Moving from CA to Boston.....what to do

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45R

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I have a friend of mine that is moving from CA to Boston to become a dentist.

The question is, if he is bringing a firearm to that state....what are the guns laws like. Does he have to "register" his firearm or get some type of permit to have it in his home?

TIA

45R
 
Isn't that going from bad to just as bad? Aren't there enough bad teeth in CA to start a dental practice here? Good luck to your friend ;)
 
My suggestion is to tell him to live in NH and commute down I-95 to work. Depending on what part of Bean-town he's working in, a drive from Rye or Portsmouth, NH can be 30 - 45 minutes, less if he uses the 'T' from North Boston. Other added benefits of this arrangement are a lower cost of living and no State sales tax. There is also a significantly lower crime rate, although you occasionaly have to worry about hooligans coming up from Lynn or Saugus, MA to ply their drug trade. Overall, the NH seacoast is, in my opinion, a much better place to live than Boston itself.

Frank

P.S. I know, my location says TN, but I was born in MA and have spent a large part of my life in southern NH and ME.
 
I know its like moving from PRK to PRK(Squared).

He's somewhat oblivious to all the new gun laws and keeps an old SW wheel gun around the house that he aquired from his father.

I just want to make sure that he's straight with the laws in Boston. Boston is going to be home for the next 4 years for him.................good thing its only for school!!!!


Living in an area called "Brookline" going to school in Boston
 
Well, I guess if it's for school, that's a good reason ;) Since we're talking about an inherited wheelgun, I would hope his ability to bring it w/ him into Boston would be good. A call/letter to their DOJ should answer all questions.
 
You know, I'm waiting for Mastrogiacomo to come by, she goes thru a lot of this crap and seems to know the MA laws well.

If had to do it, I'd commute from New Live Free or Die Hampshire.
 
Try the goal website (http://www.goal.org) - they describe the laws pretty well.

To my understanding (and I am not a lawyer, so don't believe what I say)...


MOVING & POSESSION
You have 6 months from when you move into MA to register any firearms you bring with you. Any firearms that are transferred must be registered at time or transfer. Posession of a firearm requires an FID, ownership a Class B LTC, and carry a Class A LTC. You must contact your local chief of police to request the license, and it's may issue, not shall issue. To carry, you must have a Class A LTC, for "All Lawful Purposes" - ALP is the "unrestricted" version of the license.

If you have too much ammunition (I think its more than 10,000 handgun and rifle rounds and 5000 shotgun rounds), you need permission from the local fire department.


BOSTON CARRY
Boston has a silly law saying that carry in the city must be approved by the police of the city.


SCHOOL CARRY
Carry of firearms on campus is not allowed without written permission from the... er... I don't remember - it's the person in charge of the school. Carry on school grounds without permission incurrs a mandatory jail sentence of something like 5 years, plus one year per round on your person.


PURCHASE/TRANSFER
A handgun may only be transferred if it was legally owned prior to 1998, or it meets the Attorney General's standards (drawn from consumer protection law CMR140). Those that are belived to meet the standards are listed at the Atty General's web site (IIRC), but keep in mind: just because a firearm is on the list doesn't mean it fulfills the requirements.

Hope that helps.
 
Here's the relevant chapter of the MA law

My recommendations:

1. Live in NH, commute to Boston.

2. Get in touch with the Boston area Pink Pistols -- we're always happy to welcome new members.

3. Learn to drive defensively and be prepared for some of the rudest, most aggressive drivers around as well as streets that don't go where you think they do.

4. It's expensive and the weather sucks.

Other than the gun laws, traffic, politicians, weather, and cost of living, it's not a bad place to live. Really.

J.
 
atk:

You have 30 days to notify the authorities once residence is established in the state.

Boston has no such law relative permission to carry in the city. I carry everyday downtown Boston and live in the Burbs. The state issues permits, explained elsewhere here. If one has the permit, it is statewide and needs no authorization to carry inside Boston city limits on city property.

