§ 57-1. Definitions.  


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  • In this Chapter, the following words and phrases have the following meanings:
    Child safety handgun box: A secure, lockable box designed to hold the handgun being transferred that:
    (1) requires a key or combination to remove;
    (2) renders the handgun inoperable when locked; and
    (3) is approved by Executive regulation under method (2).
    Child safety handgun device: A child safety handgun lock or child safety handgun box.
    Child safety handgun lock: A device that when locked in place prevents movement of the trigger of the handgun being transferred without first removing the lock by use of a key or combination. "Child safety handgun lock" also includes any other device that can be attached to a handgun and:
    (1) requires a key or combination to remove;
    (2) renders the handgun inoperable when locked in place; and
    (3) is approved by Executive regulation under method (2).
    Crime of violence: Murder, voluntary manslaughter, rape, mayhem, kidnapping, robbery, burglary, housebreaking, arson, assault with intent to murder, ravish or rob, assault with deadly weapon or assault with intent to commit any offense punishable by imprisonment for more than one (1) year.
    Firearm dealer: A person required by State or federal law to obtain a:
    (1) regulated firearms dealer’s license; or
    (2) temporary transfer permit to display a regulated firearm at a gun show.
    Fixed ammunition: Any ammunition composed of a projectile or projectiles, a casing, an explosive charge and a primer, all of which shall be contained as one (1) unit. Cartridges designed, made and intended to be used exclusively (i) in a device for signaling and safety purposes required or recommended by the United States Coast Guard or (ii) for industrial purposes, shall not be considered fixed ammunition. Curios or relics, as defined in regulations promulgated by the United States Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to 18 United States Code, section 921(A)(13), shall not be considered fixed ammunition.
    Fugitive from justice: Any person for whom criminal proceedings have been instituted, warrant issued or indictment presented to the grand jury, who has fled from a sheriff or other peace officer within this state, or who has fled from any state, territory, District of Columbia or possession of the United States, to avoid prosecution for crime of violence or to avoid giving testimony in any criminal proceeding involving a felony or treason.
    Gun or firearm: Any rifle, shotgun, revolver, pistol, air gun, air rifle or any similar mechanism by whatever name known which is designed to expel a projectile through a gun barrel by the action of any explosive, gas, compressed air, spring or elastic.
    (1) The term "antique firearm" means (a) any firearm (including any firearm with a matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap, or similar type of ignition system) manufactured in or before 1898; and (b) any replica of any firearm described in subparagraph (a) if such replica (i) is not designed or redesigned or using rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition, or (ii) uses rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition which is no longer manufactured in the United States and which is not readily available in the ordinary channels of commercial trade.
    (2) "Handgun" means any pistol, revolver or other firearm capable of being concealed on the person, including a short-barreled shotgun and a short-barreled rifle as these terms are defined below. "Handgun" does not include a shotgun, rifle, or antique firearm.
    (3) "Rifle" means a weapon designed or redesigned, made or remade, and intended to be fired from the shoulder and designed or redesigned and made or remade to use the energy of the explosive in a fixed metallic cartridge to fire only a single projectile through a rifled bore for each single pull of the trigger.
    (4) The term "short-barreled rifle" means a rifle having one (1) or more barrels less than sixteen (16) inches in length and any weapon made from a rifle (whether by alternation, modification or otherwise) if such weapon, as modified, has an overall length of less than twenty-six (26) inches.
    (5) The term "short-barreled shotgun" means a shotgun having one (1) or more barrels less than eighteen (18) inches in length and any weapon made from a shotgun (whether by alteration, modification or otherwise) if such weapon as modified has an overall length of less than twenty-six (26) inches.
    (6) "Shotgun" means a weapon designed or redesigned, made or remade, and intended to be fired from the shoulder and designed or redesigned and made or remade to use the energy of the explosive in a fixed shotgun shell to fire through a smooth bore either a number of ball shot or a single projectile for each single pull of the trigger.
