FIRST HANDGUN QUALIFICATION LICENSES MAILED TODAY

(PIKESVILLE, MD) – The Maryland State Police Licensing Division today mailed out more than half of the almost 1,000 handgun qualification licenses that have been applied for under the state’s new firearms law that took effect October 1st.

Today, the Licensing Division mailed 508 handgun qualification licenses to approved applicants, 15 days after the new law took effect. Since October 1st, 904 applications for a handgun qualification license have been received. State Police personnel have so far conducted the required background checks and approved 761 of the applicants. The remaining number of approved applicants should be receiving their licenses shortly.

Unless exempted, as of October 1, 2013, the state’s new gun law requires a Maryland resident to possess a valid handgun qualification license before he or she may purchase, rent, or receive a handgun. To apply for a license or learn details about where to obtain fingerprints or training, persons are encouraged to visit the Maryland State Police website at www.mdsp.org and click on Licensing Division. A list of frequently asked questions and answers about the new law is also available there.

The Maryland State Police continues to receive positive comments from members of the public regarding the user friendly nature of the online application process. Firearms Safety Training Courses are available throughout the state and the Maryland State Police continue to register qualified handgun instructors daily. In addition, the State Police remain in constant communication with Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services personnel, who report that live-scan fingerprinting sites across the state are prepared to meet the demand for this new license.

The Maryland State Police remains dedicated to its obligation to issue the handgun qualification license within 30 days of receipt of a completed application. The HQL Unit stands ready to answer any questions regarding the requirements or status of any license. Most questions can be answered through the website mentioned above.