A hangun/longgun can be transferred personally to another individual through filing the proper paperwork. The dealers are restricted [ ffl's ]from selling a firearm/longun if it is on the ban list if it wasn;t in the state prior to a certain date in 1998, the exact day ecscapes me at the moment.

Not sure on the school carry, other than you can't do it. I have never heard of the round count in what your sentence is however.

He will have a hard time getting a permit in Boston without some political connections or Boston police buddies to back him on the application as references.

Hope that helps

Brownie
 
You out of staters crack me up. I live just south of Boston. I have a Class A CCW with which I can by a hand gun over the counter in less than 15 minutes. There is a great indoor/outdoor range ten miles from my house. WallyWorld is fully stocked with all kinds of ammo and long guns. It is a schizo state for sure, but I am making progress with my anti-gun buddies.
Ditto what Brownie said as far as the original posters question. The permitting process is totally dependent on the local police licensing officer, just as it is in most states. So pick your new home town accordingly.
And the the rest of you guys who know nothing about the Cradle of Liberty....

:cuss:
 
I was begining to wonder what was so bad about MA that it would get such bad reviews here. I happened across this at another site:
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/local_regional/ap_firearms07102003.htm

"A woman seeking to legally carry a $10 container of Mace or pepper spray now has to pay a $100 fee to the state.

The fee for a Firearms Identification Card, which is required to carry chemical sprays, ammunition and long guns, quadrupled at the start of the new fiscal year on July 1, along with the charges for a license to carry a handgun.

The new $100 fee is expected to raise an additional $3.6 million for the cash-strapped state, according to David Shaw, a spokesman for the state Department of Public Safety,"

:what: Kee-ripes man!:what:

seems a bit steep to me.
 
See, told you the state was crud.

shermacman, when did you aquire the liscence, and did you know anybody on the inside? That's how it gets done, there.

What about the Lynn MA. Chief of Police requiring a psyco exam for a anyone applying for a F.I.D.
Even the state does not require that.

Also what about the state trying to pass the law that you must be part of a gun club, prior to aquiring a F.I.D.
(yes you will have to be part of a gun club to own or purchase pepper spray) and on top of that, the state is trying to regulate the number of gun clubs and the number of people in every club to a resonable number.

A working adendum to the "must be part of the gun club rule" is that 3 or 5 members must know you, and sign paper work for the LEO's in your town on your behalf, now that makes them part of the paper trail associated to you.

Do you really think a club quite possibly in the near future about to be limited on members will accept unknowns.. especially just for an F.I.D. so they could purchase pepper spray.....Stop the insanity!!

SaxonPig
You got it right, it blows there. Like I said they HATE gun owners.
Be glad you never have to go there. The LEO's are nothing but bullies with guns.


Rupestris
Ever hear of B.O.H.I.C.A. ? Welcome to the Peoples Republic of Massachusetts
 
Brookline is awful. Too bad he can't move on the boardline somewhere. I hear getting a permit there is as bad as Peabody. But no, you don't have to register guns but you do have to have them delivered though as you can't take the guns across state lines. I'd recommend your friend call the Brookline police and ask them how he can bring them along. On the other hand, I hear great things about Beverly and Danvers. Will he have his own car? There may be permit friendly cities near Boston. Whatever he does, stay the Hell away from Salem....
 
