Handgun Qualification License

A person may purchase, rent, or receive a handgun only if the person is not prohibited from purchasing or possessing a handgun under state or federal law, and:

• Possesses a valid handgun qualification license issued by the Secretary of State;
• Possesses valid credentials from a law enforcement agency or retirement credentials from a law enforcement agency;
• Is an active or retired member of the armed forces and possess a valid military ID; or
• Is purchasing, renting, or receiving an antique, curio, or relic firearm as defined by federal law.¹

The Secretary must issue a handgun qualification license to a person who the Secretary finds:

• Is at least 21 years old;
• Is a resident of Maryland;
• Has demonstrated satisfactory completion, within three years prior to the submission of his or her application of a firearms safety training course approved by the Secretary, that includes: 1) A minimum of four hours of instruction by a qualified handgun instructor; 2) Class instruction on state firearm law, home firearm safety, and handgun mechanisms and operation; and 3) A firearms orientation component that demonstrates the person’s safe operation and handling of a firearm; and
• Based on an investigation, is not prohibited by federal or state law from purchasing or possessing a handgun.²

The Secretary must apply to the Central Repository (meaning the Criminal Justice Information System Central Repository of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services) for a state and national criminal history records check for each applicant for a handgun qualification license.³ The information obtained from the Central Repository is confidential and may not be disseminated.⁴

Within 30 days of application, the Secretary must issue either a handgun qualification license or a written denial of the application that contains the reason the application was denied and a statement of the applicant’s appeal rights.⁵

A handgun qualification license expires 10 years from the date of issuance and may be renewed.⁶

A handgun qualification license may be revoked by the Secretary upon a determination that the licensee is no longer qualified. A person holding a license that has been revoked must return the license within five days after receipt of the notice of revocation.⁷

A person whose application for a handgun qualification license is denied or whose handgun qualification license is revoked may submit a written request to the Secretary for a hearing within 30 days after the date the written notice of the denial or revocation was sent. A hearing must be granted by the Secretary within 15 days after the request and must be held in the county of the legal residence of the applicant or licensee.⁸

Firearm Application

In addition, Maryland requires that purchasers of state-defined “regulated firearms” (handguns and assault weapons)⁹ first complete the state’s application form.¹⁰ If the transfer is approved, the person has 90 days to complete the purchase.¹¹ See the Background Checks in Maryland section for further information.

As of October 1, 2013, firearm applications must contain an affirmation that the applicant¹²:

• Is at least 21 years old;
• Has never been convicted of a “common law crime” and received a term of imprisonment over two years;
• Has never been convicted of a disqualifying crime;
• Is not a fugitive from justice;
• Is not a habitual drunkard;
• Is not addicted to a controlled dangerous substance or is not a habitual user;
• Does not suffer from a mental health disorder as defined by Maryland law and does not have a history of violent behavior against themselves or another person;
• Has never been: 1) Found incompetent to stand trial; 2) Found “not criminally responsible” due to mental health issue; 3) Voluntarily admitted for more than 30 consecutive days to a state facility; 4) Involuntarily committed to a state health facility; or 5) Admitted to a mental health facility because of an emergency evaluation or, if so admitted, possesses a certificate from the facility that he or she is capable of possessing a regulated firearm without “undue danger” to himself, herself or another person;
• Is not under the protection of a guardian appointed by a court (except for case in which appointment of a guardian is solely a result of a physical disability);
• Is not a respondent against whom: 1) A current non ex parte civil protective order has been entered under § 4-506 of the Family Law Article of the Maryland Code; or 2) An order for protection has been issued by a court of another state or a Native American Tribe and is in effect;
• If under age 30 at the time of application, has not been adjudicated delinquent by a juvenile court for an act that would be a disqualifying crime if committed by an adult; and
• Has completed a certified firearms safety training course that the Police Training Commission conducts or that meets the standards that the Police Training Commission establishes.¹³

The application must also contain a copy of the applicant’s handgun qualification license and the date and time that the firearm applicant delivered the completed application to the prospective seller or transferor.¹⁴

For further information on Maryland’s gun safety training requirements, please consult the Maryland Firearms Safety Training Website.

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1. Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 5-117.1(c).[↩]
2. Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 5-117.1(d).[↩]
3. Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 5-117.1(f)(1), (2).[↩]
4. Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 5-117.1(f)(6).[↩]
5. Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 5-117.1(h)(1).[↩]
6. Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 5-117.1(i).[↩]
7. Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 5-117.1(k).[↩]
8. Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 5-117.1(l).[↩]
9. Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 5-101(r).[↩]
10. Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety §§ 5-117, 5-118.[↩]
11. Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 5-123(b).[↩]
12. Md. Code Ann. Pub. Safety § 5-118.[↩]
13. See Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 3-207 for information on the Police Training Commission’s powers and duties.[↩]
14. Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 5-118.[↩]