Moving FL -> MA - Ownership Questions

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NightWolfe

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Hey all ... figured you guys would be able to point me in the right direction and to let me know how screwed I am

Basically I'm moving right now from FL to Mass ... I have several firearms I would like to bring with me, but from what I'm reading it looks like I am going to have to leave them back in FL

What I would like to bring are:
Glock 23 3rd Gen
2 Kimber 1911s - Custom II & Ultra Carry II
Colt Anaconda
2 Pump shotguns - Rem 870 & Win 1300
Postban Bushy AR - I'm 99.9% sure this is not MA legal since I've had the barrel threaded, collapsible stock, fore grip

Sadly I don't think any of firearms are Mass legal ... if anyone can say differently that would make my day

Also, if something is legal here by chance I would then have to register it with the State once I get my MA ID correct?

Thanks for any help
 
I may be wrong on this, but I don't think you can "just take" anything with you. I believe you have to ship it from an FFL in Florida to an FFL in Mass where you can pick the legal stuff up after registering and all that jazz. Personally, it would grind on me pretty badly to have to pay transfer fees and all that for something I ALREADY OWN.

But as I said, I could be misinformed about that.
 
Why can't you move to New Hampshire? NH is one of the best pro gun states in the U.S. Even Connecticut is a step up from Massachusetts.

(Normally) You can take your guns with you when you move, its done all the time. Like if you moved from FL to say KY. Take it with you as you are now making your home there, that part is legal Federally.

The problem is that even though you can normally take your guns with you when you move to a new state, you are moving to a very restrictive state. What was legal in Florida is a different story in Massachusetts.

New York State is where you have to go through an FFL (after waiting six months to a year and a 1/2 for a pistol permit) to bring your pistols into the state.
 
Thanks for the reply Midwest

New Hampshire is my goal ... however it is not financially feasible right now ... by sometimes next year I should be up there though
 
Ma laws are the same as the old Fed AWB. Your pistols and revolvers are fine leave any hi cap mags in Fl. If the AR is Preban your good to go otherwise the stock has to be pinned and the flash hider replaced with a muzzle brake. You'll have to apply for a licence to carry Type A in what ever town/city you decide to move to,some places are easier to obtain said licence than others. Cost is $100 for 6 years. Stay away from Boston and it's suburbs as they are very difficult to obtain a licence. Boston has it's own set of laws concerning assault weapons so again avoid if possible
 
I will say this....MA is not the gun hell many people make it out to be, with the exception of Boston, the rest of the state is actually very gun friendly....

gun clubs are plentiful (as in, there are at least 15 within a 30min drive from my house), and your average sane person is not as adverse to guns as youd think.

i mean, our state has some pretty bizarre gun laws, but personally i have never really felt impinged by them. if you move to a fairly normal town( Further away from boston the better), getting an LTC-A is pretty easy ( my town only will give out LTC A or FID).
 
moving to MA

If you check out MA GOAL (Gun Owner's Action League) they have a map which indicates the ease of getting a permit by town. You might also apply now to the State Police as a non-resident, it is easier to get your permit in general as a non-resident, depending on which town you end up in. There are other factors which can make it easier to get a permit.(e.g. make sure you have a MA hunting license) It is also worth getting a NH permit which is very easy, shall issue, no problems.CT is also pretty easy if you will be close to the border. Your guns do not have to be registered.
 
Thanks for all the advice and information everyone ... it has definitely been helpful

I do have one additional question ... anyone know of the legalities of being a MA resident, but storing non-mass compliant firearms in New Hampshire, and only taking them out to shoot in New Hampshire?

Oh and to add, I have my FL CCW, and once I move I will see about getting my non-resident FL and/or NH permit
 
Step 1 is get a non-resident LTC. You get those through the state police. From what I hear, they are pretty easy to get. I think they want an NRA approved safety course certificate to get one. Make sure to apply for a Class A LTC with No Restrictions (or All Lawful Purposes) that is the only type of license that allows CC.

