CATHELL, J.

This case concerns whether the temporary gratuitous exchange or loan of a regulated firearm between two adult individuals, who were otherwise permitted to own and obtain a handgun, constitutes an illegal transfer of a firearm in violation of Maryland Code (1957, 1996 Repl.Vol., 2002 Supp.), Art. 27, § 442. The particular issue before us is the contextual meaning of the word "transfer," as it is used in § 442(d), "A person who is not a regulated firearms dealer may not sell, rent, transfer, or purchase any regulated firearm. . . ." (Emphasis added). Thus, we must decide whether a temporary gratuitous exchange or loan of a regulated firearm constitutes a "transfer" under § 442(d). In addition, we will discuss Maryland Code (1957, 1996 Repl.Vol., 2002 Supp.), Art. 27, § 449, which establishes the penalty for a violation of § 442(d), to determine the proper mens rea for such violation.

On July 31, 2003, petitioner, Todd Lin Chow, a District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department officer and nondealer of firearms, was charged with illegally transferring a regulated firearm pursuant to § 442. On November 25, 2003, a bench trial was held in the Circuit Court for Prince George's County. On December 1, 2003, the court issued its ruling, finding petitioner guilty. The court sentenced petitioner to sixty (60) days, suspended the sentence and imposed a two hundred dollar ($200) fine. A timely appeal was made to the Court of Special Appeals and on June 2, 2005, after hearing arguments, the court filed its decision affirming the decision of the Circuit Court. Chow v. State, 163 Md.App. 492, 881 A.2d 1148 (2005). Petitioner then timely filed a Motion for Reconsideration, which was denied on October 4, 2005. On October 19, 2005, petitioner timely filed a petition for writ of certiorari to the Court of Appeals. We granted certiorari on December 19, 2005. Chow v. State, 390 Md. 284, 888 A.2d 341 (2005).

Petitioner presented three questions in his Petition for Writ of Certiorari which we rephrase to consolidate and clarify the issues:

I. Whether the temporary gratuitous exchange or loan of a regulated firearm between two adult individuals, who were otherwise permitted to own and obtain a regulated firearm, constitutes an illegal "transfer" of a firearm in violation of Maryland Code (1957, 1996 Repl.Vol., 2002 Supp.), Art. 27, § 442, as "transfer" is utilized in subsection (d)(1), "A person who is not a regulated firearms dealer may not sell, rent, transfer, or purchase any regulated firearm . . .?" (Emphasis added).

II. Whether Maryland Code (1957, 1996 Repl.Vol., 2002 Supp.), Art. 27, § 449(f), which states, "any dealer or person who knowingly participates in the illegal . . . transfer . . . of a regulated firearm in violation of this subheading . . .," establishes a general intent or specific intent mens rea? (Emphasis added).

In response to the first question we hold that the plain language and legislative history of the "Regulated Firearms" subheading indicates that the word "transfer," as used in § 442(d), is used in an ownership context and does not apply to the situation extant in the case sub judice — that of a gratuitous temporary exchange or loan between two adults who are otherwise permitted to own and obtain regulated firearms. Although we need not reach the second question because of our disposition in regards to the first question, we will discuss the requisite mens rea required by § 449(f) because of the likelihood that the issue may come before the Court again. For the reasons that follow, we hold that the word "knowingly" in § 449(f), in the particular circumstance of the applicable statutory scheme at issue here, indicates a specific intent mens rea — which we find the petitioner not to have possessed.

I. Facts

We adopt, in part, the facts as stated by the Court of Special Appeals in its opinion below:

"[Petitioner's] friend, Man Nguyen, was the State's main witness at trial. Nguyen testified that, while driving his car on April 1, 2003, he was stopped by the Prince George's County Police Department for a broken taillight. At that time, the police searched Nguyen's vehicle, and discovered a Glock semi-automatic pistol (not the weapon that is the subject of this appeal). The pistol was properly registered in Nguyen's name, but he did not have a permit to carry it. The police confiscated it in connection with their investigation of a recent murder of one of Nguyen's friends.

"The following day, Nguyen contacted [petitioner]. Nguyen explained to [petitioner] that this gun and other guns at his home had been confiscated by the police, and he was `anxious' to buy another gun. He told [petitioner] that he needed to purchase a gun for protection, by which he meant `[h]ome security,' `[s]o, [petitioner] offered me his gun.'

"The two men arranged to meet later that day for lunch at a restaurant in Bowie, Maryland. Sometime during this meeting, [petitioner] gave Nguyen a nine millimeter, semi-automatic handgun that he had owned since 1996.

"Nguyen told [petitioner] that he wanted to test fire the weapon before purchasing it. The pair got into Nguyen's vehicle and headed to a firing range in Upper Marlboro. En route, Nguyen received a business call on his cellular telephone, requiring that he abort the trip to the firing range. Nguyen drove [petitioner] back to the restaurant where [petitioner's] car was parked and dropped him off. [Petitioner's] weapon remained in Nguyen's car. No money was exchanged between Nguyen and [petitioner].

"Soon thereafter, Nguyen contacted [petitioner] by telephone. Nguyen testified: `I was interested in buying it and I called him, and, you know, I told him I'd give it back to him but he said, that's cool, just keep it in the house and he'll pick it up.' Nguyen further testified that he anticipated the weapon would be returned to appellant `as soon as possible.'"

"Detective Donnie Judd testified as a State's witness. He reported that, on April 4, 2003, he and other members of the Prince George's County Police Department stopped Nguyen on a warrant to arrest him for having illegally carried the gun that was found in his car three days earlier. In the ensuing search of Nguyen's car, the police discovered [petitioner's] loaded handgun in the car's center console. Detective Judd ran an NCIC check and determined that the handgun had not been reported stolen. The gun was test fired and determined to be operable.

"Nguyen was arrested and taken to the police station, where he gave a four-page statement. The first paragraph of the statement addressed how he had obtained [petitioner's] handgun, and that portion of the statement was admitted into evidence. It varied from Nguyen's trial testimony. Ngyuen wrote:

I know [sic] [petitioner] for 2-3 [years]. I was detain [sic] on 4-1-03 and PGPD took all my guns. Next [d]ay, I called [petitioner] and asked him if I could hold on to his gun until I can get my guns back in a week or two because I felt uncomfortable without a gun[.] We then met at Olive Garden att [sic] 4pm in Bowie and had lunch and after that he give [sic] me his 9mm, out of a bag in the front Passengers [sic] seat[.]

"Sergeant William Szimanski, of the State Police Licensing Division, Firearms Registration Section, performs background checks on persons purchasing regulated firearms in Maryland and deals with records concerning firearms purchases. He testified that the records related to [petitioner's] handgun reflect that [petitioner] bought the handgun in November 1996, and it was formally transferred to him on the 27th of that month, after completion of the weapon registration process. The records show no subsequent transfer of the handgun, and no application for a transfer of the gun from [petitioner] to Nguyen.

"Sergeant Guillermo Rivera, of the Office of Internal Affairs of the District of Colombia Metropolitan Police Department, also testified. He stated that appellant had not filed a stolen weapon report between November 17, 2001 and November 17, 2003.

