation
(a)
There is a Handgun Roster Board in the Department of State Police.
(b)
(1)
The Board consists of 11 members.
(2)
Of the 11 members of the Board:
(i)
one shall be the Secretary as an ex officio member;
(ii)
ten shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate; and
(iii)
all shall be Maryland residents.
(3)
Of the ten appointed members of the Board:
(i)
one shall be a representative of the Association of Chiefs of Police;
(ii)
one shall be a representative of the Maryland State’s Attorneys’ Association;
(iii)
one shall be a handgun dealer, gunsmith, or representative of a handgun manufacturer;
(iv)
one shall be a resident of the State who is a representative of the National Rifle Association or its affiliated State association;
(v)
one shall be a representative of an organization that advocates against handgun violence; and
(vi)
five shall be public members, two of whom shall be mechanical or electrical engineers.
(c)
The term of an appointed member is 4 years.
(d)
The Secretary shall serve as chairman.
(e)
The Board shall meet at the request of the chairman or of a majority of the members.
Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 5-405 (2026)
Title 5. Firearms
Subtitle 4. Handgun Roster
§ 5–405LinkCopy Citation
(a)
The Board shall:
(1)
compile and maintain a handgun roster of authorized handguns that are useful for legitimate sporting, self-protection, or law enforcement purposes;
(2)
annually publish the handgun roster in the Maryland Register; and
(3)
semiannually send a copy of the handgun roster to all persons who hold a State regulated firearm dealer’s license under Subtitle 1 of this title.
(b)
The Board shall consider carefully each of the following characteristics of a handgun without placing undue weight on any one characteristic in determining whether any handgun should be placed on the handgun roster:
(1)
concealability;
(2)
ballistic accuracy;
(3)
weight;
(4)
quality of materials;
(5)
quality of manufacture;
(6)
reliability as to safety;
(7)
caliber;
(8)
detectability by the standard security equipment that is commonly used at an airport or courthouse and that is approved by the Federal Aviation Administration for use at airports in the United States; and
(9)
utility for legitimate sporting activities, self-protection, or law enforcement.
(c)
(1)
The Board may place a handgun on the handgun roster on its own initiative.
(2)
The Board shall place a handgun on the handgun roster on the successful petition of any person subject to subsections (d) and (e) of this section, unless a court, after all appeals are exhausted, has made a finding that the decision of the Board shall be affirmed.
(3)
A petition to place a handgun on the handgun roster shall be submitted to the Board in writing in the form and manner that the Board requires.
(4)
A person who petitions for placement of a handgun on the handgun roster has the burden of proving to the Board that the handgun should be placed on the handgun roster.
(d)
(1)
Within 45 days after receipt of a petition to place a handgun on the handgun roster, the Board shall:
(i)
deny the petition in writing, stating the reasons for denial; or
(ii)
approve the petition and publish a description of the handgun in the Maryland Register, including notice that any objection to the handgun’s inclusion on the handgun roster shall be filed with the Board within 30 days.
(2)
If the Board fails to deny or approve a petition within the time required under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the petition shall be considered denied.
(e)
(1)
If the Board denies a petition to place a handgun on the handgun roster, the Board shall notify the petitioner by certified mail, return receipt requested.
(2)
The petitioner may request a hearing within 15 days after the date that the Board’s denial letter is received.
(3)
(i)
If the petitioner requests a hearing under paragraph (2) of this subsection, within a reasonable time not to exceed 90 days after receiving the request, the Board shall:
(1)
hold a hearing on the petition; and
(2)
issue a written final decision on the petition.
(ii)
The Board shall provide notice of the hearing in accordance with Title 10, Subtitle 2 of the State Government Article.
(iii)
At a hearing held under this paragraph, the petitioner has the burden of proving to the Board that the handgun should be placed on the handgun roster because the handgun is useful for legitimate sporting activities, self-protection, or law enforcement purposes.
(4)
Any party of record who is aggrieved may appeal within 30 days after a final decision of the Board in accordance with Title 10, Subtitle 2 of the State Government Article.
(f)
This section does not require the Board to test any handgun or have any handgun tested at the expense of the Board.
Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 5-406 (2026)
Title 5. Firearms
Subtitle 4. Handgun Roster
§ 5–406LinkCopy Citation
(a)
(1)
Except as provided in § 5–402 of this subtitle, a person may not manufacture for distribution or sale a handgun that is not included on the handgun roster in the State.
(2)
A person may not sell or offer for sale in the State a handgun manufactured after January 1, 1985, that is not included on the handgun roster.
(3)
A person may not manufacture, sell, or offer for sale a handgun on which the manufacturer’s identification mark or number is obliterated, removed, changed, or otherwise altered.
(b)
The Secretary may seek an order from a circuit court to permanently or temporarily enjoin the willful and continuous manufacture, sale, or offer for sale, in violation of this section, of a handgun that is not included on the handgun roster.
(c)
(1)
A person who manufactures a handgun for distribution or sale in violation of this section is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 5 years or a fine not exceeding $10,000 or both for each violation.
(2)
A person who sells or offers to sell a handgun in violation of this section is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 5 years or a fine not exceeding $2,500 or both for each violation.
(3)
For purposes of this subsection, each handgun manufactured, sold, or offered for sale in violation of this section is a separate violation.