§ 57-5. Discharge of guns outside the urban area.

(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.

(c) Other 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 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.