Self Defense, Prohibited Acts in Ocean City, Maryland

I am in OCMD several times every year to hold Maryland Concealed Carry training and it is important to stay up to date on what local politicians have done to further restrict your rights. What is perfectly legal and reasonable in one place, could get you locked up in another.

Some localities prohibit how tall your grass can be, restrict the possession of open containers, or even posting of signage that promote local businesses. But some go as far as restricting or even banning how, where, when, or with what tool(s) you can use in order to defend one's self. Lets take a look at Ocean City, Maryland what they allow free people to do- or lack thereof.

**Before we get started- let's be clear, it is legal for a Maryland Handgun Permit holder to carry in Ocean City, Maryland. If you think or have heard otherwise, send me the ordinance or code to ryan@ptpgun.com**

ARTICLE III. - OFFENSES INVOLVING PUBLIC SAFETY

DIVISION 1. - GENERALLY

• Sec. 58-101. - Discharge of firearms. It shall be unlawful for any person except a peace officer to fire, set off or discharge any pistol, revolver, rifle, gun or any other firearm or any air rifle or airgun within the corporate limits of Ocean City.
  

DIVISION 2. - MARTIAL ARTS WEAPONS

Sec. 58-121. - Definitions.

Amended by Ordinance No. 2021-10

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this division, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: Assisted opening knife means a knife which uses an internal mechanism (spring, tension spring or other mechanical device) to fully open the blade once the user has depressed the flipper or thumb stud attached to the blade. Baton means a police style baton, which is either expandable or fixed in length. Butterfly knife means a pocketknife having a blade connected to a two-piece handle, in which the blade is activated by spreading the handle pieces in a butterfly type motion. Fighting ax means a weapon with a bladed head mounted on a handle, which is not a tool ordinarily used to fell or split lumber. Fighting knife means a multiple bladed knife, which either opens or is fixed at multiple ends or along the radial or shaft of the knife and which blades are more than one inch in length, or a knife with a single blade with a spiked hilt or other jagged or claw like sharpened parts or edges capable of piercing the skin. A multiple tooled knife containing more than one blade known as a Swiss Army knife or similar generic knives are not fighting knives. Fighting sword means a weapon with a sharpened blade in excess of six inches used for thrusting or cutting. A sword commonly used in the sport of fencing is not a fighting sword. Flail mace means a device consisting of a geometric shaped object, spiked or otherwise, connected by any chain, rope, leather or other flexible material and attached to a handheld object. Metal knuckles means a metal device with holes for fingers for placement around the knuckles on the hand. Nunchaku means a device consisting of two pieces of wood, metal, plastic or other like substance, connected by any chain, rope, leather or other flexible material not exceeding 24 inches in length. Pistol crossbow means a crossbow with a pistol type grip and trigger release capable of projecting an arrow, dart or other projectiles. Spike ring means a metal studded band worn on the finger. Spiked belt means a metal studded strap capable of being placed around the waist. Spiked fistband means a metal studded strap capable of being placed on the hand or fingers or fastened around the wrist covering the top of the hand extending from the wrist to the knuckles of the fingers. Spiked glove means a metal studded glove capable of being placed on the hand to cover the top of the hand and knuckles. Spiked wristband means a metal studded strap capable of being attached around the wrist. Throwing star means a metal, star-shaped object with thin tapered points capable of being propelled by throwing. (Code 1972, § 103-5; Code 1999, § 58-121; Ord. No. 2003-20, 7-21-2003; Ord. No. 2004-9, 5-17-2004; Ord. No. 2009-14, 7-6-2009; Ord. No. 2014-15, 5-19-2014)

Sec. 58-122. - Violations and penalties.

Amended by Ordinance No. 2021-10

Any violator of any of the provisions of this division, upon conviction thereof, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and be subject to a fine of up to $1,000.00 or to imprisonment of up to six months, or to both fine and imprisonment. In addition to such penalties, the Mayor and City Council of Ocean City shall have the right to pursue all other legal and equitable remedies in the appropriate courts. (Code 1972, § 103-7; Code 1999, § 58-122) State Law reference— Penalty for ordinance violations, Ann. Code of Md., Local Government article, § 6-101 et seq.

Sec. 58-123. - Prohibited acts.

Amended by Ordinance No. 2021-10

It shall be unlawful for any person to display, possess, sell, barter, offer to sell, distribute, manufacture, give away, transfer or dispose of an assisted opening knife, nunchaku, a fighting knife, a throwing star, a spiked wristband, a spiked fistband, a spiked glove, a flail mace, a butterfly knife, a spiked belt, a spike ring, metal knuckles, baton, fighting ax, fighting sword, pistol crossbow, or any part thereof, assembled or unassembled. As used herein, the term "person" includes individual, partnership, corporation or any other entity. The prohibitions relative to assisted opening knife and baton do not apply to officers of the Ocean City Police Department, the state police, the natural resources police, the county sheriff's department and any allied police department providing assistance in Ocean City. The prohibition relative to assisted opening knife does not apply to members of the Ocean City Fire Department and EMS, while on duty. (Code 1972, § 103-6; Code 1999, § 58-123; Ord. No. 2003-20, 7-21-2003; Ord. No. 2004-9, 5-17-2004; Ord. No. 2009-14, 7-6-2009; Ord. No. 2014-15, 5-19-2014)

Sec. 58-124. - Seizure and forfeiture. (a) Property subject to seizure and forfeiture. The items identified and defined in section 58-121 shall be subject to seizure and forfeiture as illegal objects, and, upon forfeiture, no property right shall exist in them.

