Handgun permits are issued at higher rates in rural Maryland
Maryland State Police issued 212,445 handgun carry permits in 2025, a 6% increase over the previous year. Garrett County has the most permits per capita, about 28 for every 1,000 people.
This map shows the rate of handgun permits per 1,000 residents in each Maryland county. The highest concentration was in Garrett County, with 27.75 permits for every 1,000 residents. The lowest was 4.49 in Montgomery County.
