§ 57-5. Discharge of guns outside the urban area.
Latest version.
- (a) Prohibition. Except as provided in subsection (c)(1) through (c)(6), outside the urban area, a person, other than a peace officer or employee of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources performing official duties, must not:(1) discharge a gun:(A) onto, across, or within 50 yards of a public road;(B) onto or across property located within 50 yards of a public road;(C) into or within the safety zone (150 yards of a building or camp designed for human occupancy) without the owner or occupant's written consent; or(C) from, onto, or across public or private property without the owner or occupant's written consent;(2) discharge a full metal jacketed bullet of any caliber from a gun; or(3) except as provided in subsection (b), discharge any fixed ammunition of a caliber higher than .25 caliber from a rifle or pistol.(b) Exception - High Caliber Ammunition. A person may discharge fixed ammunition of a caliber higher than .25 from a rifle or pistol at:(A) legal game or varmints on the ground; or(B) a target on or near the ground that will not deflect a bullet.(1) on any indoor or outdoor target, trap, skeet, or shooting range that the Firearm 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; or(7) under a deer damage control permit issued by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. (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 57-5, formerly § 57-4, was renumbered and amended pursuant to , § 1.