"At the close of the State's case, [petitioner] made a motion for judgment of acquittal. [Petitioner] argued that § 442(d) does not cover his conduct, which was simply a temporary exchange of the handgun. In the alternative, [petitioner] argued that he did not `knowingly' violate the statute, as required by § 449(f), because the State did not prove that he knew the transferee, Nguyen, had not filed the application required by § 442(d).

"The State countered that [petitioner's] leaving the gun with Nguyen was a `transfer' of it, and therefore was covered by § 442(d). The State further argued that [petitioner] was aware of the requirements for transferring a handgun, because he had fulfilled those requirements himself when he purchased the gun in 1996. The State finally argued that the `plain meaning' of transfer does not necessarily include the conveyance of title, and encompasses a mere loan.

"After hearing from counsel on both issues, the [Circuit Court for Prince George's County] denied the motion. [Petitioner] then rested without putting on any evidence, and the court issued its ruling."

Chow, 163 Md.App. at 497-500, 881 A.2d at 1151-52 (some footnotes omitted).

The Circuit Court stated:

"The Court having reviewed the statute [§ 442(d)] and now the burden is on the State to prove beyond a reasonable doubt, the Court finds based upon the testimony of the State's witnesses that there was in fact a transfer in this case.

"The Court also finds that based upon the facts that it was a temporary transfer.

" It is the Court's assessment of the testimony of the State's witness that it was in fact a loan, although he has testified to two totally opposite things; he testified that it was in fact an anticipated purchase, and on the other hand, there was testimony or at least — yeah, there was testimony that it was in fact a loan. So, we have two inconsistent statements by the State's witness.

"And the State asks the Court or states to the Court — argues to the Court that under either theory, that there was an illegal transfer in this case. The court agrees that there was an illegal transfer.

"And [petitioner's counsel], I understand your argument with respect to temporary transfer, and I'll leave it to the higher courts to tell me that a temporary transfer is not a transfer under the law, I believe under the facts and circumstances of this case it is in fact a temporary transfer.

"And whether the legislature intended a transference to be a part of this statute, this Court finds it's not clear, but I'll wait for direction from the higher court with that." [Emphasis added.]

The trial court judge then found petitioner guilty and sentenced him to sixty (60) days — with the sentence suspended — and a fine of two hundred dollars ($200). In doing so, the trial judge stated: "And the reason why I'm giving you the disposition is I believe that it was a temporary transfer, it was illegal, but, what the transferee did with it [the regulated firearm] was not within your control, and he clearly stated on the record that you told him to put it in the house, and he chose not to." [Emphasis added].

Petitioner timely noted an appeal to the Court of Special Appeals. On June 2, 2005, The Court of Special Appeals filed its opinion. The court affirmed the decision of the Circuit Court. Specifically, in reference to the interpretation of the word "transfer," the court stated:

"[W]e hold that plainly included within the meaning of `transfer' of a regulated firearm, in § 442(d), is lending a firearm. The plain construction of the term is confirmed by an examination of the general purpose of the regulated firearms [subheading], and by the rule that the remedial portions of a statute are to be liberally construed. Therefore, a person violates § 442(d) by lending a regulated firearm to another person without there first being compliance with the application process and seven-day waiting period set forth in that section."

Chow, 163 Md.App. at 509-10, 881 A.2d at 1158 (footnote omitted). The court, however, failed to address the entire issue of what would constitute a transfer: "We need not decide in this case what other facts would support a transfer, for purposes of § 442(d). It is therefore unnecessary to address the scenario postulated by [petitioner], i.e., a mere momentary exchange of a regulated firearm between the lawful possessor and another person." Id. at 510 n. 7, 881 A.2d at 1158 n. 7. In addition, in respect to the mens rea requirement of § 449(f), the court held "that `knowingly participates' in a violation of § 442(d) means participation with knowledge of the facts that make out a violation of that subsection" and that "[t]he State, then, need only prove that the defendant participated in a transfer of a regulated firearm with the knowledge that a firearm (as opposed to some other item) was being intentionally (as opposed to accidentally) transferred." Id. at 513, 881 A.2d at 1160 (citing Dawkins v. State, 313 Md. 638, 651, 547 A.2d 1041 (1988)).

II. Standard of Review

The case sub judice was tried in the circuit court without a jury, thus our standard of review is dictated by Maryland Rule 8-131(c). We recently stated in Gray v. State, 388 Md. 366, 879 A.2d 1064 (2005):

"According to Maryland Rule 8-131(c) `when an action has been tried without a jury, the appellate court will review the case on both the law and the evidence. It will not set aside the judgment of the trial court on the evidence unless clearly erroneous, and will give due regard to the opportunity of the trial court to judge the credibility of the witnesses.' The clearly erroneous standard does not apply to legal conclusions. Nesbit v. GEICO, 382 Md. 65, 72, 854 A.2d 879, 883 (2004). `When the trial court's order "involves an interpretation and application of Maryland statutory and case law, our Court must determine whether the lower court's conclusions are legally correct under a de novo standard of review.'" Nesbit, 382 Md. at 72, 854 A.2d at 883 (quoting Walter v. Gunter, 367 Md. 386, 392, 788 A.2d 609, 612 (2002))."

Gray, 388 Md. at 374-75, 879 A.2d at 1068. Therefore, we shall review the legal questions presented as to the interpretation of "transfer" in § 442(d) and the mens rea element of § 449(f) de novo.

III. Discussion A. The Meaning of "Transfer" in the Context of § 442(d).

Section 442(d) of the Regulated Firearms subheading governs the sale or "transfer" of regulated firearms by an individual that is not a regulated firearms dealer. As stated supra, the statute states, in pertinent part:

"(d) Sale by other than regulated firearms dealer. — (1) A person who is not a regulated firearms dealer may not sell, rent, transfer, or purchase any regulated firearm until after 7 days shall have elapsed from the time an application to purchase or transfer shall have been executed by the prospective purchaser or transferee, in triplicate, and the original copy is forwarded by a regulated firearms dealer to the Secretary."

§ 442(d)(1) (emphasis added).

Petitioner contends that the legislative intent of using the term "transfer," as found in § 442(d), was to mean a permanent exchange of title or possession of a regulated firearm, as in a gift or bequeathment, rather than a mere loan or temporary exchange of such firearm. The State, in opposition, argues that § 442(d) prohibits all exchanges of regulated firearms, temporary or permanent, whether by sale, rental, gift, loan, exchange or otherwise and no matter how temporary.

In order to divine the meaning of "transfer" in § 442(d) we look to the canons of statutory interpretation, which we recently expressed in Kushell v. Department of Natural Resources, 385 Md. 563, 870 A.2d 186 (2005):

"The cardinal rule of statutory interpretation is to ascertain and effectuate the intent of the Legislature. See Collins v. State, 383 Md. 684, 688, 861 A.2d 727, 730 (2004). Statutory construction begins with the plain language of the statute, and ordinary, popular understanding of the English language dictates interpretation of its terminology. Deville v. State, 383 Md. 217, 223, 858 A.2d 484, 487 (2004).

