Howard County Gun Lawyer
Maryland has some of the strictest firearm laws in the country, and Howard County prosecutors enforce them aggressively. A charge that sounds minor can carry a mandatory minimum that a judge cannot suspend. FrizWoods keeps an office in Columbia and appears in the Ellicott City courts. For the statewide picture, see our Maryland gun charges hub.
Call us 24/7 at (877) 343-1031 or use our contact form for a free consultation.
Max Frizalone
Founding partner of FrizWoods LLC known for courtroom-first strategy and client-focused advocacy.
- Former Prince George's County State's Attorney and Maryland Public Defender.
- Handled serious cases including carjackings, attempted murder, armed robbery, and violent felonies.
- A thoroughly reviewed criminal lawyer with a track record of trial wins in high-stakes felony and misdemeanor cases.
Luke Woods
Veteran trial attorney with decades of criminal defense experience across Maryland courts.
- Over 20 years of experience in Maryland criminal courts
- Handled thousands of cases and 100+ trials.
- Extensive motion practice, jury/bench trials, and complex felony litigation.
Firearm Charges in Howard County
- Wear, carry, or transport of a handgun is the most common firearm charge. Carrying without a permit, or transporting a handgun improperly, is a serious misdemeanor.
- Felon in possession applies when someone with a disqualifying record possesses a firearm, and it carries a mandatory minimum.
- Handgun in a vehicle, illegal possession of a regulated firearm, and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime all carry enhanced exposure.
How Gun Cases Move Through the County Courts
Most Howard County firearm cases are heard in the District Court in Ellicott City, and the more serious charges move to the Circuit Court for Howard County, also in Ellicott City, where you may have the right to a jury trial. Howard County shares District 10 with Carroll County.
How We Defend Gun Charges
- The search. Firearm cases almost always start with a stop and a search of a person, car, or home. If that search was unlawful, the gun can be suppressed and the case can end.
- Possession and knowledge. The State must prove you knowingly possessed the firearm. A gun in a shared car or home is not automatically yours.
- Permit and transport rules. Maryland's wear-carry-transport law has specific exceptions for moving a firearm between certain places. How you were transporting it matters.
- Mandatory minimums. Because some firearm charges carry time a judge cannot suspend, getting a charge reduced or dismissed before trial is often the whole ballgame. We build for that from day one.
Communities We Serve
We defend firearm cases across Howard County, including Columbia, Ellicott City, Elkridge, Clarksville, Fulton, Savage, and West Friendship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a gun charge carry mandatory jail in Maryland?
Some do. Felon in possession and use of a firearm in certain crimes carry mandatory minimums that cannot be suspended, which is why early defense work matters.
Can a firearm charge be dismissed?
Often, yes. Suppressing an unlawful search is the most common path, and possession can be genuinely contested when the firearm was in a shared space.
I have a permit. Why was I charged?
Maryland's carry and transport rules are technical. A permit issue, a transport-method problem, or a location restriction can still lead to a charge we can fight.
Talk to a Howard County Gun Lawyer
If you are facing a firearm charge anywhere in Howard County, contact us for a free consultation. We also handle the full range of charges on our Howard County criminal lawyer page.