Maryland prohibits any person from knowingly or willfully participating in a straw purchase of a “regulated firearm” (handgun or assault weapon).¹ Moreover, the state prohibits any person from being a knowing participant in a straw purchase of a regulated firearm to a minor or other prohibited person.² “Straw purchase” means a sale of a regulated firearm in which a person uses another, known as the straw purchaser, to: (1) complete the application to purchase a regulated firearm; (2) take initial possession of the regulated firearm; and (3) subsequently transfer the regulated firearm to the person.³

In addition, Maryland prohibits any person from possessing, selling or otherwise transferring a stolen regulated firearm if the person knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the regulated firearm has been stolen.⁴ The state also prohibits any person from transporting a regulated firearm into Maryland for the purpose of unlawfully selling or trafficking of the gun.⁵

No person may knowingly participate in the illegal sale, rental, transfer, purchase, possession or receipt of a regulated firearm in violation of the Maryland laws governing regulated firearms.⁶

It is also unlawful to knowingly provide false information or make a material misstatement in a firearm application or dealer’s license application.⁷

Maryland firearms dealer applications contain the following warning: “Any false information supplied or statement made in this application is a crime which may be punished by imprisonment for a period of not more than 3 years, or a fine of not more than $ 5,000 or both.”⁸

A licensed dealer may not transfer a regulated firearm until seven days have elapsed since the dealer has submitted a firearm transfer application, which has been completed by the buyer, to the Secretary of State Police, who then conducts a background check on the buyer.⁹ See Background Checks in Maryland.

MEDIA REQUESTS

Our experts can speak to the full spectrum of gun violence prevention issues. Have a question? Email us at media@giffords.org.

Contact

1. Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 5-136(b). See Md. Code Regs. 29.03.01.24 for specific straw purchase-related prohibitions.[↩]
2. Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 5-141.[↩]
3. Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 5-101(t).[↩]
4. Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 5-138.[↩]
5. Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 5-140.[↩]
6. Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 5-144(a).[↩]
7. Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 5-139.[↩]
8. Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 5-107(c).[↩]
9. Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety §§ 5-120, 5-123.[↩]