"In construing the plain language, `[a] court may neither add nor delete language so as to reflect an intent not evidenced in the plain and unambiguous language of the statute; nor may it construe the statute with forced or subtle interpretations that limit or extend its application.' Price v. State, 378 Md. 378, 387, 835 A.2d 1221, 1226 (2003); County Council v. Dutcher, 365 Md. 399, 416-417, 780 A.2d 1137, 1147 (2001). Statutory text `should be read so that no word, clause, sentence or phrase is rendered superfluous or nugatory.'" Collins, 383 Md. at 691, 861 A.2d at 732 (quoting James v. Butler, 378 Md. 683, 696, 838 A.2d 1180, 1187 (2003)). The plain language of a provision is not interpreted in isolation. Rather, we analyze the statutory scheme as a whole and attempt to harmonize provisions dealing with the same subject so that each may be given effect. Deville, 383 Md. at 223, 858 A.2d at 487; Navarro-Monzo v. Washington Adventist, 380 Md. 195, 204, 844 A.2d 406, 411 (2004).

"If statutory language is unambiguous when construed according to its ordinary and everyday meaning, then we give effect to the statute as it is written. Collins, 383 Md. at 688-89, 861 A.2d at 730. If there is no ambiguity in that language, either inherently or by reference to other relevant laws or circumstances, the inquiry as to legislative intent ends; we do not need to resort to the various, and sometimes inconsistent, external rules of construction, for `the Legislature is presumed to have meant what it said and said what it meant.' Arundel Corp. v. Marie, 383 Md. 489, 502, 860 A.2d 886, 894 (2004) (quoting Witte v. Azarian, 369 Md. 518, 525, 801 A.2d 160, 165 (2002))."

Kushell, 385 Md. at 576-77, 870 A.2d at 193-94. Furthermore, as we stated in Price v. State, 378 Md. 378, 835 A.2d 1221 (2003):

"In some cases, the statutory text reveals ambiguity, and then the job of this Court is to resolve that ambiguity in light of the legislative intent, using all the resources and tools of statutory construction at our disposal. However, before judges may look to other sources for interpretation, first there must exist an ambiguity within the statute, i.e., two or more reasonable alternative interpretations of the statute. Where the statutory language is free from such ambiguity, courts will neither look beyond the words of the statute itself to determine legislative intent nor add to or delete words from the statute. Only when faced with ambiguity will courts consider both the literal or usual meaning of the words as well as their meaning in light of the objectives and purposes of the enactment. As our predecessors noted, `We cannot assume authority to read into the Act what the Legislature apparently deliberately left out. Judicial construction should only be resorted to when an ambiguity exists.' Therefore, the strongly preferred norm of statutory interpretation is to effectuate the plain language of the statutory text."

Price, at 387-88, 835 A.2d at 1226 (citations omitted); Goff v. State, 387 Md. 327, 342, 875 A.2d 132, 141 (2005); Pete v. State, 384 Md. 47, 57-58, 862 A.2d 419, 425 (2004).

1. Plain Language of § 442(d).

First, it is necessary to look at the plain language of § 442(d) to determine whether there is any ambiguity in the term "transfer" as it is used in the context of the statute. The term itself is not defined within the subheading. See Chow, 163 Md.App. at 502, 881 A.2d at 1154 ("Neither § 442 nor any other section within that subheading defines the word `transfer.'"). Therefore, we look to the ordinary and popular understanding of the word "transfer" to determine its meaning. Kushell, supra.

There are a number of sources from which we can obtain definitions of the word "transfer" and it is proper to consult a dictionary or dictionaries for a term's ordinary and popular meaning. State Dep't of Assessments and Taxation v. Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Comm'n, 348 Md. 2, 14, 702 A.2d 690, 696 (1997) ("[I]n deciding what a term's ordinary and natural meaning is, we may, and often do, consult the dictionary."); Hackley v. State, 161 Md.App. 1, 14, 866 A.2d 906, 914 (2005). The Court of Special Appeals looked at two different sources for definitions:

"The first definition of the verb `transfer' in The Random House Dictionary of the English Language is `to convey or remove from one place, person, etc., to another[.]' The Random House Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged 2009 (2nd ed. 1987) (`Random House'). A similar first definition of the verb `transfer' is found in Black's Law Dictionary: `To convey or remove from one place or one person to another; to pass or hand over from one to another, esp. to change over the possession or control of.' Black's Law Dictionary 1536 (8th ed. 2004) (`Black's'). These definitions are broad and both include a loan of the property at issue.

"To be sure, other subsequently listed dictionary definitions of the verb `transfer' are more in keeping with the construction given to it by [petitioner]. Random House includes as the third definition of the verb: ` Law. to make over the possession or control of: to transfer a title to land.' Random House, supra, at 2009. And Black's lists, as its second definition, `To sell or give.' Black's, supra, at 1536. Similarly, Random House defines the noun form of the word `transfer' as, inter alia, ` Law, a conveyance, by sale, gift, or otherwise of real or personal property, to another.' Random House, supra, at 2009. And `conveyance' is defined, inter alia, as ` Law. a. the transfer of property from one person to another.' Id. at 445, 866 A.2d 906."

Chow, 163 Md.App. at 502-03, 881 A.2d at 1154. Utilizing these definitions and the context in which "transfer" appears in § 442(d), the Court of Special Appeals decided to "decline [petitioner's] invitation to ascribe to the verb `transfer,' in § 442(d), a definition suggestive only of a permanent exchange of title or possession." Chow, 163 Md.App. at 503, 881 A.2d at 1154. We, however, disagree with the Court of Special Appeals' determination in this instance.

As stated supra, there are different sources from which definitions of a word may be obtained. Petitioner points out a number of definitions from dictionaries which were available in the Maryland State Law Library prior to the initial 1941 enactment of the predecessor statute to the Regulated Firearms subheading. All of the definitions define "transfer" as a permanent exchange of title or possession. From the time of its initial enactment in 1941, through its evolution to the present day, the statute has always contained a form of the term "transfer." It is persuasive that the use of the term "transfer" has remained consistent throughout the evolution of the statute — always in the context of a transfer of all of the rights of the transferor to the transferee, either permanently or for an extended period of time if a gun is "rented." Thus, the meaning and context of the term have not been altered over the course of the years, even though other definitions may have changed.

The Court of Special Appeals found that an interpretation of "transfer" as suggestive only of a permanent exchange of title or possession "would run afoul of the rule that `[o]rdinary and popular understanding of the English language dictates interpretation of terminology within legislation.'" Chow, 163 Md. App. at 503, 881 A.2d at 1154 (citing Deville, 383 Md. at 223, 858 A.2d 484). The court, however, provides no support for this conclusion other than what can be inferred from its discussion of the two dictionary definitions it provided, supra, which arguably supported both the petitioner's and the State's arguments. Analyzing "transfer" in light of the definitions in effect at the time of the legislative enactment of § 442(d), we do not find petitioner's interpretation of "transfer" to run afoul of the ordinary and popular understanding of the English language.

Words can have multiple meanings and often do. And the numerous meanings of a particular word may each satisfy the ordinary and popular understanding of that word. In order to interpret a word's specific meaning in a particular statute we look to the context in which the word is used. As we stated supra, "The plain language of a provision is not interpreted in isolation. Rather, we analyze the statutory scheme as a whole and attempt to harmonize provisions dealing with the same subject so that each may be given effect. Deville, 383 Md. at 223, 858 A.2d at 487; Navarro-Monzo v. Washington Adventist, 380 Md. 195, 204, 844 A.2d 406, 411 (2004)." Kushell, 385 Md. at 577, 870 A.2d at 193.

