Red Flag Law and Weapon Limits in Maryland

Yes. A petition for an extreme risk protective order may be filed in District Court (or with a District Court commissioner when the clerk's office is closed) by a law enforcement officer; the respondent's spouse, cohabitant, a relative by blood, marriage or adoption, a person with a child in common, a current dating or intimate partner, or a current or former legal guardian; or a physician, psychologist or certain other clinicians or health officers who have examined the respondent. A temporary order lasts up to 7 days after service (extendable up to 6 months to effect service); a final order, entered on clear and convincing evidence, lasts up to 1 year and may be extended.

Yes. A person may not transport into the state, possess, sell, transfer, purchase or receive an assault weapon (listed assault long guns, listed assault pistols, and 'copycat' weapons defined by features, such as a semiautomatic centerfire rifle with a detachable magazine and two of a folding stock, grenade/flare launcher or flash suppressor). Weapons lawfully possessed before October 1, 2013 (assault pistols registered before August 1, 1994) may be kept. A person may not manufacture, sell, offer for sale, purchase, receive or transfer a detachable magazine holding more than 10 rounds (possession of existing magazines is not listed). The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit upheld the assault weapons ban (en banc, August 6, 2024), and the U.S. Supreme Court denied review on June 2, 2025 (Snope v. Brown, No. 24-203).