Transporting magazines greater than 10 rounds through Maryland

[steve]

I see nothing in the Maryland Law regarding possession of magazines over 10 rounds. Am I reading the law correctly? Can someone from Pennsylvania travel through Maryland with a Glock 17 mag to Virginia?

[GardoneVT]

I see nothing in the Maryland Law regarding possession of magazines over 10 rounds. Am I reading the law correctly? Can someone from Pennsylvania travel through Maryland with a Glock 17 mag to Virginia?

In theory, the FOPA should provide protection for your travelling status between PA and VA.

In practice, mailing the magazines via UPS/Fedex to your destination is a smarter tactic. Or buying 10 rounders and using those instead. Both approaches are better then trusting fate you won't get stopped by an ignorant LEO en route.

[Byron]

Standard disclaimer: I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice. I take no responsibility... yaddayaddayadda...

But yes, you are reading the law correctly. Even MD residents are not forbidden from possessing them: we cannot manufacture, sell, purchase, transfer, etc. But so long as the 11+ mag is not created in the state, nor transferred in the state, there is no crime. MD residents frequently drive to VA or PA, buy PMAGs and such, then return home. They have broken no law, and they can use the magazines in MD.

Don't carry on your person through MD (as MD doesn't recognize any permits but their own), but empty Glock 17 magazines in your trunk are not against the law.

[steve]

I understand FOPA and the advantage to mailing. Nothing I read in the Maryland law deals with importation or possession. You can't sell, transfer, lend but I don't see anything about possession. I understand MD residents can purchase in VA and PA and bring them back. Basically as a non resident can even without FOPA can I drive through the state with 17 round magazines. I have some matches I want to shoot and I don't want to buy more magazines (10 rounders) if I don't need them.

[steve]

Standard disclaimer: I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice. I take no responsibility... yaddayaddayadda...

But yes, you are reading the law correctly. Even MD residents are not forbidden from possessing them: we cannot manufacture, sell, purchase, transfer, etc. But so long as the 11+ mag is not created in the state, nor transferred in the state, there is no crime. MD residents frequently drive to VA or PA, buy PMAGs and such, then return home. They have broken no law, and they can use the magazines in MD.

Don't carry on your person through MD (as MD doesn't recognize any permits but their own), but empty Glock 17 magazines in your trunk are not against the law.

Thanks after I just typed my response to the first post I saw yours.

[GardoneVT]

I understand FOPA and the advantage to mailing. Nothing I read in the Maryland law deals with importation or possession. You can't sell, transfer, lend but I don't see anything about possession. I understand MD residents can purchase in VA and PA and bring them back. Basically as a non resident can even without FOPA can I drive through the state with 17 round magazines. I have some matches I want to shoot and I don't want to buy more magazines (10 rounders) if I don't need them.

Ordering 10 round magazines are cheap insurance compared to a weekend in jail, an impounded vehicle,and a seized weapon.

I don't wish to sound alarmist, and indeed what you seek to do is by the letter of the law legal. Yet, all it takes is one misunderstanding on the side of the road to ruin everyone's night. When it comes to jurisdictions with magazine restrictions, best do as the Romans do and carry 10 rounders.

I'm reminded of the case where a LEO in the vicinity of Baltimore stopped a driver from Florida and searched his vehicle for 45 minutes straight on the side of the road, looking for a gun said driver already said didn't exist in the vehicle. There wasn't even a question of legal ownership of a gun, and yet look at the grief suffered.Had said cop found a Glock 17 with standard capacity mags in the case, someone would have taken a ride.

Either way, the choice is yours .

[Byron]

Driving through MD with a 17 round magazine in your trunk is 100% as legal as driving through MD without a 17 round magazine in your trunk.

But hey, a law enforcement officer might enforce a law that doesn't exist, so don't do it. Better safe than sorry. Better not drive through MD at all. After all, some overzealous cop could mistakenly believe that private ownership of automobiles is a crime. Never know. Reminds me of the time a cop did a thing with a person because of reasons. And reasons led to things. Imagine if other things had led to other things with different reasons? Could have been bad!

I was just at the shooting range here in MD on Thursday. Many private citizens and many law enforcement officers came and left: some for practice, some for classes. Many individuals (in each group) were using magazines with capacities greater than 10. I personally was using 17 round Glock mags, 15 round Glock mags, and 30 round PMAGs. No one asked me anything about them. Everything was going fine until this one citizen walked up to a cop and said, "excuse me sir, how do the laws work about magazines?" And the cop freaked out and said "ASSAULT GUN HE'S COMIN' RIGHT FOR ME!" and shot the citizen right in the face eleventy-billion times.