2. "Transfer" in the Context of the Regulated Firearms Subheading.

While the Regulated Firearms subheading does not specifically define the term "transfer," it does use the term several times throughout its various sections. Section 441 provides the definitions for the subheading. In particular, § 441(f) states that: "`Dealer' means any person who is engaged in the business of: (1) Selling, renting, or transferring firearms at wholesale or retail." (Emphasis added). Transfer, as used in this section, obviously concerns transfers for consideration ("wholesale" and "retail" are business terms). Section 441(t) states that: "`Rent' means the temporary transfer of a regulated firearm for consideration where the firearm is taken from the firearm owner's property." (Emphasis added). Finally, § 441(w) states that: "`Straw purchase' means any sale of a regulated firearm where the individual uses another person (the straw purchaser) to complete the application to purchase a regulated firearm, take initial possession of that firearm, and subsequently transfer that firearm to the individual." (Emphasis added). This section also obviously concerns transfers for consideration. In all of the above instances (except where "Rent" is specifically defined and delineated as a temporary transfer for consideration) the word "transfer" is used in the sense of a permanent exchange of title or possession of the regulated firearm for consideration. A dealer is a person engaged in the business of permanently exchanging title or possession of a firearm. In the context of § 441(f), transfer logically means a permanent exchange. In the case of a straw purchase, there is a sale of a regulated firearm to the strawperson, who then transfers (permanently exchanging possession of) the firearm to another individual. The use of transfer in § 441(w) also contemplates permanent exchange of possession for consideration.

Section 442, entitled "Sale or transfer of regulated firearms," utilizes "transfer" in several instances, including subsection (d), the subject provision in the case sub judice. Subsection (b)(3)(i) states that "[a]n application to purchase or transfer a regulated firearm shall be completed by the recipient and forwarded to the Secretary within 5 days of receipt of the regulated firearm. . . ." Reference to the application form itself (MSP 77R-1) is reflective of "transfer" having a "permanent exchange" connotation.

The form is entitled: "MARYLAND STATE POLICE APPLICATION AND AFFIDAVIT TO PURCHASE A REGULATED FIREARM." The first section provides instructions, which begin: "The transferee (purchaser) or voluntary registrant must complete Part 1 of this application prior to completing Part 2. " [Italics added for emphasis]. The rest of the page composes Part 1 of the application and, following the instruction block, fifteen questions are listed with yes or no (and sometime N/A) circles to be filled in by the applicant, along with a space for the applicant to initial for each question's answer. At the bottom of the page there is a signature box. The box is labeled "Signature of Transferee /Voluntary Registrant and Transferor." [Emphasis added]. Two lines are provided for signatures: (1) labeled " Transferee /Voluntary Registrant" and (2) " Dealer/Transferor." [Emphasis added].

The second page of the application composes Part 2. Located at the top of the page are four check boxes, respectively labeled: "Dealer Sale," "Secondary Sale," "Gift," and "Voluntary Registration." Below that is an instruction box which states:

"The transferee ( purchaser) or voluntary registrant must complete Part 1 of this application prior to completing Part 2. Licensed dealers or transferors ( sellers) must visually inspect an official document provided by the transferee to verify that the transferee has either completed a certified firearms safety training course . . . or an official document that indicates that the transferee is a current law enforcement officer. . . ." [Italics added for emphasis.]

Following the instruction box, the page is broken into six sections with section two composed of an A and B. Each individual section is entitled as follows: 1. " TRANSFEREE ( PURCHASER)/VOLUNTARY REGISTRANT INFORMATION," 2a. "DEALER INFORMATION (* * For Licensed Dealer Sales Only * *)," 2b. " TRANSFEROR ( SELLER) INFORMATION (For Secondary Sales, Gifts, and Voluntary Registration Only)," 3. "(THIS SECTION FOR MARYLAND STATE POLICE USE ONLY)," 4. "GUN INFORMATION (Must Be Completed By Transferor)," and signature blocks 5. " Sign upon Application or Voluntary Registration" and 6. " Sign upon Transfer of Firearm." [Italics added for emphasis].

It is evident that the application, referenced by § 442(b)(3)(i), to purchase or transfer regulated firearms was only designed for permanent "transfers" of such firearms. In fact, the only options available, as indicated at the top of the second page of the application, are for "Dealer Sale," "Secondary Sale," "Gift," and "Voluntary Registration." With the exception of "Voluntary Registration," each option evinces a permanent exchange of title or possession between two individuals. "Voluntary Registration" is indicative of an individual already in possession of a regulated firearm, not of any type of exchange.

Section 442(d)(2) states: "As an alternative to completing a secondary sale of a regulated firearm through a regulated firearms dealer, the prospective seller or transferor and the prospective purchaser or transferee may complete the transaction through a designated law enforcement agency." This section provides an alternative to § 442(d), the pertinent section in the case sub judice. The use of "transfer" in § 442(d)(2) distinctly refers to a permanent exchange. This is evident through the introductory language of the section, "As an alternative to completing a secondary sale. . . ." § 442(d)(2) (emphasis added). Transferor (in conjunction with seller) and transferee (in conjunction with purchaser) in this context is concerned with completing a secondary sale (permanent exchange) of a regulated firearm through a designated law enforcement agency rather than through a regulated firearms dealer.

Section 443, entitled "Regulated firearm dealer's license," states in subsection (a), that "[n]o person shall engage in the business of selling, renting, or transferring regulated firearms unless he lawfully possesses and conspicuously displays at his place of business, in addition to any other license required by law, a regulated firearms dealer's license issued by the Secretary." (Emphasis added). Again, similar to § 441(f), the use of "transfer" in the context of a person engaging in the firearms business provides a connotation of permanent exchange of title or possession generally for consideration.

The context in which the term "transfer" is used in the Regulated Firearms subheading's statutory scheme as a whole must be harmonized with its use in § 442(d). Kushell, 385 Md. at 577, 870 A.2d at 193 (citing Navarro-Monzo, 380 Md. at 204, 844 A.2d at 411; Deville, 383 Md. at 223, 858 A.2d at 487). Section 442(d) states, in pertinent part:

"(d) Sale by other than regulated firearms dealer. — (1) A person who is not a regulated firearms dealer may not sell, rent, transfer, or purchase any regulated firearm until after 7 days shall have elapsed from the time an application to purchase or transfer shall have been executed by the prospective purchaser or transferee, in triplicate, and the original copy is forwarded by a regulated firearms dealer to the Secretary." (Emphasis added.)

The Court of Special Appeals found that "the context in which `transfer' appears does not comport with the narrow definition [that of permanent exchange of title or possession] [petitioner] would have us give the word." Chow, 163 Md.App. at 503, 881 A.2d at 1154. The court expounded upon this, stating:

"Section 442(d) refers to three forms of firearm exchange: `sell [or purchase],' `rent,' and `transfer.' `Rent' is defined in § 441(t) as the `temporary transfer of a regulated firearm for consideration where the firearm is taken from the firearm owner's property.' `Sell' and `purchase' are not defined in the subheading, but we assume they carry their ordinary and popular meaning, and contemplate a permanent transfer for consideration.

