Maryland

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Maryland

This jurisdictional hub aggregates FRC holdings related to Maryland. It supports research on the state’s firearms history, technology, law, policy, and culture from the colonial period through statehood to the present.

Legal sources: statutes and session laws, administrative code, attorney general opinions, appellate decisions, and select municipal ordinances.
Historical materials: newspapers, photographs, maps, catalogs, maritime, manufacturing, and military records, and oral histories tied to Maryland people and places.
Research outputs: technical reports, academic studies, training manuals, and curated datasets relevant to the state.

Cite the Firearms Research Center and the item’s handle/DOI when using materials. Rights and licensing vary by item.

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Ordinances of the Corporation of the City of Baltimore 277-83 (1801)
(1801)
Regulated gunpowder storage and transport to reduce fire and explosion risks. It limited private possession, required excess powder to be stored in a public magazine, imposed transport and shipping restrictions, authorized searches for violations, established a superintendent to manage the magazine, and imposed penalties for noncompliance.
1785-99 Md. Laws 845
(1798)
Required that "one complete company of infantry annexed to each regiment within this state, to be furnished with arms and accoutrements at the expense of the state … composed of men between the ages of twenty-one and thirty years."
1785-99 Md. Laws 455
(1793)
Raised the minimum age to eighteen and lowered the maximum age to forty-five.
18 Archives of Maryland: Muster Rolls and Other Records of Service of Maryland Troops in the American Revolution 1775-1783, at 373-74 (1900)
(1781)
An Act to raise two battalions of militia for reinforcing the continental army, and to complete the number of select militia: Ordered local governments to draft one or two men to serve the Continental Army. Allowed lieutenants to play favorites: "to ease the good people, from the draught, every free male idle person, above 16 years of age, who is able bodied, and hath no visible means of an honest livelihood, may be adjudged a vagrant by the lieutenant, and by such adjudication he is to be considered as an enlisted soldier.
52 Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly, 1755-1756, at 457 (1935)
(1756)
And be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that as much Gunpowder and lead as can conveniently be spared Shall be taken out of the Publick Magazine and transmitted in due proportions and as the Same may be needed first to the Colonels and Commanding Officers of the Frontier Counties of this Province then to the Colonels and Commanding Officers of the other Counties respectively to be distributed by them in just and equal Proportions to and among the Persons under their Command so as that no more than one pound of Gunpowder and three pounds of Lead be delivered to any one Person and in Case that after such Distribution any Surplus shall remain the Said Colonels or Commanding Officers are hereby required to retain and keep the Same in their Possession to be disposed of as hereinafter directed And be it further Enacted that if any private Man of the Militia of this Province shall in the Course of his Duty by the Command of his Superiour Officer expend any part of the Quantity of Powder and Lead by this Act directed to be brought by every Person to the Place of Muster it Shall and may be lawful for such Superiour Officer and he is hereby required to deliver to such Person a certificate of the Number of Charges so expended directed to the Colonels and Commanding Officers of the County in which Such Person resides and such Colonels and Commanding Officers or any of them in whose hands any Surplus shall be as aforesaid shall immediately on such Certificates being produced deliver to Such Person the Quantity of Gunpowder and Lead therein Mentioned. Provided always that no Gunpowder shall at any Time be expended in training unless by the Order and Direction of the Colonel or Commanding Officer of the County.
78 Proceedings of the Conventions of the Province of Maryland, 1774-1776, at 20 (1836); see also 1777 Md. Laws ch. 17
(1775)
Required "[t]hat every able bodied effective freeman within this province, between sixteen and fifty years of age ... enroll himself in some company of militia." Further retained the new maximum of 50 years and excluded non-whites.
1 Archives of Maryland 77 (William Hand Browne ed., 1885) (enacted 1639)
(1639)
Required "every housekeeeper" to keep and bear one gun of "bastard muskett boare" design, bandeloors or shott bag, one pound of powder, four pounds of pistol or musket shot, sufficient quantity of matchlocks & flints, a sword, and belt.
18 Archives of Maryland: Muster Rolls and Other Records of Service of Maryland Troops in the American Revolution 1775-1783, at 374 (1900)
(1781)
