Regulated Firearms - Seven-Day Waiting Period - Exceptions
HB0126 would create exceptions to Maryland’s 7-day waiting period for the sale, rental, or transfer of a regulated firearm. Under current law, a regulated firearm transaction generally cannot be completed until 7 days after the firearm application is executed and forwarded to the Secretary. This bill would exempt transactions involving three categories of recipients: a law enforcement officer, a retired law enforcement officer who retired in good standing, or a person who has been issued a permit to wear, carry, or transport a handgun under Maryland law.
The bill amends both dealer transactions and private secondary sales so that the waiting-period exception applies whether the firearm is transferred through a licensee or, in a secondary sale, through a non-licensee. It leaves in place the existing application, approval, completion, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements, including the 90-day completion deadline and the obligation to notify the Secretary after the transaction is completed. The bill is set to take effect October 1, 2026.
HB0126 would narrow the application of Maryland’s regulated-firearm waiting-period statute by adding categorical exemptions for law enforcement officers, retired officers in good standing, and handgun permit holders. It would amend Sections 5-123 and 5-124 of the Public Safety Article, affecting both licensed dealers and private-party transfers. The bill does not eliminate the waiting period generally; it creates a targeted carveout while preserving the state’s application, approval, and reporting framework for regulated firearm transactions.
No committee transcript or vote record was provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate, amendments, or recorded support/opposition in the materials supplied. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to be framed as a limited exception to an existing firearm waiting-period requirement rather than a broad overhaul of gun law. The caption and structure suggest a policy approach aimed at easing access for specific groups already associated with public safety or concealed-carry authorization.
The likely point of contention is whether the waiting-period exemption should extend to the three covered groups, especially handgun permit holders and retired law enforcement officers. Supporters would likely argue that these individuals have already undergone vetting or have public-safety experience, making the delay unnecessary. Opponents may view the bill as weakening a firearm safety safeguard and could question whether the exemption should apply to all regulated firearms or only certain transactions. Because no hearing transcript or vote history was included, the specific positions of legislators, advocates, or agencies are not documented in the provided materials.