"`Transfer,' then, must contemplate something different from `sell' or `rent'; otherwise, those terms would be surplusage. We strive to `read statutes so that no word, clause, sentence or phrase is rendered surplusage, superfluous, meaningless, or nugatory.'" See State v. Pagano, 341 Md. 129, 134, 669 A.2d 1339 (1996) (quoting Montgomery County v. Buckman, 333 Md. 516, 524, 636 A.2d 448 (1994)).

Chow, 163 Md.App. at 503, 881 A.2d at 1154-55. We agree with the Court of Special Appeals that "sell" and "purchase" contemplate a permanent exchange for consideration. We have discussed the use of "rent," which is specifically defined in § 441(t). We disagree, however, with the Court of Special Appeals' analysis that "transfer" must be construed with a broad meaning to avoid being considered surplusage. To the contrary, it is when "transfer" is considered in its broad meaning that surplusage language is created. If "transfer" includes everything then the words "sell," "rent" and "purchase" are surplus words.

The Court of Special Appeals' apparent presumption is that a "gift" is the only form that a "permanent exchange of title or possession" can assume. See Chow, 163 Md.App. at 504, 881 A.2d at 1155 ("[W]e cannot ascribe to the term, as it is used in § 442(d), a narrow meaning restricted essentially to `gift'. . . ."). The Court of Special Appeals argues that "transfer" cannot simply mean "gift." The court stated:

"Elsewhere in § 442 itself, the General Assembly used `gift' to exclude (with certain conditions) those forms of exchange from the prohibitions against straw purchases. See § 442(b)(2), (3) (providing that `[t]he prohibitions of this [straw purchase] subsection do not apply to a person purchasing a regulated firearm as a gift,' so long as there is compliance with the application requirement). Had the General Assembly intended to limit its meaning of the verb `transfer' in § 442(d) to making a gift, we expect that the Legislature would have used that word."

Chow, 163 Md.App. at 503-04, 881 A.2d at 1155. We, however, disagree with this reasoning. "Transfer," as defined at the time of the enactment of § 442(d) and read in harmony with the rest of the Regulated Firearms subheading, has the meaning of a permanent gratuitous transfer, rather than a temporary transfer. And we will not "`construe the statute with forced or subtle interpretations that limit or extend its application.'" Kushell, 385 Md. at 576-77, 870 A.2d at 193 (quoting Price, 378 Md. at 387, 835 A.2d at 1226); County Council v. Dutcher, 365 Md. 399, 416-417, 780 A.2d 1137, 1147 (2001). "Transfer" can be ascribed the meaning of "a permanent exchange of title or possession" and not be rendered surplusage, superfluous, meaningless, or nugatory.

Each term in the litany laid out in § 442(d) has its own meaning. The term "sell" contemplates a permanent exchange for consideration from a seller or transferor of a regulated firearm to a buyer. Conversely, the term "purchase" contemplates a permanent exchange for consideration to a buyer or transferee of a regulated firearm from a seller. "Rent," as discussed above and defined in § 441(t), contemplates a temporary transfer for consideration. None of these words, "sell," purchase," or "rent" can be defined to include the permanent gratuitous transfer of a firearm. That type of permanent exchange is covered by the word "transfer" and that is its purpose in the statute, i.e., a permanent gratuitous transfer. Read in context with the rest of the Regulated Firearms subheading, the term "transfer," as used in § 442(d), is distinguishable from the words "sell," "rent" and "purchase" in that it means any other permanent exchange of title or possession of a firearm even if it is without consideration. This covers situations of permanent exchange that the other terms fail to address, i.e., in the case of a gift or bequeathment. Therefore, "transfer," as used in § 442(d), is not surplusage, superfluous, meaningless, or nugatory. It is the Court of Special Appeals' interpretation that makes the other language of the relevant litany surplusage.

While modern day definitions of "transfer" may, in some instances, attribute to the word a broader meaning, they also provide a more narrow definition. That narrow definition of "permanent exchange of title or possession" is more in harmony with the statutory scheme of the Regulated Firearms subheading, as a whole. Thus, we attribute that narrow meaning to "transfer" as it is used in §§ 442(d) and 449(f).

3. Even if "Transfer" Can Be Said to Be Ambiguous, the Application of Statutory Construction and a Review of Legislative Intent Reflect that its Meaning in the Context of § 442(d) is One of Permanent Exchange of Title or Possession.

While we find that "transfer," as used in §§ 442(d) and 449(f), is unambiguous and refers to a permanent gratuitous exchange of title or possession, it is useful for confirmatory reasons to look to the purpose of the Regulated Firearms subheading as intended by the General Assembly.

Prior to enacting the predecessor statute to the Regulated Firearms subheading, the General Assembly enacted the Uniform Machine Gun Act. The Uniform Machine Gun Act was initially enacted by the General Assembly in 1933, pursuant to 1933 Md. Laws, Chap. 550 and is now codified in Maryland Code (2002), § 4-403 of the Criminal Law Article. The Uniform Machine Gun Act, utilizes the term "loan" in discussing the registration of machine guns. Section 4-403 states, in pertinent part:

"(a) Manufacturer registration. — (1) A manufacturer of a machine gun shall keep a register of each machine gun manufactured or handled by the manufacturer.

(2) The register shall contain:

. . .

(ii) the date of manufacture, sale, loan, gift, delivery, and receipt of the machine gun from the manufacturer; and

(iii) the name, address, and occupation of the person to whom the machine gun was sold, loaned, given or delivered, or from whom the machine gun was received, and the purpose for which the machine gun was acquired."

(Emphasis added). The original language of the pertinent section has remained largely unchanged over the years:

"Every manufacturer shall keep a register of all machine guns manufactured or handled by him. This register shall show the model and serial number, date of manufacture, sale, loan, gift, delivery or receipt, of every machine gun, the name, address, and occupation of the person to whom the machine gun was sold, loaned, given or delivered, or from whom it was received; and the purpose for which it was acquired by the person to whom the machine gun was sold, loaned, given or delivered, or from whom received."

Md. Code (1931, 1935 Supp.), Art. 27, § 350G (emphasis added).

The General Assembly did not enact regulation involving regulated firearms, in respect to handguns, until 1941. The Legislature had previously utilized the term "loan" in its regulation of machine guns, arguably a more dangerous instrument than regulated handguns. Had the General Assembly wanted to restrict the exchange of firearms in terms of "loaning" it would have specifically done so in respect to situations such as those extant here, and, as is apparent from the machine gun statute, knew how to do so.

Subsection (d) of § 442 was added in 1996, pursuant to the Maryland Gun Violence Act of 1996 ("Act"). It is instructive to look at some of the documentation surrounding the Act. In 1996, then-Governor Parris N. Glendening proposed two "Administration" bills, cross-filed as Senate Bill 215 and House Bill 297. The Act was "a comprehensive proposal aimed at reducing the epidemic of gun violence" in Maryland. Briefing Statement Before the Senate Judicial Proceeding Committee and the House Judiciary Committee (1996) (statement of Bonnie A. Kirkland, Chief Legislative Officer, Governor's Legislative Office and Colonel David B. Mitchell, Superintendent, Department of State Police), at 2 ("Briefing Statement"). As the Court of Special Appeals points out:

"The Briefing Statement explains: `To help accomplish this goal, the Maryland Gun Violence Act focuses on reducing the availability of handguns and assault weapons, which are defined in the bill as regulated firearms, to prohibited persons by diminishing the proliferation of illegal sales and transfers of firearms.' Id.; see also Valentine v. On Target, Inc., 353 Md. 544, 564, 727 A.2d 947 (1999) (Raker, J., concurring) (recognizing that the regulated firearms provisions are part of an `elaborate statutory scheme designed to regulate the transfer of handguns[,]' which, like the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act passed by Congress in 1968, has the purpose of `control[ling] and, if possible, eliminat[ing] gun violence')."