Parts of that last paragraph are 100% true. With enough detective work, I bet people can figure out which parts.

[TGS]

Parts of that last paragraph are 100% true. With enough detective work, I bet people can figure out which parts.

Well, figuring out which parts are true is pretty easy.

I just want an eleventy-billion round magazine, too!

[GardoneVT]

Driving through MD with a 17 round magazine in your trunk is 100% as legal as driving through MD without a 17 round magazine in your trunk.

But hey, a law enforcement officer might enforce a law that doesn't exist, so don't do it. Better safe than sorry. Better not drive through MD at all. After all, some overzealous cop could mistakenly believe that private ownership of automobiles is a crime. Never know.


So, you'll be paying the OPs bail and expenses if he gets jammed up?

Its easy to sound gung ho when it's someone else's rear on the line. I'm of the opinion that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, but maybe I'm just crazy.

[steve]

It is as simple as this. I read the law and it states nothing about possession and importation for residents or out of state residents. If I am wrong on that I want to be corrected. If the law allows it I will be doing it.

[Dropkick]

So, you'll be paying the OPs bail and expenses if he gets jammed up?

Its easy to sound gung ho when it's someone else's rear on the line. I'm of the opinion that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, but maybe I'm just crazy.

I don't see Byron advocating anyone take any chances with the law (whatever the interpertation of it is.) Nor is he the kind of guy that would take chances either. Sooo... I'm not sure where you were going with that one.

[Byron]

So, you'll be paying the OPs bail and expenses if he gets jammed up?

Its easy to sound gung ho when it's someone else's rear on the line. I'm of the opinion that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, but maybe I'm just crazy.
I don't know if you're not reading what I'm writing, or you're not understanding it, or what. My rear is absolutely on the line. I live in Maryland. I have lived in Maryland my entire life. I own firearms. I own magazines with capacities greater than ten rounds. My ownership of these items is perfectly legal.

Were it illegal to own/use magazines with a capacity greater than 10 rounds, law enforcement around here wouldn't need to pull anyone over: they could just walk into any shooting range in the state and arrest most of the people there.

Your attitude of 'better safe than sorry' is meaningless when applied to a legal activity in which you fear that you'll run into a law enforcement officer who has concocted a non-existent law.
By the same logic, I could just as easily say that you might as well not own guns at all. A LEO in your area might mistakenly believe that it's illegal. And then what will you do? OMG!

Show me the law where it says that 11+ mags cannot be possessed in this state. Until then you are just scaring people needlessly. You seem to have a great hobby of this: overstating the restrictiveness of state gun control laws. I've seen you stepping on people's toes from California to New Jersey. I guess now Maryland is the next lucky winner, huh?

[JDM]

So, you'll be paying the OPs bail and expenses if he gets jammed up?

Its easy to sound gung ho when it's someone else's rear on the line. I'm of the opinion that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, but maybe I'm just crazy.

Jammed up for NOT breaking a law?

[GardoneVT]

Your attitude of 'better safe than sorry' is meaningless when applied to a legal activity in which you fear that you'll run into a law enforcement officer who has concocted a non-existent law.


Except police arresting people in direct violation of the FOPA has actually happened.

See Revell vs NJ/NY Port Authority.

Court case not enough proof (http://tbo.com/list/columns-tjackson/jackson-gun-owner-unarmed-unwelcome-in-maryland-20140112/)?


"The officer came back to John. “You're a liar. You're lying to me. Your family says you have it. Where is the gun? Tell me where it is and we can resolve this right now.”

Of course, John couldn't show him what didn't exist, but Kally's failure to corroborate John's account, the officer would tell them later, was the probable cause that allowed him to summon backup — three marked cars joined the lineup along the I-95 shoulder — and empty the Expedition of riders, luggage, Christmas gifts, laundry bags; to pat down Kally and Yianni; to explore the engine compartment and probe inside door panels; and to separate and isolate the Filippidises in the back seats of the patrol cars."

Last I checked, it wasn't illegal to drive through Maryland with a firearm locked in the trunk. That legal fact didn't do John Filippidis much good on the side of the road as his car was being disassembled by Maryland's finest-and he didn't even HAVE a gun in the vehicle.

[Dan_S]

<snip> blah blah blah <snip>


To put this politely, you're talking way out of your lane.

[JRB]

Except police arresting people in direct violation of the FOPA has actually happened.

