Ocean City Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm Charges

Gun laws in Ocean City can be very limiting, and it is important for gun owners to research when and where they can legally possess and discharge a firearm. If you are facing charges for the unlawful discharge of a firearm in Ocean City, contact an experienced gun attorney today.

When Discharge is Illegal

Some cities are very limited as to when a person can actually discharge a firearm. In some places, if a person is on his or her property, depending on how much property he or she has and where he or she is shooting the firearm, it may be legal. In other places, it may not. It certainly is always legal to go to any sort of firearms dealer that has a shooting range and discharge a weapon there. Those who join a hunt club or a gun club have areas where they can actually lawfully and safely discharge a firearm.

Under the municipal laws of Ocean City, it is unlawful for any person except a police officer to discharge a pistol, revolver, rifle, gun, or any other firearms. Basically any handgun is going to fall under that very broad definition.

Responsibility of Gun Owners

It is so important for people to make sure that they educate themselves about firearms and understand the responsibilities of owning a gun and firing a gun, because many people may have no concept of how far a bullet can travel. But they need to know because they need to understand where their property is in relationship to other people’s property.

Prohibitions

In Maryland, possession of regulated firearms is very restricted, and there is a whole list of people who, under the law, are restricted from possessing a firearm at all. Those who have been convicted of a crime and received a term of imprisonment of more than two years are prohibited from possessing a firearm.

Certain mental health disorders or findings of incompetency might make someone a prohibited person. Anyone under the age of 21 is not allowed to possess a firearm. People who are respondents of protective orders of some sort, like no contact orders, are also prohibited from possessing a firearm. There is a pretty significant list of different people who, if they meet these criteria, are prohibited from possessing the firearm.

Also, even if someone can legally carry it in their home state, that does not mean that they will able to legally possess it in the state of Maryland. The same is true for unlawful discharge of a firearm.

The rules surrounding guns and what you can do with them are complex and often confusing. Reach out to an attorney who is well-versed in local laws regarding unlawful discharge of a firearm in Ocean City and other gun charges you might be facing.

Penalties

Municipal statutes each carry their own penalties and municipal laws can actually have jail time associated with them. Unlawful discharge of a firearm will definitely carry a fine and it is quite possible that it can carry a jail sentence.