Chow, 163 Md.App. at 507, 881 A.2d at 1157. As used in the Briefing Statement its purpose was to reduce the proliferation of illegal sales and illegal transfers. The Court of Special Appeals refers to the Briefing Statement's analysis, stating: "Section 442(d) in particular has the purpose of `disrupt[ing] established gun trafficking patterns by reducing the supply of regulated firearms to the illegal market.' To read § 442(d) as exempting the loan of a regulated firearm would undermine the laudable purpose of the legislative scheme." Chow, 163 Md.App. at 508-09, 881 A.2d at 1158 (citation omitted). The Briefing Statement, however, in no way alludes to the imposition of restrictions upon the temporary exchange or loan of regulated firearms between two adults that are not legally prohibited from possessing such firearms.

The particular section from which the quote is taken in the Briefing Statement is more properly read when placed in its entire context. The paragraph reads:

Key features of Senate Bill 215 and House Bill 297

. . .

II. Requires sales between individuals to go through the same scrutiny as initial purchases from a gun dealer: a background check and a seven-day waiting period. (Article 27 Sec. 442E). The required application/registration of secondary sales coupled with the prohibition of multiple purchase transactions will disrupt established gun trafficking patterns by reducing the supply of regulated firearms to the illegal market."

Briefing Statement, at 5 [emphasis added]. The purpose of the legislative scheme is to regulate sales, secondary sales, and to prohibit multiple permanent purchase transactions of regulated firearms in order to disrupt gun trafficking in the illegal market, not temporary exchanges or loans of regulated firearms between adults legally permitted to possess regulated firearms.

In fact, the Briefing Statement enumerates what the Act proposes to regulate: "Among other things, the Act proposes to limit the purchase of regulated firearms to one in a thirty-day period; treat secondary sales of firearms like sales by dealers; prohibit straw purchases; and require a license to purchase a regulated firearm." Briefing Statement, at 2 [emphasis added]. In addition, the Briefing Statement's Conclusion states:

"Maryland residents throughout the state favor stricter handgun regulation. These citizens, and those testifying in support of this Legislation, represent a broad array of people throughout the State. Supporters include members of the medical, business and religious community. Supporters also include the increasing number of victims whose lives have been shattered by gun violence, as well as their family and friends. Even many of those traditionally thought to be opposed to any gun control measures, such as gun owners and enthusiasts, support this legislation. They understand that this Act imposes no restrictions on the use of firearms for lawful purposes such as hunting and sport shooting, and imposes reasonable regulations aimed at reducing the gun violence epidemic by reducing the availability of guns to minors and criminals."

Briefing Statement, at 6 [emphasis added]. This is exactly what the Act and § 442(d) do if "transfer" is construed narrowly to mean "a permanent exchange of title or possession." If we, however, adopt the broad meaning that the State requests and the Court of Special Appeals adopted, then the Act and § 442(d) would be interpreted to impose additional restrictions upon the use of firearms for lawful purposes. Our review of the legislative intent suggests that this was not the intent of the Legislature. Furthermore, a look at the Fiscal Note to House Bill 297 (both the original and revised versions) suggests the scope of the bill. The Fiscal Note, in discussing state expenditures, states, "Under current law, only a transaction involving a licensed gun dealer is subject to a waiting period and approval by the State Police. This bill extends that requirement to sales between individuals." Fiscal Note, at 2 [emphasis added].

Upon review of the legislative intent involving § 442(d) we find that "transfer," in the context of the statute, is properly defined as a "permanent exchange of title or possession" without consideration.

Pursuant to our determination of the contextual meaning of "transfer" in § 442(d), we hold that "transfer" does not apply to the temporary exchange or loan of a regulated firearm between two adult individuals, without consideration passing between them, who are otherwise permitted to own, obtain, possess, and use a regulated firearm. We give due regard to the Circuit Court's fact finding in the case sub judice that the exchange in question was temporary in nature, as in a loan. The Circuit Court stated that it found "that based upon the facts that it was a temporary transfer." [Emphasis added]. In addition, " It [was] the [Circuit] Court's assessment of the testimony of the State's witness that it was in fact a loan. . . ." [Emphasis added]. The trial judge stated: "I'll leave it to the higher courts to tell me that a temporary transfer is not a transfer under the law. I believe under the facts and circumstances of this case it is in fact a temporary transfer." [Emphasis added].

As discussed supra, a temporary gratuitous exchange of a regulated firearm between persons legally permitted to possess firearms is not the type of "transfer" contemplated by the framers of § 442(d). Petitioner did not violate the provisions of the Regulated Firearms subheading, in particular § 442(d).

B. The Requisite Mens Rea Required by § 449(f).

Maryland Code (1957, 1996 Repl.Vol., 2002 Supp.), Art. 27, § 449(f) states:

"(f) Knowing participants in sale, rental, etc. — Except as otherwise provided in this section, any dealer or person who knowingly participates in the illegal sale, rental, transfer, purchase, possession, or receipt of a regulated firearm in violation of this subheading shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 5 years or both. Each violation shall be considered a separate offense." (Emphasis added.)

The State argues that, pursuant to § 449(f), a violation of § 442(d) requires only the general intent to knowingly and intentionally transfer a regulated firearm. The petitioner argues that the term "knowingly" in § 449(f) establishes a mens rea equivalent to specific intent.

Every crime is generally composed of two aspects; the actus reus (guilty act) and the mens rea (culpable mental state) accompanying a forbidden act. Harris v. State, 353 Md. 596, 600, 728 A.2d 180, 182-83 (1999); Garnett v. State, 332 Md. 571, 577-78, 632 A.2d 797, 800 (1993). "The requirement that an accused have acted with a culpable mental state is an axiom of criminal jurisprudence." Garnett, 332 Md. at 578, 632 A.2d at 800. Maryland continues to recognize the distinction between general and specific intent crimes. Harris, 353 Md. at 602, 728 A.2d at 183; Shell v. State, 307 Md. 46, 65, 512 A.2d 358, 366-67 (1986).

We discussed specific intent in Harris, stating:

"Specific intent has been defined as not simply the intent to do an immediate act, but the `additional deliberate and conscious purpose or design of accomplishing a very specific and more remote result.' Shell, 307 Md. at 63, 512 A.2d at 366 (quoting Smith v. State, 41 Md.App. 277, 305, 398 A.2d 426, 443 (1979)); see also In re Taka C., 331 Md. 80, 84, 626 A.2d 366, 368-69 (1993); Ford v. State, 330 Md. 682, 702, 625 A.2d 984, 993 (1993); State v. Gover, 267 Md. 602, 606, 298 A.2d 378, 381 (1973). In Shell, we quoted with approval the explanation of specific intent by Judge Moylan, writing for the Court of Special Appeals in Smith v. State, 41 Md.App. at 305-06, 398 A.2d at 442-43:

A specific intent is not simply the intent to do the immediate act but embraces the requirement that the mind be conscious of a more remote purpose or design which shall eventuate from the doing of the immediate act. Though assault implies only the general intent to strike the blow, assault with intent to murder, rob, rape, or maim requires a fully formed and conscious purpose that those further consequences shall flow from the doing of the immediate act. To break and enter requires a mere general intent but to commit burglary requires the additional specific intent of committing a felony after the entry has been made. A trespassory taking requires a mere general intent but larceny (or robbery) requires the specific animus furandi or deliberate purpose of depriving the owner permanently of the stolen goods. This is why even voluntary intoxication may negate a specific intent though it will not negate a mere general intent.

