What are the Penalties in Maryland for Possession of an Unregulated Firearm?
Maryland has some of the toughest gun laws in the nation. They are without a doubt strict. In this state they regulate the sale, transfer, rent, and possession of regulated firearms. All private transfers of regulated firearms must be processed through a licensed dealer or designated law enforcement agency which must conduct a background check on the buyer. So what are the penalties in Maryland for possession of an unregulated firearm? At the Law Offices of Nicholas J. Del Pizzo, a Baltimore law firm, we will take a deeper look.
What are the Penalties in Maryland for Possession on an Unregulated Firearm?
Guns purchased from an unregistered source are often cheaper and easier to find. A study by the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics found that almost 80 percent of the people serving time in jail for gun possession offenses obtained their firearm from either family members, friends or illegally through “street” sources. Only 12 percent of the guns confiscated in gun possession cases were purchased in stores or pawn shops.
According to Maryland law on possession of an unregistered firearm, possessing any destructive device, including a machine gun, sawed-off shotgun, sawed-off rifle or silencer can result in 10 years in prison without parole.
Federal law also calls for penalties for unregistered firearms. Section 36 of the National Firearms Act states that “a person must not sell, purchase, possess or use a firearm that is not registered.” The maximum penalty for an unregistered firearms charge is 10 years imprisonment if the firearm is a prohibited firearm or pistol or five years imprisonment in any other case.
A first offender in Maryland convicted of carrying a handgun is guilty of a misdemeanor and faces a maximum potential jail term of three years. Using a firearm in connection with another crime carries a mandatory minimum term of five years incarceration and a maximum of 20 years of jail time. About The Law Offices of Nick Del Pizzo
At the Law Offices of Nick Del Pizzo, we make ourselves available for our clients in a variety of case types. Ranging from foreclosure, bankruptcy, personal injury or medical malpractice. Whatever your legal need is, we are there for you, seven days a week. Your case becomes our cause, and we will seek the best resolution possible.