Need some quick advice re: Boston gun laws please

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Maxinquaye

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I'm about to take a trip, leaving tomorrow around mid-day. I'll be driving to Boston and attending a conference there from Thursday through Sunday. Monday I depart to New Hampshire to spend some time with family. I'd like to bring several of my more unusual handguns with me cause my uncle has room to shoot on his land and I think he would get a kick out of some of my hand cannons. However, the stopover in Boston has me worried. Assuming I leave the guns and ammo cased and locked in the car (which will be valet parked the entire convention) will I be OK? I do have an NC CCW permit, which seems to be relevant from what I could see regarding Bostons/MA's laws.

They are very muddled and hard to confuse. Could someone perhaps point me in the right direction?
 
First Check out www.GOAL.org about the Mass gun laws. As I understand the laws. It is alright to bring long guns into Mass, as long as they are in a locked container and out of the drivers reach preferable in the trunk. Handguns are the real issue since they are restricted in this state. The law does not allow non residents to bring handguns into the state unless you are attending a shooting competition etc. Sorry that is the law. Mass does not accept out of state firearm license for CCW.

Look under non residents licenses.
http://www.goal.org/misc/faq/faq.html
 
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So, if I'm there for more then 24 hours, regardless if I'm staying at temporary lodging (hotel) and the firearms and ammo are securely stored off my person in the trunk, then I'm screwed and can't bring them?
 
Since you are not attending a competition, you can not bring any handguns into the state without a Mass non-resident LTC. It sucks but that is the law.
 
Correct, mere posession of a handgun or ammunition in MA without a valid MA temporary non-res LTC is very bad juju.

If by some remote chance your car is searched, and they find a cartridge or two, you had better hope that the officer is in a good mood and/or likes guns.

Do you have a buddy with a MA LTC that could take temporary posession of them?
 
Correct, mere posession of a handgun or ammunition in MA without a valid MA temporary non-res LTC is very bad juju
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More like a mininum of one year in jail with a cell mate named Tyrone. Maxin just don't bring the handguns into the state.
 
:cuss: :fire: goddamn Libs. Because I am passing through their holy ground, I can't carry for the whole trip (even though I'd be legal the other 75% of it), nor can I share some interesting stuff with my family. This is exactly the kind of crap I left California for.

Well, thanks for the heads up guys. Guess I just have to hope my OC spray and Sebenza are enough to keep me safe on this outing :banghead:

EDIT: Now that I think of it, I'm going to do my damndest to spend as little as possible while in MA. Won't matter, but maybe it will make me feel better. Small state; if I time it right I may even be able to avoid buying gas there. Gonna haul my own chow and drinks up. I bet I can keep my expendatures down to $100 plus the hotel if I try. Furthermore, I'll never vacation there again. This whole situation is absurd.
 
Do you have time to drop your guns and ammunition off in NH and then return to MA? You are protected by 18 USC 926a (assuming you follow the rules) if you are just passing through MA on your way to NH.
 
Hate to say it, but you need a LTC to carry OC spray, too. Carry a jar of Vaseline instead.

I agree that dropping your weapons off up here first is your only option. Then apply for a non-resident LTC for the next time. They're a bargain at $100/year! :rolleyes: In reality mine was around $50 more for the fingerprint cards, background check certificate, et cetera.

EDIT: I just Googled Sebenza. Unless you have a model not shown on the website, you should be fine. Massachusetts General Law Chapter 269 Section 10 covers dangerous weapons restrictions, and single blade non-automatic knives of any length (except machetes) are legal.

http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/269-10.htm
 
2.5 inch blades in Boston. Sorry, my friend, but it looks like you're going to have to break one law or another. :uhoh:

Nice thing is the blade restriction is almost never enforced..........

I'd go a day early, drop the guns in New Hampshire, then attend the conference. The McClure Volkmer
Act protects you while you're in transit, as long as you can legally possess the guns at the start and end of your trip. :)
 
10/1/04

Boston Municipal Code of Ordinances

16-45 PROHIBITING THE CARRYING OF KNIVES OR SIMILAR WEAPONS.

16-45.1 Carrying of Weapons Prohibited.
No person, except as provided by law, shall carry on his person, or carry under his control in a vehicle, any knife having any type of blade in excess of two and one-half (2½ ) inches, ice picks, dirks or similar weapons that are likely to penetrate through police officer's ballistic vests, or other object or tool so redesigned, fashioned, prepared or treated that the same may be used to inflict bodily harm or injury to another, except:

a. When actually engaged in hunting or fishing or any employment, trade or lawful recreational or culinary activity which customarily involves the carrying or use of any type of knife, or

b. In going directly to and/or returning directly from such activities, or

c. If the knife is being transported directly to or from a place of purchase, sharpening, or repair, and if packaged in such a manner as not to allow easy access to the knife while it is being transported.