See Revell vs NJ/NY Port Authority.

Court case not enough proof (http://tbo.com/list/columns-tjackson/jackson-gun-owner-unarmed-unwelcome-in-maryland-20140112/)?


"The officer came back to John. “You're a liar. You're lying to me. Your family says you have it. Where is the gun? Tell me where it is and we can resolve this right now.”

Of course, John couldn't show him what didn't exist, but Kally's failure to corroborate John's account, the officer would tell them later, was the probable cause that allowed him to summon backup — three marked cars joined the lineup along the I-95 shoulder — and empty the Expedition of riders, luggage, Christmas gifts, laundry bags; to pat down Kally and Yianni; to explore the engine compartment and probe inside door panels; and to separate and isolate the Filippidises in the back seats of the patrol cars."

Last I checked, it wasn't illegal to drive through Maryland with a firearm locked in the trunk. That legal fact didn't do John Filippidis much good on the side of the road as his car was being disassembled by Maryland's finest-and he didn't even HAVE a gun in the vehicle.


Your example seems to be arguing a case for making sure all occupants are all informed as to the number and nature of any and all legal firearms and legal magazines are carried in the vehicle. So long as a police officer doesn't get conflicting stories, there's no more probable cause. Remember that Mr. Filippidis wasn't suspected of possessing a giggle-switch AK or even a standard capacity magazine - that LEO was simply looking for a GUN.

Everyone on this forum understands fully just how important it is to be firmly and decisively lawful in all things regarding firearms.
But if you're travelling through a generally anti-gun state while carrying firearms, and you get pulled over by a local LEO with a hate-on for privately owned firearms, 10 round magazines will NOT spare you a serious headache.
But making sure that everyone's singing from the same sheet of accurate and truthful music, though, will prevent it from being any worse than it has to be.

Rule #1, as ever, is be within the bounds of law. Also, have knowledge of the specific laws that might be particularly germane to preventing a misunderstanding.
If a misunderstanding occurs, and your explanations or references to law combined with your credentials, home state CHL, etc. doesn't clear things up, politely comply with all lawful orders, shut up, and wait for your lawyer.

Yes, that'd be a mother-kittening huge headache to deal with. But if you don't have the minerals to deal with such a process, just how the heck would you handle the circus that comes with actually *using* your firearm defensively against another human being?

Again, emphatically, be within the bounds of law. That makes for a much easier defense against any potential prosecution - or persecution, as it may seem.

[abu fitna]

Unfortunately, this is a debate that comes down to the lack of trust that some officers in Maryland would know what the law actually says, and would enforce it properly. What other officers do in the course of more routine interactions with folks in some situations may not always be the best measure of how some may react during a vehicle stop or other less conversational encounter. There are a number of regrettable cases from MD, and even more from NJ and NY (where many now transplanted MD officers hail), that give rise to caution.

I personally have switched to single stack platforms when forced to transit MD with personally owned weapons in a compliant transport condition. This is particularly galling when my destination is not in the state (and when transit through the MD is merely a short few hours at best, but detours are not practical - particularly given the alternative of hard winter weather in the mountains of WV). But this lack of trust is the reason. We can cite stories where these lessons have been learned by others, but for me it is also borne out of personal experience with the subset of those kinds of officers who frankly should not be on the job at all, and the very real existence of an uncaring bureaucracy that will without thought or discretion ruin livelihoods and trample protected rights solely to protect revenue generation opportunities, personal egos, prosecution theories across other cases, biases, utopian visions, or any of a hundred other entirely arbitrary and capricious motivations.

I make the same decision in a number of other jurisdictions where the local governments' many abuses have strongly indicated that the law abiding citizens of those states which remain free are not welcomed. And the first part of that decision is to avoid these places whenever possible, although this is not always as easily done as it is said.

Maybe this is not the advice for everyone. After all, I am certainly not a lawyer. Maybe it is an over abundance of caution. On the other hand, in a past life I have seen more than a few warrants for subjects originally encountered in highway stops where the fact pattern clearly suggests what should have been entirely FOPA protected transport of weapons; leading to long and costly court cases compounded by difficulties in responding with an effective defense where notification to the subject's out of state home was more than a bit deficient (and while I would not say deliberately so absent direct evidence of malicious intent, the trend is perhaps not coincidence.) As a result, speaking for me and mine, I do not trust and will take precautions accordingly.

[steve]

So out of all the above threads I have picked out the following:

---It is legal to transport unloaded magazines over 10 rounds through Maryland to a destination point beyond.

