HQL Cards - Paper Only After 10/1/2020

adit · Sep 18, 2020

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Discontinuing Printing of Handgun Qualification License Cards
The Maryland Department of State Police, Licensing Division (MDSPLD) is constantly reviewing policy and procedures in order to enhance the experience of our customers, allied agencies, firearms instructors and dealers, all while being as fiscally responsible to the citizens of Maryland as possible. With this in mind, beginning October 1, 2020, the MDSPLD will discontinue printing Handgun Qualification License (HQL) Cards in their current form.

All HQL applicants approved for an HQL, on or after October 1, 2020, will receive, via US mail, a paper HQL, similar to the example below. This paper license, or an electronic copy of the license, must be presented to a dealer or any other person, prior to selling, renting, or transferring a handgun, in accordance with MD Public Safety §5-117.1 and COMAR 29.03.01.06. The discontinuation of printing of the HQL cards will expedite the final process of the HQL and ultimately decrease the time it takes for the applicant to receive their HQL.

Qualified Handgun Instructors (QHI) are also reminded that the individual student/applicant’s HQL account must be associated with the individual student/applicant’s personal email address.

Steel Hunter · Sep 18, 2020

Has there always been an HQL requirement to rent a gun at a range?

DadOSix · Sep 18, 2020

Just saw that.

Wonder why they cant just email the letter as a pdf
to speed the process up further.

Bertfish · Sep 18, 2020

The old online gun class card was paper as well.

I'm sure it'll hold up for 10 years

FFBWMD · Sep 18, 2020

I sure hope they lower the cost to get a card, less material and work involved should lower the costs. Seems this might be good ammunition to use in the HQL fight by MSI

jr88 · Sep 18, 2020

I thought they removed the requirement for an HQL to rent a handgun. If someone is taking a class to get the HQL and are renting a handgun for the shooting component I see a problem.

jokie · Sep 18, 2020

I wonder if can get an official electronic copy of my HQL. I have the card but I think it would be more convenient to have an electronic copy that I can save on my phone or access thru the FFL's computer when needed.

Brute · Sep 18, 2020

I just submitted mine yesterday. Would be nice to slip in before the deadline and get a nice card instead of a boring sheet of paper.

Dalebert · Sep 18, 2020

electronic

jokie said:
I wonder if can get an official electronic copy of my HQL. I have the card but I think it would be more convenient to have an electronic copy that I can save on my phone or access thru the FFL's computer when needed.

Exactly...and the same thing goes for whoever complained about the piece of paper not holding up for 10 years...just scan it (is "official" pdf required?) and reprint it as many times as you need to. Same for the $20 replacement fee. Is the paper special that they print it on?

Doctor_M · Sep 18, 2020

I guess they don't want to issue anything that even looks like a state issued credential. They stopped putting pictures on them for similar reasons... folks were using them as government issued IDs, which the were.

Rick · Sep 18, 2020

Steel Hunter said:
Has there always been an HQL requirement to rent a gun at a range?

jr88 said:
I thought they removed the requirement for an HQL to rent a handgun. If someone is taking a class to get the HQL and are renting a handgun for the shooting component I see a problem.

I remember this being discussed on this forum in the past, and I don't have a link to any official source, but I always thought that renting a gun that you were going to use on the premises, like at a gun range, didn't require an HQL. However, renting a gun that you were going to take off the premises, did require an HQL.

Anyway, that's the way I remember it, but I could be wrong.

shadow116 · Sep 18, 2020

Bertfish said:
The old online gun class card was paper as well.

I'm sure it'll hold up for 10 years

About once a month someone comes in looking to buy a handgun. One of my first questions is do they have an HQL? We still get someone every month or two that will pull out the old paper card.

Steel Hunter · Sep 18, 2020

Rick said:
I remember this being discussed on this forum in the past, and I don't have a link to any official source, but I always thought that renting a gun that you were going to use on the premises, like at a gun range, didn't require an HQL. However, renting a gun that you were going to take off the premises, did require an HQL.

Anyway, that's the way I remember it, but I could be wrong.

That's also my understanding of what has been generally accepted, but that isn't what the text quoted allows for.

BeoBill · Sep 18, 2020

"It is what we say it is, citizen!"

Darkemp · Sep 18, 2020

HQL should be same as Designated Collector Letter meaning $0 cost.

Blacksmith101 · Sep 18, 2020

jr88 said:
I thought they removed the requirement for an HQL to rent a handgun. If someone is taking a class to get the HQL and are renting a handgun for the shooting component I see a problem.

Search the forum for the detailed answer. But IIRC if you are renting a handgun to use at the range you are renting it from then no "transfer" occurs. However if you rent a gun to take off premises like to go hunting for example, then that is considered a "transfer" and you need an HQL.

Quick answer is check with your local range where you intend to rent and they will tell you.

roadking · Sep 18, 2020

Pre HQL, I rented at several different ranges in the past year plus. I was never asked for an HQL. Just a drivers license. Not implying they were or weren’t following the letter of the law, just sharing anecdotal experience.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

N3uka · Sep 18, 2020

So, will I be able to show an electronic copy of my pre-paper card and stop carrying it? Going to be interesting to see how that's handled.

This paper license, or an electronic copy of the license, must be presented

dblas · Sep 18, 2020

Rick said:
I remember this being discussed on this forum in the past, and I don't have a link to any official source, but I always thought that renting a gun that you were going to use on the premises, like at a gun range, didn't require an HQL. However, renting a gun that you were going to take off the premises, did require an HQL.

Anyway, that's the way I remember it, but I could be wrong.

You are correct. And "rent" is defined in the statute as being removed from the presence of the owner/leasee.

dblas · Sep 18, 2020

Steel Hunter said:
That's also my understanding of what has been generally accepted, but that isn't what the text quoted allows for.

That would be MSP attempting to overstep their administrative authority again.

HQL Cards - Paper Only After 10/1/2020

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