§ 57-4. Discharge of guns in the urban area.

(a) Prohibition. Except as provided in subsection (b), a person, other than a peace officer or employee of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources performing official duties, must not discharge a gun within the urban area.

(b) Exceptions. Except as provided in Sections 57-7 and 57-11, a person may discharge a gun:

(1) on any indoor or outdoor target, trap, skeet, or shooting range that the Firearms Safety Committee has inspected and approved in writing;

(2) in a private basement or cellar target range;

(3) when necessary to protect life or property;

(4) to kill a dangerous animal;

(5) for discharge of blank cartridges in musical and theatrical performances, parades, or sporting events;

(6) for salutes by firing squads at military funerals;

(7) if approved by the Chief of Police, under a deer damage control permit issued by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources;

(8) for the purpose of deer hunting on private property that is at least 50 acres in size if:

(A) the person discharges the gun from an elevated position;

(B) the person does not load the gun until the person is located in the elevated position;

(C) the person unloads the gun before descending from the elevated position;

(D) the projectile has a downward trajectory;

(E) the property owner complies with any public notice requirements in applicable regulations; and

(F) the property owner gives written notice to the Chief of Police at least 15 days before any gun is discharged on the property which:

1. identifies the day or days on which deer hunting will occur;

2. identifies the time that deer hunting will begin and end each day;

3. lists the name of each individual who will participate in deer hunting; and

4. includes a copy of the record plat or tax assessment record for the property; or

(9) on property owned by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission as a part of a deer management program conducted or sanctioned by the Commission that complies with safety requirements approved by the Chief of Police.

(c) 50-acre threshold.

(1) Subject to the requirements of paragraph (2), up to 5 owners of contiguous parcels of property may aggregate their property to meet the 50-acre threshold in subsection (b)(8).

(2) If property owners aggregate their parcels to achieve the 50-acre threshold in subsection (b)(8), a person may discharge a gun for the purpose of deer hunting on the aggregated property if the person obtains written permission from each property owner, which must include a copy of the record plat or tax assessment record for each parcel in the aggregated property.

(d) A person who discharges a gun under the authority granted in subsection (b)(7), (b)(8), or (b)(9) is subject to the restrictions imposed by Section 57-5(a) on the discharge of a gun outside the urban area.

(e) Regulations. The County Executive must adopt regulations under method (2) which:

(1) establish procedures and criteria that the Chief of Police must use to decide whether it is safe to discharge a gun under the circumstances specified in subsection (b)(7); and

(2) to implement subsection (b)(8):

(A) require signs to be posted along the perimeter of each applicable property at least 15 days before any gun is discharged on the property;

(B) specify the size, wording, and location of each sign; and

(C) identify a method to determine the number of signs that must be posted. (1981 L.M.C., ch. 42, § 1; CY 1991 L.M.C., ch. 21, § 1; 1997 L.M.C., ch. 14, §1; , § 1; , § 1; , § 1.)

Editor's note—Section 57-4, formerly § 57-3, was renumbered and amended pursuant to , § 1.