Maryland Handgun Laws

There was a topic about this lost when the server crashed.

So for anyone who is interested, I was trying to add this information:

The law was enacted on January 1st, 2003 which required an internal lock mechanism for any new handgun purchased in Maryland. There is a grandfather clause which allows the purchase of any handgun without the internal lock manufactured prior to 1/1/2003.

Now here is what many people are not aware of (even my local gun shop didn't know this until I told them):

In June of 2004 there was a new gun lock added to the Maryland approved safety device list called "VisuaLock".

The addition of this new safety device supersedes the requirement of the internal lock.

You can purchase any handgun on the Maryland Handgun Roster manufactured on or after 1/1/2003. If it does not have an internal lock, you can purchase a VisuaLock and it is perfectly legal. The FFL dealer must ensure that the VisuaLock is included with the handgun when it is turned over to the buyer. They cost about $40.00 and you can buy them directly from the web site if your FFL dealer doesn't have them.

I have confirmed this is definitely true by speaking with MD State Police Sargeant Bill Szimanski of the Firearms Enforcement Division.

http://www.mdsp.maryland.gov/mdsp/downloads/Safety_devices.pdf

http://www.mdsp.maryland.gov/mdsp/handgun/handguns.asp

http://www.visualock.com/gunlocks/