(b)Procedure relating to seizure. (1)Any item subject to seizure may be seized by any duly authorized law enforcement officer as an incident to an arrest or search and seizure. (2)Any such officer seizing such item shall remove the same to a location designated by the chief of police.

(c)Procedure relating to forfeiture. (1)Upon the seizure of such item, the police shall attempt to locate its owner by whatever inquiry or investigation is considered appropriate. The police shall notify said owner of the seizure and of the pending forfeiture of the seized item, and that the owner has 30 days to apply to the chief of police for a return of said seized item. (2)Upon application for return of the seized item, the chief of police shall conduct a hearing, within 15 days, with the applicant to determine whether the seized item are illegal under this division. If the chief of police determines that the seized item are illegal under this division, the chief of police shall order the same forfeited, and if the chief of police determines that the seized item are not illegal under this division, the chief of police shall order the same returned to the owner. (3) Any item forfeited under the provisions of the division shall be destroyed or otherwise disposed of pursuant to the directive of the chief of police. (Code 1972, § 103-8; Code 1999, § 58-124)

Secs. 58-125—58-140. - Reserved.

DIVISION 3. - GUN REPLICAS

Sec. 58-141. - Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this division, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: Gun replica means a reproduction of an authentic weapon with similar design, weight and components of its real counterpart, which shoots BBs, pellets, darts or other projectiles made of plastic, metal or other materials. (Code 1999, § 58-141; Ord. No. 2003-20, 7-21-2003)

Sec. 58-142. - Prohibited acts. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, barter, offer to sell, distribute, manufacture, give away, transfer or dispose of a gun replica or any part thereof, assembled or unassembled to a minor. As used herein, the term "person" includes an individual, partnership, corporation or any other entity.

(b) It shall be unlawful for any minor to possess a gun replica or any part thereof, assembled or unassembled.

(c)A person may not: (1) Wear, carry, or transport a gun replica, whether concealed or open, on or about the person; or (2) Wear, carry, or knowingly transport a gun replica, whether concealed or open, in a vehicle traveling on a street, road, boardwalk, alley or parking lot generally used by the public.

(d) There is a rebuttable presumption that a person who transports a gun replica transports the gun replica knowingly. (Code 1999, § 58-142; Ord. No. 2003-20, 7-21-2003)

Sec. 58-143. - Violations and penalties. Any violator of any of the provisions of this division, upon conviction thereof, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and be subject to a fine of up to $1,000.00 or to imprisonment of up to six months, or to both fine and imprisonment. In addition to such penalties, the Mayor and City Council of Ocean City shall have the right to pursue all other legal and equitable remedies in the appropriate courts. (Code 1999, § 58-143; Ord. No. 2003-20, 7-21-2003)

Secs. 58-144—58-160. - Reserved.

DIVISION 4. - ELECTRONIC WEAPONS

Sec. 58-161. - Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this division, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: Electronic weapon means any instrument, stun-gun or any similar device by whatever name, which is designed as a weapon, or any other device capable of, or designed to be capable of, temporarily inflicting pain or incapacitating another by the discharge of electrical current through projectile or non-projectile means. (Code 1999, § 58-161; Ord. No. 2009-14, 7-6-2009)

Sec. 58-162. - Sale or possession of electronic weapons prohibited. Amended by Ordinance No. 2021-10

(a)Prohibitions. (1)It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, corporation or other entity to sell give away, lend, rent or transfer to any individual, firm, corporation or other entity, an electronic weapon within the limits of Ocean City. It further shall be unlawful for any person to possess, fire, discharge or activate any electronic weapon within the limits of Ocean City. a. Exceptions. Subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to: (i) A public safety officer acting within the scope of the officer's official duties; or (ii) A homeowner possessing same in the confines of the home. As used herein, the term "homeowner" means the owner or tenant, spouse and relatives, over the age of 18 years, residing therein. The term "homeowner" does not include tenants or guests residing or staying for periods less than one year. (iii) A person in lawful possession of a state concealed weapon permit. (iv) The sale, rental or transfer of an electronic weapon to a department, office, or agency of Ocean City.

(2) It shall be unlawful to possess an electronic weapon during the commission of a crime. (Code 1999, § 58-162; Ord. No. 2009-14, 7-6-2009)

Sec. 58-163. - Violations and penalties. Any person or entity who shall violate any of the provisions of this division shall, upon conviction thereof, be convicted of a misdemeanor and be punished by a fine not to exceed $1,000.00 or imprisonment not to exceed six months in jail, or both. In addition to such penalties, the Mayor and City Council of Ocean City shall have the right to pursue all other legal and equitable remedies in the appropriate courts. (Code 1999, § 58-163; Ord. No. 2009-14, 7-6-2009)

These regulations and restrictions can be verified at the link below

https://library.municode.com/md/ocean_city/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH58OFMIPR

Note: As you can see, while they do restrict many ways and places that you can defend yourself- nothing restricts the possessing of your firearm.

Looking for some great gun shops to check out while you are visiting the area? Check out this recent article by clicking HERE.