HQL Completely Online Training Exemption

NateIU10 · May 12, 2014

As part of the Firearms Safety Act of 2013, a person must possess a valid handgun qualification license before they may purchase, rent, or receive a handgun. MD PUBLIC SAFETY § 5-117.1(c)(1). This is a general requirement subject to certain exceptions. If you, or your transaction, do not fall within an exception, a transferee must possess an HQL.

The Maryland State Police shall issue a handgun qualification license to a person who:

(1) is at least 21 years old; (2) is a resident of the State; (3) except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, has demonstrated satisfactory completion, within 3 years prior to the submission of the application, of a firearms safety training course approved by the Secretary that includes:
(i) a minimum of 4 hours of instruction by a qualified handgun instructor;
(ii) classroom instruction on: 1. State firearm law; 2. home firearm safety; and 3. handgun mechanisms and operation; and
(iii) a firearms orientation component that demonstrates the person’s
safe operation and handling of a firearm; and
(4) based on an investigation, is not prohibited by federal or State law from purchasing or possessing a handgun.

MD PUBLIC SAFETY § 5-117.1(e), in listing exceptions to the training requirements, provides that:

An applicant for a handgun qualification license is not required to complete a firearms safety training course under subsection (d) of this section if the applicant: (2) has completed a course of instruction in competency and safety in the handling of firearms prescribed by the Department of Natural Resources under § 10-301.1 of the Natural Resources Article.

Md. Nat. Res. Code Ann. § 10-301.1(c)(3) further provides that:

Any similar certificate, or hunting license, issued outside the State by a governmental agency, shall be accepted as complying with the requirements of paragraph (1) of this subsection, if the privileges are reciprocal for Maryland residents.

The State of Texas offers and accepts a completely online Hunter's Safety course, which consists of online videos and quizzes. This online course costs between $18 and $30, depending on the online vendor used. I have personally completed the online TX Hunter's safety course, and furnished proof of completion to the Maryland State Police for my "Training Exempt" HQL application. I also submitted a letter with my certificate stating that I have attached a copy of a Hunter’s Safety Course offered by and accepted by the State of Texas, which reciprocally accepts Maryland’s Hunter Education course, and that such proof is sufficient to exempt myself from the Handgun Qualification License training requirement, citing the codes above.

My training exempt application for the HQL has been approved, based solely on the online Texas Hunter's Safety Certificate that I printed out after the test (I used the temporary, not the permanent card I got in the mail 5 days later.)

DC-W · May 12, 2014

Thanks for this!

NateIU10 · May 12, 2014

I would like to add that, in my opinion, training with your firearm is important, if not essential. I do, however, have an issue with government mandated training, especially when we are talking about simply purchasing a firearm.

protegeV · May 12, 2014

Can't believe no one thought of this sooner. If they did, I didn't hear about it :shrug:

clandestine · May 12, 2014

Nate you are a jem to the MDS Community.

Swaged · May 12, 2014

protegeV said:
Can't believe no one thought of this sooner. If they did, I didn't hear about it

They did ...

http://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=132416&highlight=texas+hunter

protegeV · May 12, 2014

Swaged said:
They did ...

http://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=132416&highlight=texas+hunter

Ah, tucked away in the outdoor sports forum, clever

fred333 · May 12, 2014

I wish I'd known about this before (having learned how to shoot some 45 years ago) I spent time/money to take a basic pistol course to prove to some nitwit in Annapolis that I'm qualified to own a new pistol. Obviously, the same type of "logic" that forces little old ladies to be treated like Muslim terrorists when boarding a plane.

But, worse still, the pistol course and HQL processing just delayed my initiation into Maryland's matriarchal, seven [business] day time-out before the bad little boy can have his gun back. Just swell.

NateIU10 · May 12, 2014

Swaged said:
They did ...

http://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=132416&highlight=texas+hunter

There appears to be some discussion in that thread about the HQL. Some people thought the TX class would work, some people thought it would not satisfy the requirements, and some thought the MSP may deny. I decided to apply using the online course to see what MSP would do with that information, and was happily surprised I did not have to challenge their denial.

I also got to write it off as a business expense, so that's cool :innocent0

.

The MSP is also incorrectly telling people they have to have taken the Hunter's Safety course within three years of their HQL application (the online HQL application states this.) The three year requirement is for persons who took training, not persons who took an exemption to the training.

This is the training exemption, nothing about the three years.

(e) An applicant for a handgun qualification license is not required to complete a firearms safety training course under subsection (d) of this section if the applicant: (2) has completed a course of instruction in competency and safety in the handling of firearms prescribed by the Department of Natural Resources under § 10–301.1 of the Natural Resources Article;

This is the TRAINING section. The TRAINING has to be completed within 3 years, not an EXEMPTION to the training.

(3) except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, has demonstrated satisfactory completion, within 3 years prior to the submission of the application, of a firearms safety training course approved by the Secretary that includes:

mtlcafan79 · May 12, 2014

clandestine said:
Nate you are a jem to the MDS Community.

protegeV · May 12, 2014

NateIU10 said:
The MSP is also incorrectly telling people they have to have taken the Hunter's Safety course within three years of their HQL application (the online HQL application states this.) The three year requirement is for persons who took training, not persons who took an exemption to the training.

MSP is never wrong

:rolleyes:

Blaster229 · May 12, 2014

NateIU10 said:
As part of the Firearms Safety Act of 2013, a person must possess a valid handgun qualification license before they may purchase, rent, or receive a handgun.

Define "rent". So some don't get confused.

myright · May 12, 2014

Do you still have to pay for the fingerprints and the hql fee?

Thank you for posting this info. I am sure it will help a lot of people.

CypherPunk · May 12, 2014

myright said:
Do you still have to pay for the fingerprints and the hql fee?

Thank you for posting this info. I am sure it will help a lot of people.

Yes

CypherPunk · May 12, 2014

Blaster229 said:
Define "rent". So some don't get confused.

I think you need to look to Tom Williams testimony before the AELR IINM

swinokur · May 12, 2014

Rent=for consideration and removed from the owners premises IIRC

dfens42 · May 12, 2014

Just so I have this squared away in my head...

I purchased a pistol prior to 10/13.

I can take this Texas online course, then just submit fingerprints and the fee and get my HQL?

Sundazes · May 12, 2014

dfens42 said:
Just so I have this squared away in my head...

I purchased a pistol prior to 10/13.

I can take this Texas online course, then just submit fingerprints and the fee and get my HQL?

If you purchased a regulated firearm and were "Not Disapproved" in the State of MD, you do not need to take the training. You will need the make and S/N etc of that firearm when you fill out the app. You are exempt from training requirement.
You do not need to take any training class.
I am not a lawyer.

NateIU10 · May 12, 2014

dfens42 said:
Just so I have this squared away in my head...

I purchased a pistol prior to 10/13.

I can take this Texas online course, then just submit fingerprints and the fee and get my HQL?

Yes. You could use your handgun information as an exemption instead of the online class also.

dfens42 · May 12, 2014

NateIU10 said:
Yes. You could use your handgun information as an exemption instead of the online class also.

Thanks guys. I will have to break down and get it sooner or later. Appreciate the info.

HQL Completely Online Training Exemption

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