    Gun shop: An establishment where a handgun, rifle, or shotgun, or ammunition or major component of these guns is sold or transferred. "Gun shop" does not include an area of an establishment that is separated by a secure, physical barrier from all areas where any of these items is located.
    Gun show: Any organized gathering where a gun is displayed for sale.
    Minor: An individual younger than 18 years old.
    Pistol or revolver: Any gun with a barrel less than twelve (12) inches in length that uses fixed ammunition.
    Place of public assembly: A "place of public assembly" is a government owned park identified by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission; place of worship; elementary or secondary school; public library; government-owned or -operated recreational facility; or multipurpose exhibition facility, such as a fairgrounds or conference center. A place of public assembly includes all property associated with the place, such as a parking lot or grounds of a building.
    Record plat means a subdivision plat recorded in the County’s land records.
    Sell or purchase: Such terms and the various derivatives of such words shall be construed to include letting on hire, giving, lending, borrowing or otherwise transferring.
    Sporting use: "Sporting use" of a firearm and ammunition means hunting or target shooting in compliance with all federal, State, and local laws. Sporting use includes:
    (a) participation in a managed hunt sponsored by a government agency; and
    (b) the sale or other transfer of ammunition by a sporting club for immediate, on-site use at the club.
    Tax assessment record means the information maintained by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation in its Real Property Database on each parcel of real property located in the County, including the tax map for each parcel.
    Urban area: That part of the County within the following boundaries: Beginning at a point where the Maryland/District of Columbia boundary line in the County intersects with the Maryland/Virginia boundary line on the southwest side of the Potomac River; running then northwest along the Maryland/Virginia boundary line to the emptying of Watts Branch into the Potomac River; then northwest along the northeast side of the Potomac River to the emptying of Seneca Creek into the Potomac River; then north along Seneca Creek to Route 112 (Seneca Road); then east along Route 112 to Route 28 (Darnestown Road); then northwest along Route 28 to Route 118 (Darnestown-Germantown Road); then north along Route 118 to Route 117 (Clopper Road); then northwest along Route 117 to Little Seneca Creek; then northeast along Little Seneca Creek to Black Hill Regional Park; then along the eastern boundary of Black Hill Regional Park to the Park’s southernmost intersection with I-270; then northwest along I-270 to Little Seneca Creek; then north along Little Seneca Creek to West Old Baltimore Road; then east along West Old Baltimore Road to Route 355 (Frederick Road); then south along Route 355 to Brink Road; then southeast on Brink Road to the Town of Laytonsville; then along the northern boundary of the Town of Laytonsville to Route 420 (Sundown Road); then east along Route 420 to Route 650 (Damascus Road); then southeast along Route 650 to Route 97 (Georgia Avenue); then south along Route 97 to Brighton Dam Road; then northeast along Brighton Dam Road to Route 650 (New Hampshire Avenue); then south along Route 650 to Route 108; then east along Route 108 to the Potomac Electric Power Company transmission line property; then southeast along the east side of the Potomac Electric Power Company right-of-way to Batson Road; then following along the southern boundary of the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission property to Kruhm Road; then southeast along Kruhm Road to the Potomac Electric Power Company right-of-way; then southeast along the east side of the Potomac Electric Power Company right-of-way to Route 198; then east along Route 198 to the Prince George’s County/Montgomery County boundary line; then southwest along the Montgomery County/Prince George’s County boundary line to the Montgomery County/District of Columbia boundary line; then along the Montgomery County/District of Columbia boundary line to the beginning point.
    Vehicle: Any motor vehicle, as defined in the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, trains, aircraft and vessels. (1981 L.M.C., ch. 42, § 1; 1983 L.M.C., ch. 50, § 1; CY 1991 L.M.C., ch. 21, § 1; 1993 L.M.C., ch. 50, § 1; 1997 L.M.C., ch. 3, § 1; 1997 L.M.C., ch. 14, §1; 1997 L.M.C., ch. 16; , § 1; , § 1; , § 1.)