Air Pistol Laws in Maryland, Montgomery County

Cold Steel · Dec 18, 2014

I have a Beretta CO2 pistol that fires eight shots rapid fire.

Does anyone know what the restrictions are in firing these things on one's own property are? I've got a good back stop and it doesn't make very much noise, which probably means it's a felony if you're caught shooting it in your back yard. Guess I could do it at night....

Thanks for any assistance!

erwos · Dec 18, 2014

Air guns are treated the same as real guns under MoCo code. Ergo, if you can't shoot a .22 in your backyard, you can't shoot that, either.

Now, basement ranges are alright, so that may be an option.

ras_oscar · Dec 18, 2014

You might get better traction over on the air gun forum.

BeoBill · Dec 18, 2014

And it would help a LOT if we knew what county you plan to shoot in. MoCo?

Cold Steel · Dec 18, 2014

Yes. Montgomery County as per the thread name.

Strange that they would make the shooting of an air pistol the same as shooting any other gun. The county makes it as difficult as they can to shoot any gun and of course the state is surrounded by other states, almost all of them, if not all, have Castle provisions. The one range I belonged to was too far out and you had to buy your ammo from them, at grossly overpriced...er...prices. And zoning laws prohibit the building of more ranges. Still, the liberal fascists insist that if people are going to have guns, they should know how to use them. Years ago, when areas in western Kentucky began to prohibit shooting in quarries and undeveloped state or local land, bullet holes began to mysteriously appear in stop signs and other signs along the road.

I love the South!

BeoBill · Dec 18, 2014

Since it's .177, I'd also suggest shooting indoors. Or outdoors at night if the neighbors are cool with it.

Big John · Dec 18, 2014

It really depends where exactly in Montgomery County. See this map. The black line indicates the county line, and the blue line indicates (more or less) the urban area. In the urban area you cannot shoot an air rifle outdoors, even on your own property.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=http://sites.google.com/site/188laps/maps/Urban_bounds_v2.kml

To be clear, this doesn't suggest you can just be outside of the blue line and start shooting away. There are additional laws to consider...this just shows what the urban area is. There is more information about the concept of the urban area (as defined for purposes of shooting) on the MCPD website.

cad68m_m · Dec 18, 2014

Big John said:
It really depends where exactly in Montgomery County. See this map. The black line indicates the county line, and the blue line indicates (more or less) the urban area. In the urban area you cannot shoot an air rifle outdoors, even on your own property.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=http://sites.google.com/site/188laps/maps/Urban_bounds_v2.kml

To be clear, this doesn't suggest you can just be outside of the blue line and start shooting away. There are additional laws to consider...this just shows what the urban area is. There is more information about the concept of the urban area (as defined for purposes of shooting) on the MCPD website.

WOW I did not realize how the so called urban area had grown since I was a MoCo resident in the 1970's.

jr88 · Dec 18, 2014

If you are NOT in the Urban areas of MoCo you could shoot it with a few guidelines.
In an Urban part of the county it can only be fired in your yard if "Killing a dangerous animal" or to "Defend your life or property". These could be viable reasons if the neighbors complained. You can also shoot in your basement or cellar "Range" without a problem. Here are the MoCo Laws:
http://www6.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/ded/agservices/pdffiles/ch57_weapons.pdf

BTW, Very nice air pistol, I'm hoping Santa brings me one!

Kman · Dec 18, 2014

erwos said:
Air guns are treated the same as real guns under MoCo code. Ergo, if you can't shoot a .22 in your backyard, you can't shoot that, either.

Now, basement ranges are alright, so that may be an option.

The governmental stupidity of this makes my head hurt. :sad20:

Fishguy · Dec 18, 2014

The question is, how well do you know your neighbors and are they cool?

outrider58 · Dec 18, 2014

I always shot my .22 S&W pellet gun in my basement. You can buy or build a trap for it easy enough.

JoeRinMD · Dec 18, 2014

I made one for my son and I to shoot in our basement. If you do a search on "duct seal pellet trap" you'll get a ton of ideas. Mine is a MDF box lined with duct seal. On the front face, I made a frame to hold 2 clipboards side-by-side. The clipboards, have the center of their masonite backing cut out so that they serve as the target holders. Mine looks like this...but double-wide:

If you don't want to build one yourself, you can buy one from them directly:
http://www.archerairguns.info/2012/09/in-fall-pellet-traps-spring-to-mind.html

JoeR

brownspotz · Dec 18, 2014

sorry, its marylandistan. even the mention of a "gun" gets the gungrabbing liberals stirred up.

jc1240 · Dec 19, 2014

Wasn't the pop-tart gun in MoCo?

gungate · Dec 19, 2014

Do I understand this correctly? Is one allowed to discharge a firearm in their basement??

erwos · Dec 19, 2014

gungate said:
Do I understand this correctly? Is one allowed to discharge a firearm in their basement??

Yes, but... doing so is not advised, to do air quality issues.

swinokur · Dec 19, 2014

Here's the pamphlet from Mo Co Police. Detailed map of the "urban area"
.
.

fabsroman · Dec 19, 2014

Cold Steel said:
Yes. Montgomery County as per the thread name.

Strange that they would make the shooting of an air pistol the same as shooting any other gun. The county makes it as difficult as they can to shoot any gun and of course the state is surrounded by other states, almost all of them, if not all, have Castle provisions. The one range I belonged to was too far out and you had to buy your ammo from them, at grossly overpriced...er...prices. And zoning laws prohibit the building of more ranges. Still, the liberal fascists insist that if people are going to have guns, they should know how to use them. Years ago, when areas in western Kentucky began to prohibit shooting in quarries and undeveloped state or local land, bullet holes began to mysteriously appear in stop signs and other signs along the road.

I love the South!

It varies by county. Howard County passed something in 2008 to prevent the use of air guns, spring loaded guns like nerf guns, etc. from being used anywhere in the county UNLESS you are under the age of 16 AND you take a safety course with the Howard County Police Department. No exception if you are over 16 years old. This stuff really is ludicrous. I have permission to hunt and shoot on a 120 acre farm down the road from me, but cannot even take my kids over there to shoot a pellet gun. INSANITY.

MJD438 · Dec 19, 2014

fabsroman said:
It varies by county. Howard County passed something in 2008 to prevent the use of air guns, spring loaded guns like nerf guns, etc. from being used anywhere in the county UNLESS you are under the age of 16 AND you take a safety course with the Howard County Police Department. No exception if you are over 16 years old. This stuff really is ludicrous. I have permission to hunt and shoot on a 120 acre farm down the road from me, but cannot even take my kids over there to shoot a pellet gun. INSANITY.

Have a link to that, out of curiousity?

Disregard, I found it.

Sec. 8.402. - Carrying or discharging of guns by person under 16 years of age; penalty.

(a)

It shall be unlawful for any person under the age of 16 years not legally engaged in hunting game in that area not within the Metropolitan District to carry or discharge a gun whatsoever at any time within the County unless under the immediate supervision of a person 18 years of age or over at the time of shooting.

(b)

This section shall not apply to persons under 16 years of age carrying or discharging guns in areas not within the Metropolitan District which expel projectiles by gas, compressed air, spring or elastic power, where the persons have completed a course approved by the Department of Police in the safe operation of guns. The course completion shall be evidenced by a certificate to be issued by the Department of Police and shall be displayed upon reasonable demand by a Law Enforcement Officer.

(c)

A Law Enforcement Officer may impound the gun of any person who shall violate the provisions of this section.

(C.B. 33, 1976)

Air Pistol Laws in Maryland, Montgomery County

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