RTFM:
Not to take this too far off thread, but you seem to have a great deal of anger about Massachusetts gun laws. I do not know anyone on the inside of the Town of Hingham Police Department. I had never met the licensing officer before my interview for my Class A. I do have several friends in law enforcement through my karate class, but none of them were involved in my permit process. There are lunatic police chiefs, here and in Texas and every state. They get overruled and sued by people like me who are members of GOAL and the NRA. We apply pressure, just like people have to do in towns and states across this country.
Massachusetts is a 'shall issue' state. My town of 20,000, suburban, affluent New Englanders has over 950 Class A permit holders and over 350 Class B holders. That is more than 15 percent of the entire men/women/children. I actively work to increase that number by taking friends and anti-gunners to the Braintree Rifle Club.
There is currently (and yes I know that could change anytime) no effort that I know of to restrict gun ownership to club membership. The biggest threat to gun clubs is suburban sprawl, not government intrusion. That could change at anytime of course and we are vigilantly involved in fighting the bass turds.
I could go on about the fact that all of this should not be necessary, but it is the reality. I hope you like Texas as much as I like Massachusetts. Believe me, I do not dislike your state as much as you seem to dislike mine.
 
AR45 -- a good suggestion is to start a thread on best cities in Massachusetts for a gun permit. You'll probably hear some places your friend could try. Boston is expensive so his best bet is to commute to school and live in nearby communities. Peabody at least will give you the Class B but you can't carry -- can't carry on school grounds anyway -- nor leave it in your car on school grounds. Beverly and Danvers I've already mentioned are tops. Salem forget it and I think the same of Revere but not sure if that's for any permit or just the Class A. Stay away from Lynn, Chelsea, Brockton, Lawrence, Lowell, and Dorchester. It's different for every city so you can't paint all of the state with one brush; some will be easier than others to get a permit. It'd be cheaper to live outside Boston and transportation is good -- park at Wonderland station in Revere and take the trains in. What you're friend could be looking at is the Class B or Class A restricted to target and sporting. Better than nothing...
 
I live in South Eastern MA, about 10 minutes from RI.

On my 21st B-day, I went to apply for my class A pistol Permit.
A few days later I made an appointment for an interview with a lieutennant of the local PD. The interview consisted of him fingerprinting me, receiving my application, taking $25 as paperwork fee.

No questions asked, apart from 'are you Ben'?

I was told I'd have license in 4 weeks. Received my class A, All Lawful Purposes LTC in 2 weeks, 4 days.


IT VARIES ON YOUR TOWN.

I must disagree on some of what has been said - last I knew MA was a 'may' issue state : if you meet the standards, the local PD may choose to issue you a ltc, but is not required to. Local discretion.

YES, look at the goal website. If your buddy is coming to MA, join Goal.

There are several good clubs in the state, including Taunton Rifle & Pistol, Holbrook Sportsman's club, ........um, sorry. My mind went blank. I can post a list of a few with contact info if you're interested.

Best regards.
 
Brockton, Ma is no problem for permits to carry from the chief if the state check comes back okay.

You can transport guns across state lines. Meet the transport requirements and you can travel almost everywhere with a handgun in the car across the country.
Don't have it loaded and on you, thats not one of the transporting requirements.

Ma. gun license fees just went to 100.00 in the last few weks per legislative order. They were 25.00 for 5 years and some charged for taking the pictures and prints on top of that.

You do not have to be a member of a gun club to get a permit to carry or FID. It doesn't hurt but it is not a state requirement.

Been carrying here since 71. Course it is the nature of my profession to go armed so it's a little difficult for them to deny me my livelihood [ Lic. PI ].

Brownie
 
Move to Beverly. The Chief will issue you an "All Lawful Purposes" LTC if you have no record, plain and simple. Danvers is just as good. The only problem is that you will have to register all your firearms using FA-10 forms within 60 days of moving here.

Honestly, moving to NH is the best bet, and most concurrent with your rights. The commute is questionable but the benefits are innumerable... as long as you don't buy your own home! Rent, and avoid the property tax.
 
I second the suggestion by OEF_VET. There's alot of people that do just that. Live in the free state of NH yet work in the Commiewealth of Mass. It's not too far of a drive. My wife was having to transfer to a Boston ara office and the 50 allotted minimum commute to hr office would allow us to just squeeze into NH. Thankfully she got a promotion and we stayed here in Maine. There's absolutely noting about Mass that could get me to live there.
 
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