---Some would say don't do it at all.

[TCinVA]

Except police arresting people in direct violation of the FOPA has actually happened.

See Revell vs NJ/NY Port Authority.


Byron spoke specifically about Maryland law...which is relevant given that the original question was asked specifically about Maryland. Given that Byron hasn't yet been assaulted by any police officers, nor have any of the number of other members on our board who live in Maryland, I'd say he's offering pretty sound advice.

[Dan_S]

Byron spoke specifically about Maryland law...which is relevant given that the original question was asked specifically about Maryland. Given that Byron hasn't yet been assaulted by any police officers, nor have any of the number of other members on our board who live in Maryland, I'd say he's offering pretty sound advice.

You don't say.....

[Drang]

Let's be honest, shall we?
Unfortunately, this is a debate that comes down to the lack of trust that many or most police officers don't know what their state or Federal firearms law actually says, and would enforce it properly. (Edits in red)
This adds nothing to the debate about whether it would be prudent to transport legal objects through any particular jurisdiction on the off chance that you might have contact with a particular police officer there who has a hate on for people who possess that legal object, but this is why the NRA has a Civil Rights Legal Defense Fund - Default (http://nradefensefund.org/)Civil Rights Legal Defense Fund - Default (http://nradefensefund.org/). Unfortunately, they aren't big enough to help everyone who needs it, and most people I've spoken to who contacted "the NRA" for help were talking to the subscription department, or NRA-ILA.
I am leery of advice to retain a lawyer in advance "just in case", not being in business or anything, but there seem to be more and more lawyers who are savvy re: Firearms law, and maybe, especially if traveling, it might not be a bad idea to pay one a retainer...

[cclaxton]

Maryland Shall Issue has researched this for us: https://marylandshallissue.com/faqs/what-are-marylands-laws-regarding-magazine-capacity/
The law restricts Maryland citizens from purchasing or transferring high capacity magazines within the State. It does not prohibit their possession. In fact, MD citizens are legally able to purchase them in another State and transport them in and use them.

I think everything on this link is correct: http://www.handgunlaw.us/states/maryland.pdf

I am a Virginia resident and I belong to Thurmont, MD gun range and attend AAFG IDPA matches every month and I travel through to Pennsylvania regularly. As long as you keep your guns unloaded and in your trunk or in a locked box in the rear compartment, then Title 18 protects you, as long as you are legally entitled to possess the handgun in your own State. (NOTE: This is not true of banned assault weapons. See thread on this topic if interested.)

Maryland has a specific SPORTING EXCEPTION under the Maryland Code at: § 4-203. (ABBREVIATED) "Wearing, carrying, or transporting handgun

(1) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a person may not:

(ii) wear, carry, or knowingly transport a handgun, whether concealed or open, in a vehicle traveling on a road or parking lot generally used by the public, highway, waterway, or airway of the State;

(b) Exceptions. -- This section does not prohibit:

(4) the wearing, carrying, or transporting by a person of a handgun used in connection with an organized military activity, a target shoot, formal or informal target practice, sport shooting event, hunting, a Department of Natural Resources-sponsored firearms and hunter safety class, trapping, or a dog obedience training class or show, while the person is engaged in, on the way to, or returning from that activity if each handgun is unloaded and carried in an enclosed case or an enclosed holster;"

Just remember your 4th Amendment right against searches: "I consent to no searches." This applies in any State, even where carry is legal.

The whole idea of a cop arresting you because he didn't know the law applies to ANY STATE and to ANY OFFENSE. It is totally bogus to suggest that Maryland cops are any more prone to an illegal search or arrest than any other State. I worry more about the County Sheriff Deputies in rural Virginia more than I do about the Maryland State Police.

Cops could come barging into your house tonight with a "No-knock" warrant using the wrong address for a criminal. Nothing is going to stop mistakes from happening, no matter where you are.
Cody (This is my own understanding, and use of this information is at your own risk.)

[Spr1]

Interesting reminder posted by cclaxton that at present Maryland law conflicts with federal interstate transport law. If I understand both, a big if.....

[cclaxton]

There is no conflict as far as I can see. I was trying to make it clear that there is no issue with non-residents transporting high capacity magazines through Maryland. The law only penalizes RESIDENTS who purchase or transfer within Maryland. It does not penalize possession or transportation or use. (And even allows Maryland residents to purchase elsewhere and bring them in for legal possession and use.)

For pistols, non-residents are covered under Title 18 for driving through Maryland...including high cap magazines, subject to the transport rules.