An Act to raise two battalions of militia for reinforcing the continental army, and to complete the number of select militia: Ordered local governments to draft one or two men to serve the Continental Army. Allowed lieutenants to play favorites: "to ease the good people, from the draught, every free male idle person, above 16 years of age, who is able bodied, and hath no visible means of an honest livelihood, may be adjudged a vagrant by the lieutenant, and by such adjudication he is to be considered as an enlisted soldier.
78 Proceedings of the Conventions of the Province of Maryland, 1774-1776, at 20 (1836); see also 1777 Md. Laws ch. 17
(1775)
Required "[t]hat every able bodied effective freeman within this province, between sixteen and fifty years of age . . . enroll himself in some company of militia." Further retained the new maximum of 50 years and excluded non-whites.
1798 Md. Laws ch. C, § XXIII
(1798)
Required that "one complete company of infantry annexed to each regiment within this state, to be furnished with arms and accoutrements at the expense of the state ? composed of men between the ages of twenty-one and thirty years."
52 Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly, 1755-1756, at 458 (1935)
(1756)
Kept the militia age at 16 to 60. This act changed the ammunition requirement to "nine Charges of Gun-powder and nine Sizeable Bulletts." Troopers needed to provide themselves with "a pair of good Pistols a good Sword or Hanger half a pound of Gun-powder and twelve Sizeable Bulletts and a Carbine —well fixed with a good Belt Swivel and Buckett."
3 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1636-1667, at 345 (reprint 1965)
(1658)
Required that captains make "a perfect list" of "all persons able to beare Armes within theyr respective divisions that is of all men betweene 16 and 60 yeares of Age."
1 Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly of Maryland 347 (William Hand Browne ed., 1883)
(1654)
All persons from 16 yeares of age to Sixty shall be provided with Serviceable Armes & Sufficient Amunition of Powder and Shott ready upon all occasions.
7 Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly, October 1678-November 1683, at 53 (1889); see also 1698 Md. Acts 99
(1678)
Kept the militia ages "between sixteen and sixty yeares of age." Further required that each "appeare and bring with him one good serviceable fixed Gunn and six shoots of Powder." Troopers were required to bring their own horses, and "to find themselves with sword Carbine Pistolls Holsters & Amunition."
1888 Md. Code 468-69
(1886)
Concealed Weapons, § 30: Prohibited the carrying of a concealed pistol, dirk knife, Bowie knife, slungshot, billy, sandclub, metal knuckles, razor, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon. Punishable by fine of up to $500 or imprisonment of up to 6 months.
1837 Md. Laws 1837
(1837)
Ch. 101, An Act for the Preservation of Wild Fowl in the Waters of Smith's Island and its Vicinity, in Somerset County, §§ 1-2: Prohibited shooting fowl from on board an open skiff, canoe, or open boat with any offensive weapon, gun, musket, fowling piece, or pistol in the region know as Hearn's Straits in Somerset County, within fifty yards of any blind for shooting fowl. Violators subject to ten dollar fine.
1888 Md. Code 1457
(1888)
Election Districts - Fences, § 99: Prohibited carrying, on days of an election , any gun, pistol, dirk, dirk-knife, razor, billy or bludgeon. Punishable by a fine of $5-20.
Act of March, 1886 (Published as "Notice"), in St. Mary's Beacon, Oct. 13, 1887 at 2.
(1887)
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland, That from and after the passage of this Act it shall not be lawful for any person in St. Mary's county to carry on the days of election and primary election, within three hundred yards of the polls, secretly or otherwise, any gun, pistol, dirk, dirk-knife, razor, billy or bludgeon; and any person violating the provisions of this Act shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof by the Circuit Court of St. Mary's county, having criminal jurisdiction thereof, or before any Justice of the Peace of said county shall be fined not less than ten nor more than fifty dollars for each offence, and on refusal or failure to pay said fine shall be committed to the jail of said county until the same is paid.
1860 Md. Code 903
(1860)
§ 128: They may impose a fine of one dollar on any person who may discharge a gun or other firearms in the said town on any day except on days when the militia may be mustered or paraded therein, and the like fine upon all persons who may suffer their chimneys or any of them to flame out; or upon any person driving, training or riding any horse at an immoderate gait through the streets.
1886 Md. Laws 315
(1886)
Ch. 189, § 1: Prohibited the carrying of a gun, pistol, dirk, dirk-knife, razor, billy or bludgeon on an election day. Punishable by a fine of $10-50.
The Ordinances and Resolutions of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore 162 (1881)
(1881)
