The Maryland Court of Special Appeals ruled on July 8, 2026, that Michael Chase is ineligible for a handgun carry permit due to a felony conviction in Virginia. This decision affects individuals with similar out-of-state convictions seeking to obtain handgun permits in Maryland.
The case, titled In the Matter of Chase (Docket No. 0069/25), began when Chase applied for a handgun carry permit in October 2022. His application was denied by the Maryland State Police because of his 2009 felony conviction for conspiracy to commit grand larceny, for which he received a three-year sentence with all but 30 days suspended. Chase appealed this denial, arguing that his out-of-state conviction should be treated as equivalent to a Maryland offense, which would allow him to obtain the permit.
The dispute centers around the interpretation of Maryland's Public Safety § 5-306, which outlines the qualifications for obtaining a handgun permit. The Maryland Department of State Police initially denied Chase's application based on his felony conviction. This denial was upheld by the Office of Administrative Hearings and later by the Circuit Court for Charles County. Chase's argument relied on the notion that his conviction should be converted to the equivalent Maryland offense for eligibility purposes.
The Court of Special Appeals, led by Judge Kehoe, examined the language of the statute and determined that while it appears clear, its application to out-of-state convictions is ambiguous. However, the court concluded that the Maryland equivalency analysis does not apply to handgun permit eligibility. Instead, the ruling emphasized that the actual sentence imposed, including any suspended portions, is what disqualifies an applicant.
The court ruled, "the statutory language, structure, and legislative history demonstrate that the Maryland equivalency analysis from § 5-101(g)(3) does not apply to handgun permit eligibility."
In its decision, the court affirmed the lower court's ruling, stating that Chase's felony conviction, which carried a sentence exceeding one year, disqualified him from obtaining a handgun permit. The court highlighted that the distinction between “carries” and “has been imposed” in the statutory language is critical, as it indicates that the actual sentence must be considered rather than a hypothetical equivalent.
This ruling has significant implications for individuals with out-of-state felony convictions seeking handgun permits in Maryland. It clarifies that Maryland will not convert out-of-state convictions to their Maryland equivalents for the purpose of determining eligibility for handgun permits. The court's decision reinforces the strict criteria for obtaining such permits, particularly for those with felony convictions.
Moving forward, this ruling could set a precedent for future cases involving handgun permit applications from individuals with out-of-state convictions. It emphasizes the importance of the actual imposed sentence in determining eligibility, potentially affecting many applicants who may have similar legal histories.
Chase's legal team has not indicated whether they plan to appeal the ruling to a higher court. There are no related cases pending that could directly influence this decision, but the outcome may inspire similar challenges from other individuals facing handgun permit denials due to felony convictions.