(a) Prohibition. Except as provided in subsection (b), a person, other than a peace officer or employee of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources performing official duties, must not discharge a gun within the urban area.
(1) on any indoor or outdoor target, trap, skeet, or shooting range that the Firearms 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;
(7) if approved by the Chief of Police, under a deer damage control permit issued by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources;
(8) for the purpose of deer hunting on private property that is at least 50 acres in size if:
(A) the person discharges the gun from an elevated position;
(B) the person does not load the gun until the person is located in the elevated position;
(C) the person unloads the gun before descending from the elevated position;
(D) the projectile has a downward trajectory;
(E) the property owner complies with any public notice requirements in applicable regulations; and
(F) the property owner gives written notice to the Chief of Police at least 15 days before any gun is discharged on the property which:
1. identifies the day or days on which deer hunting will occur;
2. identifies the time that deer hunting will begin and end each day;
3. lists the name of each individual who will participate in deer hunting; and
4. includes a copy of the record plat or tax assessment record for the property; or
(9) on property owned by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission as a part of a deer management program conducted or sanctioned by the Commission that complies with safety requirements approved by the Chief of Police.
(c) 50-acre threshold.
(1) Subject to the requirements of paragraph (2), up to 5 owners of contiguous parcels of property may aggregate their property to meet the 50-acre threshold in subsection (b)(8).
(2) If property owners aggregate their parcels to achieve the 50-acre threshold in subsection (b)(8), a person may discharge a gun for the purpose of deer hunting on the aggregated property if the person obtains written permission from each property owner, which must include a copy of the record plat or tax assessment record for each parcel in the aggregated property.
(d) A person who discharges a gun under the authority granted in subsection (b)(7), (b)(8), or (b)(9) is subject to the restrictions imposed by Section 57-5(a) on the discharge of a gun outside the urban area.
(e) Regulations. The County Executive must adopt regulations under method (2) which:
(1) establish procedures and criteria that the Chief of Police must use to decide whether it is safe to discharge a gun under the circumstances specified in subsection (b)(7); and
(2) to implement subsection (b)(8):
(A) require signs to be posted along the perimeter of each applicable property at least 15 days before any gun is discharged on the property;
(B) specify the size, wording, and location of each sign; and
(C) identify a method to determine the number of signs that must be posted. (1981 L.M.C., ch. 42, § 1; CY 1991 L.M.C., ch. 21, § 1; 1997 L.M.C., ch. 14, §1; 2001 L.M.C., ch. 11, § 1; 2005 L.M.C., ch. 24, § 1; 2007 L.M.C., ch. 21, § 1.)
Editor's note—Section 57-4, formerly § 57-3, was renumbered and amended pursuant to 2001 L.M.C., ch. 11, § 1.