No. 120. An Ordinance to Prohibit the sale and use of the Toy Cartridge Pistol within the limits of the City of Baltimore: Be it enacted and ordained by the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, That it shall not be lawful for any person or persons to sell, give away, or dispose of in any manner, what is known as "the toy cartridge pistol" within the limits of the city of Baltimore, under a penalty of ten dollars for each and every offence; the same to be collected as other fines and penalties are collected. § 2. And be it further enacted and ordained, That any person or persons who shall fire off what is known as "the toy cartridge pistol" within the limits of the city of Baltimore shall be subject to a fine of two dollars for each offence; the same to be collected as other fines and penalties are collected.
Lewis Mayer, The Baltimore City Code: Comprising the Statutes and Ordinances Relating to the City of Baltimore 877 (1869)
(1869)
§ 141: If any person shall fire or discharge any gun, pistol or firearms within the city, unless it be on some occasion of military parade, and then by order of some officer having the command, every such person, for every such offence, shall forfeit and pay a sum not exceeding five dollars; and if any gun, pistol or firearms shall be discharged from on board any vessel within the harbor of Baltimore, the captain of the vessel, as well as the offender, shall be liable to the said penalty.
Lewis Mayer, The Baltimore City Code: Comprising the Statutes and Ordinances Relating to the City of Baltimore 300-04 (1879)
(1879)
Established strict rules for the storage, transportation, and possession of gunpowder. A city-appointed superintendent managed a public gunpowder magazine, maintained records, collected storage fees, and ensured safe storage. Larger quantities brought into Baltimore generally had to be placed in the public magazine, while ships carrying gunpowder faced restrictions on where they could dock or unload. Gunpowder transported through the city had to be securely covered, and individuals generally could not possess more than 50 pounds. Stores had specific storage and signage requirements. Violations resulted in fines, and authorities could obtain warrants to search for illegally stored gunpowder.
1888 Md. Code 522-23
(1884)
Ch. 187, § 742: Prohibited the carrying of a pistol, dirk knife, Bowie knife, slingshot, billy, brass, iron or any other metal knuckles, razor, or any other deadly weapon if arrested for being drunk and disorderly. Punishable by fine of $5-25, and confiscation of the weapon.
1841 Md. Laws 114
(1841)
An Act To Incorporate The Mount Orange Cemetery, In The County of Baltimore, ch. 148, § 4: Any Person who shall willfully destroy, mutilate, deface, injure or remove any tomb, monument, grave stone, or other structure, placed in the cemetery . . . or shall shoot or discharge any gun, or other fire arms, within the said limits, shall be considered guilty of a misdemeanor . . .
1872 Md. Laws 520
(1872)
An Act To Incorporate A Company To Construct A Bridge Across The Severn River, At Annapolis, In Anne Arundel County, § 17: That for the safety of passengers and vehicles passing on said bridge, there shall be a penalty of not less than ten nor more than fifty dollars for any person or persons to shoot any gun, pistol, or fire-works of any kind, whatever on the said bridge . .§
Lewis Mayer, The Baltimore City Code: Comprising the Statutes and Ordinances Relating to the City of Baltimore 171 (1869)
(1869)
Art. XVI, Section 27: If the said board of police shall have reason to believe that in the neighborhood of any election polls in the said city or elsewhere, within any election precinct of the same, there is any depot or collection of fire arms or other weapons or ammunition intended to be used for the purpose of intimidating or injuring voters, or interfering with the freedom or peace of any election then pending or approaching, it shall be the duty of said board to apply to the Criminal Court, or some justice of the peace of said city, for a warrant, on proper oath, to search the premises, and the said court or justice shall issue the same without delay, and shall cause the said arms, weapons and ammunition, if found, to be seized and delivered to said board, to be detained until the day after the returns of said election shall have been made, and until the same shall be disposed of by law.§
1872 Md. Laws 57
(1872)
An Act to Add an Additional Section to Article Two of the Code of Public Local Laws, Entitled "Anne Arundel County," Sub -title "Annapolis," to Prevent the Carrying of Concealed Weapons in Said City,ch. 42 § 246: Prohibited the carrying of a concealed pistol, dirk-knife, Bowie knife, slingshot, billy, razor, brass, iron or other metal knuckles, or any other deadly weapon in Annapolis. Punishable by a fine of $3-10.
1882 Md. Laws 656, § 2
(1882)
Ch. 424 §1: Prohibited the manufacture, sale, barter, or giving away toy pistol cartridges
1882 Md. Laws 257
(1882)
