Criminal Law - Minor's Access to Firearms - Penalty

HB 1123 amends Maryland's criminal code to impose misdemeanor penalties for adults who store or leave a loaded firearm in a location where they knew or should have known an unsupervised minor could access it. The law directly affects adult firearm owners responsible for storage safety, with penalties including up to 5 years in prison, a $1,000 fine, or both. Key exemptions include supervised access by an adult, unlawful entry, law enforcement use during duty, or minors with valid hunter safety certificates. The bill explicitly states violations cannot be used as evidence of negligence in civil cases involving firearm-related injuries or property damage. This bill is scheduled to take effect October 1, 2026.