(Ord. 2001 c. 10) Penalty, see subsection 16-45.4

16-45.2 Distribution Exception.
This section shall not apply to persons who, through entities or establishments engaged in a recognized retail or wholesale business, are involved in the sale, purchase or repair of knives for trade, sport, hobby or recreation, including without limitation persons engaged in the transportation to or from such entities or establishments.

(Ord. 2001 c. 10)

16-45.3 Applicability.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to enhance or diminish any duties of persons described in subsection 16-45.2, and this section shall not be introduced or cited in any proceeding as evidence of negligence, recklessness, or similar state of mind of such persons.

(Ord. 2001 c. 10)

16-45.4 Penalty.
Violators of any provision of this section shall be subject to a fine of not more than three hundred ($300.00) dollars for each offense.

(Ord. 2001 c. 10)

16-45.5 Severability.
The provisions of this section shall be severable and if any section, part, or portion hereof shall be held invalid for any purpose by any court of competent jurisdiction, the decision of such court shall not affect or impair any remaining section, part or portion thereof.
(Ord. 2001 c. 10)
 
Jeez, what a nightmare. It's like the people making the laws there are actively trying to help criminals.

Oh well, I'll take this opporunity to send off my sebbie for a free sharpening and just carry a more "disposable" Spyderco.

Thanks for all the advice guys, and my condolances to you who happen to live in MA :barf:
 
Pretty soon our tunnel to the NH border will be complete, then we're outta here. :)
 
It's like the people making the laws there are actively trying to help criminals.
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Because they are criminals . . . and look out for one another as a professional courtesy.

Remember, their senior Senator used his power and position to get away with murder, and their junior Senator admitted to commiting war crimes when he was in Vietnam.
 
Thank you very much for that information. With the proper language I was able to Google the ordinances and confirm them.

I am not recommending that anyone else follow my lead, and I am merely expressing my opinion on what I think, considering the following:

No person, except as provided by law...
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What law could this mean other than M.G.L. Chapter 269 Section 10? While that would make 16:45 entirely redundant, that never stopped lawmakers before.

While obviously I wouldn't want to be the test case, I bet this ordinance wouldn't long after I walked. IANAL, YMMV, don't try this at home, et cetera.

Nice thing is the blade restriction is almost never enforced...
Click to expand...

Now that I can vouch for personally, but I'd never just used it to defend myself either.
 
It won't matter.

Pretty soon they will close the entire I-93 tunnel and you won't have to worry about transporting weapons through Massachusetts...

:what:
 
Need some quick advice re: Boston gun laws please
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As you see, there is no such thing as quick or easy when it comes to laws in the Bay State. We've been writing statutes here since the Mayflower Compact was signed in 1620, plenty of time to make a proper muddle of things.:)
JT
 
Warning to all.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts does not recognize the Federal "Peaceable Journey Laws" for firearms. Though Mass law does give exception for long arms if they are in a locked case, when traveling through the state. If you are traveling in Mass with a handgun, even if locked in a case, without a Mass LTC, or not attending a competition, and you are pulled over, the officer has the right to confiscate your gun. You will then have to appear in front of a District Judge to plead your case to get it back. This situation happened to a friend from CT a few years ago. He eventually got his gun back.

BTW, Overall Mass handgun laws are the most restrictive in the union. Long arms laws are not that bad, compared to other states, like NJ or CA etc. Some might scoff at the laws in this state. But, Mass police and judges take these laws very seriously. Please do not risk your freedom by trying to circumvent them. Weapon violations are very common in this state.
 
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts does not recognize the Federal "Peaceable Journey Laws" for firearms.
Click to expand...

What would prevent your attorney from raising 18 USC 926a as a defense?
 
I think the underlying theme here is that few of us wish to be the test case, or to spend the $$$ to defend ourselves even if we're eventually exonerated.

I weighed all the pros and cons and decided I needed a non-resident LTC. Now I have it and I don't have to worry.

I probably won't concern myself with Boston's home-rule knife ordinance, but I probably won't stab anybody either. If my sister didn't live in Cambridge I'd have no reason to go near Boston right now anyway.
 
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