For attending pistol matches or range practice, residents and non-residents are protected by BOTH Title 18 and State law, subject to transporting unloaded, etc.

Of course you must be legally able to possess the firearms and ammo in your own State of Residence, and it must be legal to possess them at your destination, etc.

Let's not try and demonize Maryland too much here...while there are a number of annoying minor firearms laws in Maryland, the three big issues with the Maryland laws are:
1) No "must issue" for concealed carry;
2) No reciprocity for any other States, although quite a few States do accept the Maryland permit. (BTW, it's not impossible to get a Maryland permit);
3) The "assault weapon" ban that was passed in 2013, which creates a whole bunch of stupid restrictions that create "pre-ban" category of weapons that residents and non-residents must track, and bans legal sporting use of these firearms if purchased after Oct 1, 2013, and a number of other related restrictions. (This would not stop you from transporting them through the State under Title 18).

I travel to Maryland every week, so I try to make sure I know all the laws. That being said, confirm it for yourself.
Cody

[joshs]

There is no conflict as far as I can see. I was trying to make it clear that there is no issue with non-residents transporting high capacity magazines through Maryland. The law only penalizes RESIDENTS who purchase or transfer within Maryland. It does not penalize possession or transportation or use. (And even allows Maryland residents to purchase elsewhere and bring them in for legal possession and use.)

For pistols, non-residents are covered under Title 18 for driving through Maryland...including high cap magazines, subject to the transport rules.

For attending pistol matches or range practice, residents and non-residents are protected by BOTH Title 18 and State law, subject to transporting unloaded, etc.

Of course you must be legally able to possess the firearms and ammo in your own State of Residence, and it must be legal to possess them at your destination, etc.

Let's not try and demonize Maryland too much here...while there are a number of annoying minor firearms laws in Maryland, the three big issues with the Maryland laws are:
1) No "must issue" for concealed carry;
2) No reciprocity for any other States, although quite a few States do accept the Maryland permit. (BTW, it's not impossible to get a Maryland permit);
3) The "assault weapon" ban that was passed in 2013, which creates a whole bunch of stupid restrictions that create "pre-ban" category of weapons that residents and non-residents must track, and bans legal sporting use of these firearms if purchased after Oct 1, 2013, and a number of other related restrictions. (This would not stop you from transporting them through the State under Title 18).

I travel to Maryland every week, so I try to make sure I know all the laws. That being said, confirm it for yourself.
Cody

Just to clarify, the magazine prohibitions are not in any way tied to a person's status as a resident or non-resident of Maryland. Non-residents are subject to the same magazine prohibitions as residents, but as a practical matter, non-residents are probably only likely to risk violating the transfer prohibition. While it's normally considered to be standard range etiquette to pick up shooters' mags for them as part of the stage reset, I wouldn't risk it in Maryland.

[Byron]

Last I checked, it wasn't illegal to drive through Maryland with a firearm locked in the trunk. That legal fact didn't do John Filippidis much good on the side of the road as his car was being disassembled by Maryland's finest-and he didn't even HAVE a gun in the vehicle.
You're correct: driving through MD with a firearm locked in the trunk is not illegal.

I see a few issues with using this article to bolster your point, however.

1. While trunk carry is legal in MD, carrying in the glove box or center console is NOT. (At least without a MD carry permit). It is treated like a concealed firearm if carried in these spots. When questioned, the husband said he didn't have his gun. When the officer asked the wife separately about the gun, she responded with "Maybe in the glove . Maybe in the console."

2. Despite your earlier warnings about travel, this case did not end with a "seized vehicle," or a "weekend in jail." The citizen was detained on the side of the road, then left to go. It doesn't mean I'm happy about what happened in this case, and I still have a lot of questions about the initial stop. The fact remains, however, that a passenger in a vehicle hypothesized about potentially illegal behavior by the driver (again: carrying in the glove box or center console).

3. Mailing your posessions is not a risk-free practice. Honestly, how often are people on these forums getting pulled over? I've been driving in MD my entire life, and have been pulled over 3 or 4 times. In all cases, I was exceeding the speed limit. At no time during these events was I ever asked about the contents of my vehicle.

During my same lifetime, I [b]have lost items in the mail: more than a handful. Speaking only for myself, I statistically have a greater chance of losing mailed magazines than I do of even being pulled over in the first place, much less having them stolen by an officer.

4. Your earlier advice was:

...mailing the magazines via UPS/Fedex to your destination is a smarter tactic. Or buying 10 rounders and using those instead. Both approaches are better then trusting fate you won't get stopped by an ignorant LEO en route.