An Act to . . . Exempt All That Portion of the Waters of the Chesapeake Bay Lying Northward of a Certain Line Therein Described from the Operation and Effect of Sections One and Three . . ., ch. 180, § 8: The special police appointed by this act are authorized to arrest any person or persons who may be discovered in the act of hunting or shooting crippled ducks, or in purloining ducks that have been killed by other persons having a proper license to shoot, as well as other persons violating the provisions of this section, and upon conviction thereof before any justice of the peace of Cecil or Harford Counties, the license of such persons or persons shall be revoked, and such persons or persons, whether licensed or not, shall be fined not less than twenty dollars for each offense, and shall forfeit the boat and gun or guns
1888 Md. Laws 1379
(1886)
§ 280: It shall be lawful to shoot teal ducks, mallards, black ducks, bald pates, and all other ducks known as marsh ducks, in any manner other than by swivel, gun or big gun, from one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset every day, from the fifteenth day of August to the first day of October of each year, on the waters of the Chesapeake bay, lying and being within the bounds prescribed by section 278.
1886 Md. Laws 602
(1886)
Ch. 375: Prohibited carrying, concealed or openly with intent or purpose of injuring another, any pistol, dirk-knife, Bowie-knife, slung-shot, Billy, sandclub, metal knuckles, razor, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon whatsoever.
1886 Md. Laws 315
(1886)
An Act to Prevent the Carrying of Guns, Pistols, Dirk-knives, Razors, Billies or Bludgeons by any Person in Calvert County, on the Days of Election in said County, Within One Mile of the Polls § 1: Prohibited the carrying of a gun, pistol, dirk, dirk-knife, razor, billy or bludgeon on an election day within 300 yards of the polls. Punishable by fine of $10-50.
1794 Md. Laws 246
(1794)
That if any member of society shall suffer any damage by storing gunpowder in town, or breaming ships or other vessels at the wharfs, occasioned by the act, assent or direction, of such member, the insurance of such member so suffering damage, shall thereupon become void.
1879 Md. Laws 173
(1876)
Wild Fowl and Game § 23: The clerk of the Circuit Court for Harford county, and the clerk of the Circuit Court for Cecil county, shall upon the application of any resident of the State of Maryland, being the owner of any sink-box, craft or sneak-boat, such as is allowed by this act to be used and employed in shooting at wild water fowl therefrom; and giving satisfactory evidence to said clerk that the said applicant is a resident of the State of Maryland, and is the bona fide owner of the sink-box, craft, or sneak-boat, grant a license under the seal of his court, to such applicant to gun after and shoot at wild water-fowl from such sink-box or sneak-boat northward of the line named and described in first section of this act from the first day of November in each and every year to the thirty-first day of March next succeeding thereafter in each and every year; provided that such license shall not authorize any person using such sink-box or sneak-boat to gun after or shoot at wild water-fowl therefrom within a less distance than half a mile from any shore in Harford or Cecil County, or southward of the line particularly described in the first section of this act.
1811 Md. Laws 465
(1809)
§ 4: Prohibited carrying any pistol, hanger, cutlass, bludgeon, or other offensive weapon with intent to feloniously assault any person, or to be found in any dwelling house, warehouse, stable, or outhouse, garden, or area of a house with intent to steal goods or chattels.
1874 Md. Laws 224
(1874)
An Act To Protect Wild Fowl in Worcester County, ch. 164, §§ 1-2: § 1... no person shall, during the hours intervening between twilight at evening and twilight of the following morning, shoot or kill, or shoot at, capture with nets, by fire-light, any wild fowl within the limits of Worcester County. § 2. ...no person shall, at any time, kill or shoot at any wild fowl within the limits of Worcester County, with any swivel or pivot gun, or any kind of gun which cannot be conveniently discharged from the shoulder at arms length and without a rest.
58 Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly (1762-63)
(1763)
An Act for Prohibiting All Trade with the Indians, for the Time Therein Mentioned, ch. 4, § 3: Prohibited the selling and giving to "any Indian Woman" any gunpowder or to "any Indian Man" more than one pound of gunpowder, punishable by fine.
63 Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly 338 (1773)§
(1773)
§ 5: Banned carry of swords and other weapons in the House of Assembly, while the Assembly was sitting.
1870 Md. Laws 892
(1870)
Ch. 473 §§ 1-2: Anyone arrested for any crime or misdemeanor and found to have any pistol, dirk-knife, Bowie-Knife, slingshot, billy, brass, iron, or any other metal knuckles, razor, or any other deadly weapon whatsoever. Violators fined not less than three but no more than ten dollars.

Maryland

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