Applying to RENEW your Maryland Handgun Permit (needed to carry a handgun legally in Maryland, open or concealed) can be confusing. With this article, I am going to break down the new renewal application process step by step. If you haven't already acquired the required training (not your original 2 day class), you can click here.
If you read all this and realize how involved it can get- no worries, you can give us a call and let us know you are interested in having PTP do all your paperwork for you. You can reach a team member at 240-925-5788 or register for Application Assistance HERE.
You will receive your Renewal Training documentation from PTP the week following the completion of your renewal training. When you do, be sure to print off your 29-14 and sign/date the Certified Qualification score sheet Form 29-14, this mistake is made by many and forces the Maryland State Police to kick back your application to you for correction and delays the process. Do not forget to sign/date. Didn't take the required Renewal Training yet? Register HERE.
To apply for your Maryland Handgun Permit, you must start by going to the Maryland State Police Licensing Portal. If you don't have an account yet- create one and then login in.
For most, your password will have expired and you will need to check your email that they send you in order to reset it. There are many things we can help you with or do for you if you have chosen to have PTP submit your application for you- but this is not one.
Once logged in, click "Start HGP"
A lot of your old information from your original application will auto-populate. Double check over all of it to confirm that it is still valid such as phone number, address, weight (look, I had to do it too...).
Note: Livescan fingerprints are not needed for a renewal application. If, for some reason, it makes you put something in there in order to submit your application- type 8675309.
EVERYONE: Put "Personal Protection" for your Handgun Permit Category. Yes, EVERYONE.
For application type: Renew ($50.00). Yes, EVERYONE. That's literally the main point of this article, "Renewing your Maryland Handgun Permit"
On to the questionnaire. Read the questions thoroughly, answer them truthfully. If you have a Yes, put Yes. If its No, put No. If you put a Yes, put a very short/sweet/to the point summary of the answer.
If you have been arrested/charged/convicted of something, notate it where applicable. Its not the end of the world and is often times not as big of a deal as you may think it is. I have screwed up before, I am not perfect. Been arrested twice, charged in both courses and never convicted- AND have had my Maryland Handgun Permit multiple times non-stop since 2015.
For Question 2. "Have you ever been ARRESTED for a violation of any criminal law?" If yes, put yes- even if the arrest never stuck. Yes, even if it was expunged, Nolle Prosequi, found Not Guilty, ect.
For Question 3. "Have you ever been CHARGED for a violation of any criminal law?" If yes, put yes- even if the arrest never stuck. Yes, even if it was expunged, Nolle Prosequi, ect.
For Question 4. "Have you ever been CONVICTED for a violation of any criminal law?" If yes, put yes. If it was expunged, Nolle Prosequi, acquitted, found not guilty, found Not Guilty, ect- put no.
Question #15 "Reason for a Handgun Permit (Be Specific):"
You don't need to put anything in particular. You can put anything (that isn't criminally insane) and you will still get approved. One PTP client inserted the full lyrics to The Notorious B.I.G.'s Big Poppa and another client quoted the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Both have since been approved AND received their Maryland Handgun Permit in hand via U.S.P.S.
Now they ask about employment. If self employed the last 5 years, put no. If you had outside employment within the last 5 years, put yes and then fill out the information for each employer you may have had within the past 5 years (not your last 5 employers).
If married/engaged/dating someone, put that person's information here under "Domestic Relationship".
Now we move into the portion of the application where we upload required documents for the government to approve your exercise of rights.
First, passport style photo. For many this is the photo we took for you at our class and sent to you via email with your training documentation. For those that did there training elsewhere, this is something you may be left to do completely on your own.
Click "Upload Photo"
Click "Select Photo for Upload"
Once you have selected the photo, you can zoom in to fit the whole photo, then click "Upload Cropped Photo"
For the "Certificate of Handgun Training" click "Search Qualified Handgun Instructor" and type in the instructor's QHIC number (QHIC-XXXX-XXXX) that is to be found on your renewal training certificate. Didn't take your Renewal Training yet because you didn't realize you had to? No worries, we got you- CLICK HERE.
Once found, click on your instructor to attach to your application.
Then click "Attach Document" to attach your 29-14 Range Sheet that was emailed to you by your instructor.
This (below) is what your 29-14 looks like. BE SURE to sign AND date it as well BEFORE uploading it. They WILL decline your application if that is not done. Can't tell you how many people have not read our blog articles and skip over that step. Bless your heart.
When working with the 29-14 we at PTP sent you, do not try to view/use it from your phone. If you do, the information we plugged into it will not show up. You have to view/use it from your laptop/desk top.
Now click "Next"
If everything is completed because you followed out blog, step by step, well all boxes on the Application Summary page will state Complete with a Green Check mark. If not, click where it says "Incomplete" and complete it.
Otherwise, hit "Next"
Here you get to sign away your privacy rights and 4th Amendment protections in order to apply to exercise your 2nd Amendment protected Right. HIPPA? Out the door too. You also are agreeing to not hold any MSP agents accountable for any damages or loss that result from you consenting to these searches, which are required by the government in order to exercise your right to keep and bear arms.
Check the box agreeing to consent to their search. Digitally sign your name by typing it in the box.
And last but not least, payment. You can't do anything in Maryland without the politicians taxing it life out of it. Unfortunately your second amendment right to bear arms is being continuously infringed upon in that manner as well. The fine charged for anyone attempting to apply to bear arms in this state is $75 and they collect payment of these fines via a debt or credit card. Bust out that wallet one last time, for now at least.
Once you have paid your fine. your application is now submitted.
Next step is for them to just do a quick overview of it to make sure everything needed is there and meets the requirements.
You wont hear back from them unless they need something else from you. In my case, they didn't like my passport style photo, "You can not make faces" apparently.... They notified me via email and I had to log back in to upload my newest verison.
Well they liked and accepted my newest passport style photo.
I hope this article was helpful and I will edit it as needed to stay updated and accurate. Please leave comments below of anything you would add or experiences you have had. Once your application is approved, please email me a picture of your permit front and back to ryan@ptpgun.com . Keep me updated on your application process by emailing me or texting me at 240-925-5788
Right now (Feb 24, 2023) we are receiving feedback from PTP clients that they are receiving their Maryland Handgun Permits within 2-3 weeks of applying.
This application is subject to update at anytime. Something in this blog not matching up? Let us know, because MSP doesn't notify anyone when they change everything.
Have information of timelines being different than described above, let us know. The information we put out is based on feedback from clients, coupled with the information we get regarding the applications we complete for many of our clients.
Want us to do on the paperwork for you? Want to make sure its done right and in a timely manner? Call us for more information 240-925-5788