Ordering 10 round magazines are cheap insurance compared to a weekend in jail, an impounded vehicle,and a seized weapon.
By your description, these represent an "ounce of prevention" that prevent the need for a "pound of cure."

But the man in your case went a step even beyond your advice. He could have been said to have an entire pound of prevention: he had no firearm with him at all. Did your solution help him?

We can both agree that people get jammed up sometimes, even though they haven't actually broken the law. Maybe it's a mistake. Maybe it's a miscommunication. Maybe it's malice. It happens for a multitude of reasons.

But your resulting advice doesn't logically follow. Since maybe, just maybe, you'll run into a hyperactive officer with a bone to pick, you should obey laws that... don't exist.

Do you really think something like this could happen in MD?
"Excuse me sir, do you have any weapons in your vehicle?"
"Yes, I have a handgun in my trunk."
"I hate handguns! And I hate hi-cap mags! What kind of mag do you have?"
"Only 10 rounds sir."
"Drat, I was going to arrest you, but now I have to let you go."

Here's a position that is perfectly analogous to yours:

Because there have been reports of police officers illegally searching people for narcotics (http://www.kob.com/article/stories/s3209305.shtml) in New Mexico, you shouldn't drive through NM with your legal prescription for Prozac. Better mail it to your destination, just to be safe. Sure, your possession of the Prozac is 100% legal, but what if an officer doesn't know that? You could end up getting multiple rectal exams like that poor chap did.

Or because, in times past, people have been arrested for saying bad words in public, we should probably just stop saying bad words in public: even if perfectly legal. After all, a stupid officer might arrest us.

In your effort prevent officers from infringing on your rights, you are simply giving up your rights.

[Dropkick]

TL;DR

Byron thinks we should all keister our high-cap mags while in MD. ;)
I'll be putting mine on a tactical lanyard for quick-deploy. :cool:

Coming Soon:
Keister Keeper Mag Pouch (TM, patent pending, etc.)
"Putting square pegs in round holes"

[orionz06]

Byron thinks we should all keister our high-cap mags while in MD. ;)
I'll be putting mine on a tactical lanyard for quick-deploy. :cool:

Coming Soon:
Keister Keeper Mag Pouch (TM, patent pending, etc.)
"Putting square pegs in round holes"

You know... This does explain why you guys don't come up here often.

I'll send some Froglube.

[Spr1]

There is no conflict as far as I can see. I was trying to make it clear that there is no issue with non-residents transporting high capacity magazines through Maryland. The law only penalizes RESIDENTS who purchase or transfer within Maryland. It does not penalize possession or transportation or use. (And even allows Maryland residents to purchase elsewhere and bring them in for legal possession and use.)

For pistols, non-residents are covered under Title 18 for driving through Maryland...including high cap magazines, subject to the transport rules.

For attending pistol matches or range practice, residents and non-residents are protected by BOTH Title 18 and State law, subject to transporting unloaded, etc.

Of course you must be legally able to possess the firearms and ammo in your own State of Residence, and it must be legal to possess them at your destination, etc.

Let's not try and demonize Maryland too much here...while there are a number of annoying minor firearms laws in Maryland, the three big issues with the Maryland laws are:
1) No "must issue" for concealed carry;
2) No reciprocity for any other States, although quite a few States do accept the Maryland permit. (BTW, it's not impossible to get a Maryland permit);
3) The "assault weapon" ban that was passed in 2013, which creates a whole bunch of stupid restrictions that create "pre-ban" category of weapons that residents and non-residents must track, and bans legal sporting use of these firearms if purchased after Oct 1, 2013, and a number of other related restrictions. (This would not stop you from transporting them through the State under Title 18).

I travel to Maryland every week, so I try to make sure I know all the laws. That being said, confirm it for yourself.
Cody

My comment was in relation to "assault rifles" and pre-Oct 2013 purchase vs. post. My understanding is that if you get pulled over in Maryland, perhaps only as a resident, you might have to prove that you purchased said item prior to the law being imposed.

Maryland makes me nauseous, I live here.

But Thurmont is an awesome range complex. See you Saturday?

[TheTrevor]

Byron thinks we should all keister our high-cap mags while in MD. ;)
I'll be putting mine on a tactical lanyard for quick-deploy. :cool:

Coming Soon:
Keister Keeper Mag Pouch (TM, patent pending, etc.)
"Putting square pegs in round holes"

OMFG. Dropkick wins.

/thread