Should You Be a Maryland Designated Firearms Collector?

If you own a gun or are thinking about purchasing a gun in Maryland then you should apply to be a Designated Firearms Collector even if you don't consider yourself a collector.  Personally, I received my designated collector's letter before I bought my first firearm. So, don't think you need a collection first before applying for it. There are several reasons why you should get it:

1. Firearm Purchases
In Maryland it is illegal to purchase more than one regulated firearm in a 30-day period, unless you are a designated collector. By becoming a Designated Collector (DC) it removes the one gun every 30-days limitation. Even if you don't think that you have the need to purchase a gun more frequently than that it's nice to have the option. Personally, I never thought I'd run into this problem, until I did. I had a friend that was selling a pair of handguns and had I not already had my DC then I wouldn't have been able to get a really good deal on the pair of them and missed out on the sale entirely.

2. Firearm Transportation
Maryland has steep restrictions on when you are allowed to transport a firearm. You are only allowed to have a gun in your car for the following reasons, and I summarize:

• Transport a firearm to and from a licensed FFL for purchase or repair
• Transport a firearm to and from a legal activity like hunting, or shooting at a gun range
• Transport a firearm between residences, i.e. moving
• Transport a firearm to and from a business that you are the substantial owner of

Legally speaking you are not allowed to have a gun in your car for any other purpose. One of the biggest benefits of the DC designation is that it legally allows you to transport a firearm for an additional reason, private exhibitions. 

The moving by a bona fide gun collector of part or all of the collector’s gun collection from place to place for public or private exhibition if each handgun is unloaded and carried in an enclosed case or an enclosed holster.

What's nice about this is that you can legally claim that you are transporting a gun for a 'private exhibition' simply because you are transporting it to a friends house to show it to them. This gives you a lot more latitude with when you can keep a gun in your car and a legal reason for doing so.

3. It's Free
It's free and never expires. The only cost involved in the process is the cost of the stamp to mail it to the MSP. Everything about owning guns is expensive, it's nice that there is one thing that really is free and relatively easy to get (since this is not the case with pretty much everything else). Fill out one sheet of paper and mail it to the Maryland State Police Licensing Division and several months later you should get your designated collectors letter in the mail. A sample copy of the letter is at the top of this post. Don't think you can use this one though because the MSP keeps on file who has a DC. You don't even need to bring it with you when you fill out purchase paperwork, its just a question you answer yes to on the purchase application.

Once you receive this letter it's good for life, there is no application fee and no renewal process, so why not just get it! Plus, who doesn't like being a bona fide gun collector as the law puts it. It's also nice to get a letter that says APPROVED instead of Not Disapproved. More on that in another post.

Nature of Collecting Activities Question
On the application there is question that people have questioned about what the 'right' answer is. You are asked to "describe nature of collecting activities". When it comes to these types of forms giving a simple answer like "all lawful purposes" is entirely appropriate. You never want to pigeon hole yourself into only one type of collecting activity, especially if the law changes down the road and limitations may be imposed based on your answer.

Click here to apply to be a Maryland Designated Firearms Collector. Don't forget to get it notarized, usually your bank with have a notary on staff that will do this for you.