Empowering women to protect themselves, their families, and their community.
Answering Some of Your Questions
Almost twice as many men as women in the US own guns. Yet women still find themselves at home alone, alone with their children, or working outside their homes in neighborhoods with high crime rates.
There are plenty of opportunities for co-ed safety and firearms training, but not every woman feels comfortable training with men. Even if your spouse is a gun owner and has offered to “take you to the range”, there can still be a level of discomfort that you might not have with a skilled and patient female instructor.
CCW (Carrying a Concealed Weapon) is the acronym used to refer to the license that allows someone to carry a gun outside the confines of their home. In Maryland this is more accurately referred to as a Concealed Carry permit.
Until recently, you had to have a “good and substantial” reason to get a Wear and Carry permit in Maryland. Since the Supreme Court decision (New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen) determined that it is unconstitutional to require a reason for a permit, any individual who does the required training and passes a background check will be issued a concealed carry permit.
HQL stands for Handgun Qualification License. You need an HQL if you want to purchase a handgun. What it means is that you have completed the requirements to be qualified to purchase a handgun.
This is not a license to carry a gun (see FAQ “What is a CCW”) – it is strictly for purchasing purposes.
Once you have legally purchased a gun with an HQL, you don’t need a license to own a gun. Gun ownership is part of your 2nd Amendment rights. You can let your HQL expire and still legally own your gun.
Why does your husband want a gun? Is he interested in protecting you and your family in an environment that is becoming ever more dangerous? Does he have a plan for training and storage? Educating yourself about guns and gun ownership will help you have an important two way conversation about guns in the home. You may change your mind. Or he might.
The owner of a firearm is the only legal owner. He can take you to the range, but he can’t give you the gun without a formal transfer, which means that you would need an HQL. As difficult as it is to think about, if your husband dies, and his guns are in a gun trust (important!), you would still need an HQL to take possession of the guns even if only to sell them.
There are officially 4 rules of gun safety. The fifth rule is this: Always secure your gun from unauthorized people. That includes adults and children. There are many types of gun safe on the market – some are small and hold one gun, others are massive and can hold multiple guns, rifles and shotguns. One thing the good ones have in common is that they have been field tested to be secure. But they are tools which are only as good as you are. Keys must be kept secure, combinations cannot be written down, safes must be installed, bolted to a wall or a floor.
It is your choice whether or not you tell your children that there is a gun in the house. If you do, practice the mantras STOP! DON’T TOUCH! RUN AWAY! TELL A GROWNUP! The NRA has a program called Eddie Eagle (eddieeagle.nra.org) that has more information about keeping children safe if they ever come across a gun (at home or possibly at a friend’s home).
Women of Fire is committed to your privacy. After seven years of working in a hospital environment, privacy protection is part of my muscle memory.
There are more than 1,000 gun manufacturers, and every gun meets a different need. Choosing a gun can be a very personal decision based on cost, intended use, size, weight and comfort. Women of Fire can assist you in the decision process.
Purchasing a handgun involves acquiring an HQL (Handgun Qualification License) and purchasing from an FFL (a seller with a Federal Firearms License). There are a number of gun stores not too far away. In the state of Maryland you can purchase a gun online, but it must be shipped to an FFL for pick up. Additionally, there is a 7 day waiting period from the time of purchase (or the time the firearm arrives at the FFL) before you can pick up the gun.
Things you CANNOT do:
You CANNOT go over a state line and purchase a gun without shipping it to a Maryland FFL.
You CANNOT purchase a gun with a magazine that holds more than 10 rounds. All Maryland FFLs should provide 10 round magazines, but guns purchased online must include a request to remove any magazines that hold more than 10 rounds.
Women of Fire also offers the opportunity to use a simulator for practice. Using a non-operational handgun with a laser, simulation is a cross between range practice and video game. Fill out an “I’m Interested!” form and let us know if you might be interested.
Unfortunately, even though the state of Maryland has legalized medical marijuana, the federal government has not. You will be able to apply for an HQL or Concealed Carry permit, but a Federal background check will not allow you to purchase a firearm. There are organizations working to change this, but as of right now purchase a firearm if you have a current medical marijuana card.