§ 57-9. Unlawful ownership or possession of firearms.

A person must not possess, exercise control over, use, carry, transport, or keep a rifle, shotgun, or pistol, if the person:

(a) is an unlawful user of , addicted to, or is under treatment for an addiction to, marijuana or any depressant or stimulant drug or narcotic drug (as defined in Maryland Criminal Law Code Annotated, sections 1-101, 5-101, 5-401, 5-404, and 5-604); or

(b) has been convicted in any court of a crime of violence, trafficking in narcotics, a criminal violation of any of the provisions of Maryland Public Safety Code Annotated, sections 5-101 to 5-138, 5-142, or any federal firearms control law; or

(c) is a fugitive from justice; or

(d) has been confined to any hospital or institution for treatment of a mental disorder or for mental illness unless a licensed physician has by affidavit stated that the physician is familiar with the person's history of mental illness and that in the physician's opinion the person is not disabled by such illness in a manner which should prevent the person from possessing a rifle or a shotgun; or

(e) has been confined to any hospital or institution for treatment of alcoholism unless a licensed physician has by affidavit stated that the physician is familiar with the person's history of alcoholism and that, in the physician's opinion, the person is no longer suffering from a disability in such a manner which should prevent the person from possessing a rifle or shotgun. (1981 L.M.C., ch. 42, § 1; , § 1; , §1.)

Editor’s note—Section 57-9 is cited and quoted at Furda v. State, 421 Md. 332, 26 A.3d 918 (2011) where the Court of Appeals reversed the decision of the Court of Special Appeals; see also companion case at 194 Md. App. 1, 1 A.3d 528 (2010), also citing Section 57-9.

Section 57-9, formerly § 57-6, was renumbered pursuant to , § 1.