All of your hand guns are legal to bring into MA with propper LTC. The Mass Approved Handgun Roster is only for guns you can get from a FFL. FTF transactions are legal in MA and you can buy and sell any gun that way. (Max of 4 sells per year).

If you are driving to MA, there shouldn't be a problem. Flying, and you might get a hassle at Logan. Fly into Manchester NH if you can.

Shipping your guns: I wouldn't. Technically you can ship to yourself C/O someone who has an LTC. But you may freak out the post office, who will then get the police involved, blah blah blah.

Leave your Post ban AR (or neuter it) and High cap mags in FL. Bring all the pre-ban Glock and AR mags you can get your hands on.

And join GOAL. They are good people and very helpful. Call them with your specific questions.
 
Thanks for the response!

I won't be shipping anything up, I will be driving ... I have a close friend that lived in NH that has offered to let me store my firearms at his home, so I was wondering if this would be legal, and if I would possibly have any issues taking them to go shooting in NH
 
so long as your friend is able to own firearms, there should be no issue leaving them with him.

as for going shooting in NH, again, that also should not be an issue, ive done so many times and no one has ever given me any problems.
 
I believe possession of various firearms especially handguns is a crime without first obtaining a MA permit.

Not a permit to carry, a permit just to own them in the state.
There is different levels of licensing A FID and two LTC (license to carry) and contrary to the name one of them doesn't really let you carry, but rather allows transportation of low capacity handguns. The class A is actually a carry permit for handguns similar to in another state, and also allows ownership of a wider variety of firearms and greater capacity magazines.

That means just moving to MA even with complaint firearms in your car that then are placed in your home can be a crime (or rather several seperate crimes) from the moment they enter the state.


Oh and driving through New York on your way there is also a crime, with an affirmative federal defense if certain criteria are met.
Don't linger in New York, don't be a tourist, and get out while you can.
 
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Zoogster said:
I believe possession of various firearms especially handguns is a crime without first obtaining a MA permit.

Not a permit to carry, a permit just to own them in the state.
There is different levels of licensing A FID and two LTC (license to carry) and contrary to the name one of them doesn't really let you carry, but rather allows transportation of low capacity handguns. The class A is actually a carry permit for handguns similar to in another state, and also allows ownership of a wider variety of firearms and greater capacity magazines.

That means just moving to MA even with complaint firearms in your car that then are placed in your home can be a crime (or rather several seperate crimes) from the moment they enter the state.
===========================================================================


http://www.goal.org/masslawpages/moving_to_ma.html

"New Residents: The laws exempts move-in and possession in the home for new residents for sixty (60) days. Until you receive the proper license do not transport any firearms and/ or ammunition. GOAL recommends getting the required training and application in to the police department within the first two weeks of residency as it may take forty-five (45) days to process your application for licensure."
Click to expand...
 
Not to derail the OP's thread, but my girlfriend has been pushing for a move back home (She's from the Boston area). We live in AZ, so moving yo MA would be a culture shock on a lot of levels... But to keep it pertinent, I am just starting an SBR build on an AR platform.

Would it be advisable to start from a pre-ban receiver, or is an SBR a non-starter from the get go?
 
Would it be advisable to start from a pre-ban receiver, or is an SBR a non-starter from the get go?
Click to expand...

All NFA regulated items are legal in MA with the exception of Silencers. Full auto firearms require a 'Machine gun Licence' however.

but SBR, SBS, and AOW are just like every other state.

and i do not believe you should need a preban receiver....
 
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New Residents: The laws exempts move-in and possession in the home for new residents for sixty (60) days.
Click to expand...


Okay so they are exempt with complaint firearms for awhile.
 
Thanks M-Cameron. In that case, almost seems easier to manufacture an SBR than to pay an inflated price for a preban AR if you're moving to Massachusetts.
 
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