What Weapons are Prohibited in the State of Maryland
The Firearms Safety Act of 2013 is highly controversial legislation that bans certain rifles, pistols and shotguns, deeming them assault weapons. Restrictions are also placed on detachable magazines with a capacity larger than 10 rounds. Filtering through the legal jargon and various features can make it difficult to determine what exactly the law prohibits. That's why we've assembled a guide to help understand what weapons are banned in the state of Maryland.

Share:

Important Considerations for Maryland Gun Owners

UPDATE: On August 3rd, 2020, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the Federal District Court’s decision to halt a lawsuit from gun advocacy group Maryland Shall Issue and a local gun store, Atlantic guns. The original lawsuit claimed that the Firearm Safety Act of 2013 violated the Second and Fourteenth Amendments by causing unnecessary burdens on gun owners in Maryland. In 2019, the Federal District Court dismissed the gun owner-friendly lawsuit.

The August 3rd ruling by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed this dismissal, ruling that Atlantic Guns had, in fact, suffered undue burdens from the Firearm Safety Act. The court agreed that the sales of Atlantic Guns fell due to additional costs for potential customers who wished to purchase guns.

UPDATE: On July 21st, 2017, a group of Maryland gun rights advocates, with the backing of the NRA, filed a petition with the Supreme Court seeking the reversal of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals decision to uphold Maryland's Firearm Safety Act. SCOTUS has not yet decided whether it will review the case.

UPDATE: On February 21st, 2017 the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va. voted (10-4) to uphold Maryland's Firearms Safety Act, stating that the banned firearms are not protected by the Second Amendment of the United States.

UPDATE: On February 2nd, 2016, a federal appeals court ruled that a lower court was wrong when it upheld Maryland's Firearm Safety Act. The 2-1 decision comes as a serious blow to the restrictive gun law, and could lead to lawmakers eventually overturning or amending the restrictions. At this time, the ruling does not affect the information presented above.

Current Weapons Grandfathered In
"Assault weapons" possessed as of October 1, 2013 will be "grandfathered" in, meaning that if you already own a weapon that would be banned by the Firearms Safety Act, you can continue to possess and transport it.

Sales of Detachable Magazines
In addition to the ban of weapons, the Firearms Safety Act makes it illegal to manufacture, sell, offer for sale, purchase, receive, or transfer a detachable magazine that has a capacity of more than 10 rounds of ammunition for a firearm.

Weapons Specifically Banned in Maryland
See our list below to determine if your weapon has been banned in the statute, banned as a copycat or copy of an enumerated weapon, or reviewed by Maryland Police and not banned. You can also visit mdsp.maryland.gov

Banned weapons listed in statute

Banned as a copycat or copy of a listed weapon

Reviewed weapons NOT banned

Still Unsure if your Weapon is Banned?

Maryland State Police have shared this form for any weapon owners who wish to have their firearm's status reviewed.