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General Discussion To Gateway To Airguns => Airgun Gate => : June 28, 2006, 07:33:43 AM

: Help with Maryland laws
: June 28, 2006, 07:33:43 AM

I have spoken with gun dealers, the state police, the city police, the sherrif's department, and the DNR...no one seems to know exactly what the laws are
regarding airgun useage on one's own land.

It is my understanding that since I am not within city limits I can basically do what  I want as long as it doesn't break other laws (no plinking the neighbor's kids for example).

Could anyone shed any light on their experience with shooting in Maryland?

Thanks in advance.

: RE: Help with Maryland laws
: raterminator June 28, 2006, 12:09:42 PM

My personal opinion is that even though the laws regarding air gun hunting are not clear, I believe that one may not use it as an excuse, and hunting must be done accordingly to the hunting laws and season regulations. But for example, in NY, Red squirrels are unprotected and may be hunted at any time without limit. Though Hunting License is required. If anyone plans to hunt with air gun, he should take Hunter Education Classes to obtain that license.

BTW, this thread belongs more to the Hunting Gate.

: Re: Help with Maryland laws
: June 28, 2006, 02:57:10 PM

I'm not really talking about hunting, specifically, although yes hunting is a subset of it. I am talking more about shooting in general. I would imagine that the general shooting laws are one thing and then the hunting laws are a subset underneath that
legal umbrella -- meaning that if the law says you cannot shoot your airgun on your property, it hardly matters if you go get a hunting license, you still can't shoot there.

: Re: Help with Maryland laws
: raterminator June 28, 2006, 04:23:27 PM

Sorry, I misunderstood you. I don’t think it would be a problem, since you’re out of city limits and the area is not over populated. But again, if police ask you about it, having a license could help you a lot.

: RE: Help with Maryland laws
: vinceb June 29, 2006, 04:54:02 AM

The local police - the ones who would come-a-knockin' on your door - what do THEY say?

: RE: Help with Maryland laws
: raterminator June 29, 2006, 11:06:09 AM

They only come if some of your nervous neighbors file complain. If by the law of your state registration is required and you don’t have one, they can confiscate the gun and you’ll be fined as well. On the contrary, the presence of license may affect their decision. I think, from state to sate the decision may vary.

Note: If you did something wrong and caused real danger to people around you, the license will be of no help for you. Safety is always a must.

: Re: Help with Maryland laws
: June 29, 2006, 02:04:01 PM

I spoke with the state police and they told me it is fine criminally but if you're an idiot and do something like shoot someone then of course civil penalties may exist. Basically it's not a firearm (duh) and you can use it on your property.

Where I live I am covered by the sherriff's dept and when I called them...well let's just say the experience didn't make me think much of the Sherriff's dept in my area.

He had no knowledge of the laws and referred me to the state authorities. Basically the city near where I live consider airguns to be firearms and they are illegal to use. But I live outside of the city limits (farm country) so I am fine.

I tell you though, finding anyone who actually knew what the hell the rules and regulations were was a major hassle.

: Re: Help with Maryland laws
: vinceb June 29, 2006, 04:09:06 PM

Yup. Similar thing happened to me in NJ, when I asked about making a couple of pistols I had (1911A1, .38sp) legal. They were given to me when a friend's father died, and the newest is about 60 years old.

After being passed around to a couple of different officers, I was put in touch with a detective at the local PD. After much introspection, he told me that as long as I have a Firearms Purchaser ID card (which normally applies to long guns), I should be fine.

And I am almost certain that he's wrong.