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REPORTED IN THE COURT OF SPECIAL APPEALS OF MARYLAND No. 2511 September Term, 2007

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RALPH COLEMAN BROWN, JR. v. HANDGUN PERMIT REVIEW BOARD

Salmon, Meredith, Thieme, Raymond G., Jr. (Retired, specially assigned), JJ.

Opinion by Meredith, J.

Filed: October 28, 2009

The Maryland State Police ("MSP") denied the application of Ralph Coleman Brown, Jr., appellant, to renew his permit to carry, wear, or transport a handgun. Initially, the MSP informed Brown by letter that his application was denied due to his "propensity for instability." But, at an informal review of the decision to deny, the MSP informed Brown in person that the real reason was his 1984 conviction in the District of Columbia for possession of a dangerous weapon. That misdemeanor offense carried a maximum sentence of one year of imprisonment in the District of Columbia. Brown was sentenced to probation. Despite the fact that Brown had not been sentenced to imprisonment, the MSP took the position that Brown had been convicted of an offense that constitutes a "disqualifying crime" as defined by Maryland Code (2003), Public Safety Article ("PS"),

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Maryland Law