* * * * * *

The larger class `specific intent' includes such other members as 1) assault with intent to murder, 2) assault with intent to rape, 3) assault with intent to rob, 4) assault with intent to maim, 5) burglary, 6) larceny, 7) robbery and 8) the specific-intent-to-inflict-grievous-bodily-harm variety of murder. Each of these requires not simply the general intent to do the immediate act with no particular, clear or undifferentiated end in mind, but the additional deliberate and conscious purpose or design of accomplishing a very specific and more remote result.

307 Md. at 62-63, 512 A.2d at 366 (emphasis added). Chief Justice Traynor, writing for the Supreme Court of California, explained the difference between specific intent and general intent crimes:

When the definition of a crime consists of only the description of a particular act, without reference to intent to do a further act or achieve a future consequence, we ask whether the defendant intended to do the proscribed act. This intention is deemed to be a general criminal intent. When the definition refers to defendant's intent to do some further act or achieve some additional consequence, the crime is deemed to be one of specific intent.

People v. Hood, 1 Cal.3d 444, 82 Cal.Rptr. 618, 462 P.2d 370, 378 (1969)."

Harris, 353 Md. at 603-04, 728 A.2d at 183-84.

The Court of Special Appeals found that "it is plain that, in the context of the phrase `knowingly participates in the violation' of § 442(d), `knowingly' simply means that it must be shown that the defendant had knowledge of the facts that constitute the offense." Chow, 163 Md.App. at 511, 881 A.2d at 1159; see Wayne R. LaFave, Substantive Criminal Law § 5.2(b) (2d ed. 2003) (for the proposition that such meaning is generally attributed to "knowingly" when used in this context in criminal statutes).

In support of that conclusion, the court first looked to definitions of "knowingly" elsewhere in the Maryland Code, specifically in the Criminal Law Article:

"This meaning of `knowingly,' moreover, comports with that given the same term elsewhere in the Criminal Law Article of the Maryland Code. See, e.g., Md. Code (2002), § 11-201(c) of the Criminal Law Article (`CL') (defining `knowingly' as meaning `having knowledge of the character and content of the matter'); CL § 7-102(b) (defining knowing conduct in the theft statute, and stating that `[a] person acts knowingly[,]' inter alia, `with respect to conduct or a circumstance as described by a statute that defines a crime, when the person is aware of the conduct or that the circumstance exists. . . .)'".

Chow, 163 Md.App. at 511, 881 A.2d at 1159. The court then referred to two Supreme Court cases: Bryan v. United States, 524 U.S. 184, 118 S.Ct. 1939, 141 L.Ed.2d 197 (1998) and United States v. Bailey, 444 U.S. 394, 100 S.Ct. 624, 62 L.Ed.2d 575 (1980), relying heavily on the Supreme Court's reasoning in Bryan.

As discussed by the Court of Special Appeals, in its opinion below, in Bryan:

"the Court was presented with the task of construing what is meant by the term `willfully,' in the section that sets forth the penalty for violating certain provisions of the Firearms Owners' Protection Act. Id. at 186-89[, 118 S.Ct. at 1942-44, 141 L.Ed.2d at 197]. See generally 18 U.S.C. § 924(a)(1)(D). That act, incidentally, was enacted in part `to protect law-abiding citizens with respect to the acquisition, possession, or use of firearms for lawful purposes.' Bryan, 524 U.S. at 187[, 118 S.Ct. at 1943, 141 L.Ed.2d at 197]. By the act, Congress amended certain provisions of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to `add a scienter requirement as a condition to the imposition of penalties for most of the unlawful acts defined in § 922.' Id. at 187-88[, 118 S.Ct. at 1943, 141 L.Ed.2d at 197]. Congress enacted, inter alia, § 924(a)(1), which at the time provided:

Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, subsection (b), (c), or (f) of this section, or in section 929, whoever —

(A) knowingly makes any false statement or representation with respect to the information required by this chapter to be kept in the records of a person licensed under this chapter or in applying for any license or exemption or relief from disability under the provisions of this chapter;

(B) knowingly violates subsection (a)(4), (f), (k), (r), (v), or (w) of section 922;

(C) knowingly imports or brings into the United States or any possession thereof any firearm or ammunition in violation of section 922( l); or

(D) willfully violates any other provision of this chapter,

shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

Bryan, 524 U.S. at 187, 188-89 n. 6[, 118 S.Ct. at 1942-44 n. 6, 141 L.Ed.2d at 197] (quoting 18 U.S.C. § 924(a)(1)) (emphasis added)."

Chow, 163 Md.App. at 511-12, 881 A.2d at 1159-60.

The Bryan Court held that "in order to establish a `willful' violation of a statute, `the Government must prove that the defendant acted with knowledge that his conduct was unlawful.'" 524 U.S. at 191-92, 118 S.Ct. at 1945, 141 L.Ed.2d 197 (quoting Ratzlaf v. United States, 510 U.S. 135, 137, 114 S.Ct. 655, 657, 126 L.Ed.2d 615 (1994)). Bryan argued that "willfully" when construed in contrast to "knowingly," as the terms are used within 18 U.S.C. § 924(a)(1), required a more particularized showing than simply showing that he acted with knowledge that his conduct was unlawful. Id. at 192, 118 S.Ct. 1939, 524 U.S. 184, 118 S.Ct. at 1945, 141 L.Ed.2d 197.

The Court found this argument to be unpersuasive because in that particular context "the term `knowingly' does not necessarily have any reference to a culpable state of mind or to knowledge of the law. As Justice Jackson correctly observed, `the knowledge requisite to knowing violation of a statute is factual knowledge as distinguished from knowledge of the law.'" Bryan, 524 U.S. at 192, 118 S.Ct. at 1945, 141 L.Ed.2d 197 (footnote omitted) (quoting Boyce Motor Lines, Inc. v. United States, 342 U.S. 337, 345, 72 S.Ct. 329, 333, 96 L.Ed. 367 (1952) (Jackson, J., dissenting)); see also Staples v. United States, 511 U.S. 600, 602, 114 S.Ct. 1793, 1795, 128 L.Ed.2d 608 (1994) (holding that a charge that the defendant's possession of an unregistered machinegun was unlawful required proof "that he knew the weapon he possessed had the characteristics that brought it within the statutory definition of a machinegun"); United States v. Bailey, 444 U.S. 394, 408, 100 S.Ct. 624, 634, 62 L.Ed.2d 575 (1980) (holding that the prosecution fulfills its burden of proving a knowing violation of the escape statute "if it demonstrates that an escapee knew his actions would result in his leaving physical confinement without permission"). The Court, however, concluded: "Thus, unless the text of the statute dictates a different result, the term `knowingly' merely requires proof of knowledge of the facts that constitute the offense." Bryan, 524 U.S. at 193, 118 S.Ct. at 1946, 141 L.Ed.2d 197 (emphasis added).

