Md. Code Regs. 12.04.02.03

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 24, December 2, 2024

Section 12.04.02.03 - General Requirements - Authorized Firearms Classroom Instruction, Training, and Qualification, and Firing Line Supervision

A. Handgun and Firearms Classroom Instruction, Training, and Qualification Requirements - General.

(1) A police officer may not use or carry a firearm unless:

(a) The firearm and any attached devices or equipment are approved by the police officer's law enforcement agency;

(b) The law enforcement agency authorizes the police officer to use or carry the firearm; and

(c) The police officer successfully completes the applicable firearms classroom instruction, training, and qualification for the firearm established under this chapter.

(2) If a firearm becomes defective or unavailable to a police officer during firearms training or qualification, a substitute firearm may be used for the firearms training or qualification if the substitute firearm is the same type, model, manufacture, caliber, and barrel length as the defective or unavailable firearm.

(3) All handguns must be equipped with usable iron sights whether used as the primary sighting device or as a back-up, secondary sighting device.

(4) Entrance-Level Firearms Classroom Instruction, Training, and Qualification.

(a) For an individual to be initially authorized to use or carry a firearm, except a secondary handgun or a firearm for which authorization is provided through conversion under Regulation .09 of this chapter, the individual shall successfully complete entrance-level firearms classroom instruction, training, and qualification required for the firearm established under this chapter.

(b) Entrance-level firearms classroom instruction, training, and qualification may be:

(i) Included in entrance-level law enforcement classroom instruction, training, and qualification under COMAR 12.04.01; or

(ii) Independent of entrance-level law enforcement classroom instruction, training, and qualification.

(c) Commission firearms training objectives required for the entrance-level firearms classroom instruction, training, and qualification are available from the Commission upon written request.

(5) Secondary Handgun.

(a) Before a police officer may use or carry a secondary handgun, the police officer shall successfully complete entrance-level classroom instruction, training, and qualification for a primary handgun established under Regulation .04 of this chapter.

(b) After completing entrance-level classroom instruction, training, and qualification with a primary handgun, a police officer shall successfully complete the following requirements for the secondary handgun:

(i) Annual handgun classroom instruction, training, and qualification course of fire requirements if the secondary handgun is the same type as the officer's primary handgun and the officer's agency does not require handgun conversion for the secondary handgun under Regulation .09 of this chapter; or

(ii) Handgun conversion classroom instruction, training, and qualification requirements under Regulation .09 of this chapter for the secondary handgun if the secondary handgun is a different type than the officer's primary handgun.

B. Firing Line Supervision Requirements - General.

(1) At least one provisional instructor, line instructor, or firearms instructor shall be present for every five or fewer individuals on the firing line.

(2) If more than one provisional instructor, line instructor, or firearms instructor is required to be present, the individual responsible for the firearms training and qualification shall designate a firearms instructor or line instructor to supervise the firing line.

(3) If more than 15 individuals are on the firing line:

(a) The individual responsible for the firearms training and qualification shall assign a firing line controller; and

(b) The firing line controller may not be counted as part of the one-to-five ratio required under this regulation.

C. Firearms Classroom Instruction, Training, and Qualification Approval and Minimum Hours.

(1) Commission Approval.

(a) Written approval by the Commission is required for firearms classroom instruction, training, and qualification.

(b) A law enforcement agency requesting approval shall submit the request to the Commission 20 days before the agency plans to start the classroom instruction, training, or qualification.

(2) The minimum hours required for firearms classroom instruction, training, and qualification established under this chapter:

(a) Only include the actual hours of firearms classroom instruction, training, and qualification; and

(b) Do not include meals and breaks.

Md. Code Regs. 12.04.02.03

.03, Firearms Training and Instructor Certification Regulations, adopted effective January 1, 1992 (18:20 Md. R. 2199)
Regulations .03 adopted effective January 1, 2009 (35:24 Md. R. 2078)
Regulation .03C amended effective 40:17 Md. R. 1420, eff.9/2/2013 ; amended effective 49:7 Md. R.468, eff. 4/4/2022