just make sure,if you're doing a target shooting in the backyard, your bb stop should be thick enough and not weak for the bb to go through.
Charles County has specific regulations regarding air and bbguns.
I cannot access the county website for some reason or I would copy the regs.
Basically the law covers transport in an vehicle (they are treated as firearms) and the safety zone for use which exceeds the safety zone for firearms hunting. This would basically preclude use in most residential neighborhoods. There is an exception for pest control causing damage (squirrels, groundhods..???) but to the best of my knowledge this exception has never been defined or tested.
I think it would be prudent to check the local jurisdiction where you live before embarking on an adventure.
MoCo regulates shooting "air" guns under the same restrictions as real firearms. ..
Would you happen to have a reference for that MoCo law/ordinance? I would love to have it handy to give to my townhouse neighbor the next time he's shooting in his backyard...
Sec. 57-1. Definitions.
...
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.
...
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 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.
Sec. 57-4. Discharge of guns in the urban area.
(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.
(b) Exceptions. Except as provided in Sections 57-7 (K-Rom -access to guns by minors) and 57-11 (K-Rom - the "places of public assembly" law) , a person may discharge a gun:
(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: (continues)
Sec. 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.
MoCo regulates shooting "air" guns under the same restrictions as real firearms. ..
Here is the MoCo code gateway:
http://www.amlegal.com/montgomery_county_md/
and here are the codes, in Chap 57 (weapons):
http://www.amlegal.com/nxt/gateway.dll/Maryland/montgom/partiilocallawsordinancesresolutionsetc/chapter57weapons?fn=altmain-nf.htm$f=templates$3.0#LPTOC1