In Liparota v. United States, 471 U.S. 419, 420, 105 S.Ct. 2084, 2085, 85 L.Ed.2d 434 (1985), the Court reviewed a "statute governing food stamp fraud [which] provide[d] that `whoever knowingly uses, transfers, acquires, alters, or possesses coupons or authorization cards in any manner not authorized by [the statute] or the regulations' is subject to a fine and imprisonment." (Emphasis added). The statute here states "knowingly participates in the illegal sale . . . in violation of this subheading. . . ." § 449(f). In Liparota the Court addressed whether a violation of the statute required that the defendant knew he was acting in a manner not authorized by the statute. Id. at 420-21, 471 U.S. 419, 105 S.Ct. at 2085-86, 85 L.Ed.2d 434. The Court found: "[a]bsent indication of contrary purpose in the language or legislative history of the statute, we believe that [the statute] requires a showing that the defendant knew his conduct to be unauthorized by statute or regulations." Id. at 425, 471 U.S. 419, 105 S.Ct. at 2088, 85 L.Ed.2d 434 (footnote omitted).

We hold that, similarly to Liparota, the text of the statute in the case sub judice, § 449, dictates a different result from that of Bryan. Section 449, in its entirety, states:

"§ 449. Penalties.

(a) Penalties generally. — Any person who violates any of the provisions of § 445(c) of this subheading is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined not more that $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than 1 year or both.

(b) False information or material misstatement on application. — Any person who knowingly gives any false information or makes any material misstatement in an application to purchase a regulated firearm or an application for a regulated firearms dealer's license shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned for not more than 3 years, or both.

(c) Violation of 30-day purchase period. — Any person who violates any of the provisions of § 442A of this subheading is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall upon conviction be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned for not more than 3 years or both.

(d) Knowing participants in straw purchase or trafficking. — Any person or dealer who is a knowing participant in a straw purchase of a regulated firearm to a prohibited person or to a minor, or transports regulated firearms into this State for the purpose of illegal sale or trafficking of a regulated firearm shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction be fined not more than $25,000 or imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both. Each violation shall be considered a separate offense.

(e) Illegal possession of firearm with certain previous convictions. — A person who was previously convicted of a crime of violence as defined in § 441(e) of this article or convicted of a violation of §§ 5-602 through 5-609 or §§ 5-612 through 5-614 of the Criminal Law Article, and who is in illegal possession of a firearm as defined in § 445(d)(1)(i) and (ii) of this article, is guilty of a felony and upon conviction shall be imprisoned for not less than 5 years, no part of which may be suspended and the person may not be eligible for parole. Each violation shall be considered a separate offense.

(f) Knowing participants in sale, rental, etc. — Except as otherwise provided in this section, any dealer or person who knowingly participates in the illegal sale, rental, transfer, purchase, possession, or receipt of a regulated firearm in violation of this subheading shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both. Each violation shall be considered a separate offense." (Emphasis added.)

As commented upon above, § 449 is further distinguishable from the statute addressed in Bryan. There are two types of contrasting provisions in § 449; subsections with no specific mens rea mentioned and those subsections with "knowingly" included in the language. The subsections that include "knowingly," in particular § 449(f), provide a greater mens rea requirement than the subsections that do not mention mens rea. While the Supreme Court may have concluded in Bryan that, in some instances, "the term `knowingly' does not necessarily have any reference to a culpable state of mind or to knowledge of the law," our interpretation of § 449(f) comports more with the Supreme Court's finding in Liparota. Though the Bryan Court decision is more recent than Liparota, it specifically provided an exception for such circumstances, specifically not overruling Liparota's holding. Bryan, 524 U.S. at 193 n. 15, 118 S.Ct. at 1946 n. 15, 141 L.Ed.2d 197 (stating that "unless the text of the statute dictates a different result" and footnoting Liparota as an example). Therefore, we find that a violation of § 442(d) and imposition of a penalty under § 449(f) requires that one have a specific intent and requires that a defendant "knows" that the sale, rental, transfer, purchase, possession, or receipt of a regulated firearm of which they are a participant in is in a manner that is illegal and not a legal sale.

Even if it were the case that the mens rea element of § 449(f), as indicated by "knowingly," could be construed to be ambiguous, pursuant to the rule of lenity, the statute must normally be construed in favor of the defendant. In Melton v. State, 379 Md. 471, 842 A.2d 743 (2004), we stated:

"In discussing what the rule of lenity requires . . ., this Court has stated that:

`an enhanced penalty statute, is highly penal and must be strictly construed so that the defendant is only subject to punishment contemplated by the statute. When doubt exists regarding the punishment imposed by a statute, the rule of lenity instructs that a court

not interpret a . . . criminal statute so as to increase the penalty that it places on an individual when such an interpretation can be based on no more than a guess as to what [the legislature] intended.'"

Melgar v. State, 355 Md. 339, 347, 734 A.2d 712, 716-17 (1999) (quoting White v. State, 318 Md. 740, 744, 569 A.2d 1271, 1273 (1990)) (citations omitted). See also Webster v. State, 359 Md. 465, 481, 754 A.2d 1004, 1012 (2000) (stating that "`ambiguity in a criminal penal statute, in accordance with the rule of lenity, ordinarily is to be construed against the State and in favor of the defendant'); McGrath v. State, 356 Md. 20, 25, 736 A.2d 1067, 1069 (1999)."

Melton, 379 Md. at 489, 842 A.2d at 753. A person in violation of § 449(f) is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction can be fined up to $10,000 or imprisoned for up to 5 years, or both. If there is any ambiguity in respect to the mens rea element of the statute, in accordance with the rule of lenity, the statute must be construed against the State and in favor of the defendant.

IV. Conclusion

We find that the temporary gratuitous exchange or loan of a regulated handgun between two adult individuals, who are otherwise permitted to own and obtain a regulated handgun, does not constitute an illegal "transfer" of a firearm in violation of Maryland Code (1957, 1996 Repl.Vol., 2002 Supp.), Art. 27, § 442, in particular, subsection (d). The plain language of § 442(d), when construed in harmony with the rest of the subheading, reveals that "transfer" can only refer to a permanent exchange of title or possession and does not include gratuitous temporary exchanges or loans. Legislative history further supports our interpretation. We also conclude that the inclusion of the term "knowingly" in § 449(f) creates a specific intent mens rea for violations of that subsection. Thus, in order to be in violation of § 449(f), a person must know that the activity they are engaging in is illegal. This ruling does not place any undue burden on the State. "Rather, as in any other criminal prosecution requiring mens rea, the [State] may prove by reference to facts and circumstances surrounding the case that [the defendant] knew that his conduct was unauthorized or illegal." Liparota, 471 U.S. at 434, 105 S.Ct. at 2092-93, 85 L.Ed.2d 434 (footnote omitted).

JUDGMENT OF THE COURT OF SPECIAL APPEALS REVERSED. COSTS IN THIS COURT AND IN THE COURT OF SPECIAL APPEALS TO BE PAID BY THE RESPONDENT.