My Daughter is moving to Boston???

[Texas Bob]

She will "NEVER" ccw, because that is not in her nature, however, she enjoys shooting her 38spl. and having it in her apartment " in case of...".
Now she's moving to Boston because of a job promotion and she asked me to check if there are any legal hoops she might need to jump thru in order just to keep her revolver in her apartment. I thank you for any info, Dad.

 

[WatongaJim]

I always check the NRA website for state specific laws. Here's the link, where you can click MA on the map to open the data sheet for that state. The summary table in the upper left corner provides a good quick look at any special requirements to purchase, register, etc..

http://www.nraila.org/gunlaws/

 

[wishin]

Here's another site that has useful information:

http://www.handgunlaw.us/

 

[Hesenwine]

MA is tough gun-law wise. You can't even own a pellet gun unless you get a FID card from the local police chief. At least it was that way when I lived there in the 70's & 80's.

I'd follow the other's links to get more info but I doubt it's changed much since then.

MA is quite liberal.

BUT, Boston is a great city in which to live and work. I worked in Back Bay for many years.

The cost of living in the city is high though and there's absolutely zero parking unless you get a space in a garage for a stiff monthly fee.

 

[Texas Bob]

Thanks for the "links". It looks like my daughter had better leave her revolver with me until she gets her FIC.

 

[zombienerd]

A FID is only good for Rifles and Shotguns...

She'll need a LTC-A for owning a pistol

This is pretty much a Concealed Carry Permit, BUT it can have restrictions such as "Target only" which means you can only take it out to go to the range, etc...

 

[leadcounsel]

That's a tough one. I personally would try to discourage it. Before you know it she'll sprout roots there with some anti-gun liberal guy and never leave. I personally dislike visiting states like NY, CA, IL, etc. and the same would be true with MA because it means leaving the guns at home or at least no CCW.

Best of luck.

 

[wahsben]

Check www.goal.org for Ma. This is Gun Owners Action League and they are in Ma. so they have the most information about Ma. laws etc.

 

[chaim]

My understanding of MA gun laws (very limited) is that the state is pretty restrictive, but localities can be more restrictive. In Boston she may barely be able to get permission to own her guns, and in other areas of the state she may be able to get a CCW permit. After checking the above links other people have given, she may want to look into moving to a more pro-gun (or maybe more accurately, a less anti-gun) suburb instead of moving to Boston itself.

 

[psalmsinger]

She will need probably need an LTC to get the firearm into the apartment. She will also need one to take it with her to a range for practice. Anybody owning a sidearm in MA should have an LTC. MA prohibits open carry.

Verify with GOAL, but I believe she needs to establish residency first, then apply for the LTC with her local police chief. Trying to go the non-resident path will lead nowhere. Each town/city has different nuances. Some towns are very touch to get an LTC. Others seem to grant them for asking. chaim is correct that Boston is about the worst for anything firearms, unless you are a criminal. Check with GOAL as to which town would work for her that has a more sane police chief. She may be required to take a class to get the LTC. When I moved here, the local chief made me retake the safety class. When I agreed to that too quickly, he added on a class in MA firearm law that was being given by the state police. I actually enjoyed them both!

Also, have her set up to have the firearm safely stored at home. MA requires gun locks, safes, or such. Unlike the magazine law, which has yet to be enforced, failing to "properly" store a firearm in a home has ended up in court. MA judges and legislators apparently believe that the criminal breaking down your door will have a trigger lock on his gun, giving you time to remove yours before he shoots you.

You can feel free to PM me if I can be of any assistance.

 

[psalmsinger]

The phrase used in the MA laws is "use or carrying of such firearm as the licensing authority deems proper." The licensing authorities have deemed it improper to show any sign of carrying a firearm unless you also have a badge. Yes, if you are noticed to have a firearm, you will loose your LTC because your "license may be revoked or suspended by the licensing authority if it appears that the holder is no longer a suitable person to possess such license."

But, more importantly, you could be charged with brandishing a firearm. It was carefully explained to me by my local licensing authority that concealed is the only option and that any hint of a firearm detected by the Cumberland Farms clerk will result in my being spread-eagled in the parking lot. (e.g. Springfield officer did not violate civil rights, court says) Now, this may not be the case in the Berkshires, from the patio of our lazy governor's mansion to the hills overlooking West Springfield, but they don't take kindly to beholding any bluing, leather, nor bulge anywhere in these parts. Boston is right out, for sure.

There is no MA law on brandishing, per se, but the towns usually have brandishing or assault definitions that hinge on someone feeling threatened. In the Commonwealth v. Coutoure, the courts decided that having a firearm peek out is not enough to consider it brandishing -- someone must feel threatened or have reason to think that there is a threat. Now, the way this plays our is that the police put the cuffs on and write on the report that the person who called them felt threatened. Otherwise, why did they call? "So, we got you on brandishing, assault, assault with a firearm, your LTC is revoked, and we confiscated your gun." (... and just hope nobody was over 60 ...) After you get a lawyer and all of that, the assault charges go away, along with your LTC and every gun you own. That is why I said "prohibited".

Is it any wonder why GOAL's "The Art of Concealed Carry" is one of its more popular classes?

If you have a Class A LTC, you may carry concealed. If you have a Class A or B, you may transport an unloaded firearm in a hard-sided case in the trunk. In no case will anyone suggest that you can carry openly. (See this FAQ from a local attorney) Don't believe every colorful map you find on the web.

 

[psalmsinger]

First, let us heed what the opencarry.org people say:

We make every effort to provide correct information on this site. However, the legal landscape surrounding open carry is fluid and subject to a myriad of political influences in the various states. Therefore, any and all information you glean from this site should be independently verified!

Further, the information regarding MA on that site is incomplete. For instance, under private sales, "Not Yet Determined"; permit required, "Not Yet Determined"; K-12 carry, "Not Yet Determined ". All of these things are well determined and known by gun owners in the commonwealth. (Private sales are allowed, there is a form for it; as far as sidearms, permits are required for practical reasons, since you cannot acquire one, get one home, nor can you buy ammo in the commonwealth without one; firearms are only allowed at K-12 schools if you are wearing a badge.) I suspect the folks at opencarry.org, like eveyone else, do not care about what happens in MA. MA is considered a lost cause by most people who don't have to live here.

I agree with you in that there is no MA law directly prohibiting open carry; however local laws are worded as to make it an offence of something to open carry. The definitions of "violent crime" and "assault" are so open to interpretation that they are commonly construed to operate against anyone suspected of carrying a firearm. We have enough examples of this to call it a rule of thumb rather than an exception to a rule. For any and all practical purposes, open carry is prohibitive/prohibited in MA.

Technically, Class B could open carry while not in a vehicle, since the law only specifies that they cannot carry concealed in public. But, by inferring the rest, you end up with the conclusion you may have -- that Class B cannot carry. Inferring, reading between the lines, clairvoyance, and summoning the spirits of the dead are all techniques used by the MA court system to interpret laws. What is actually written in the books really has no meaning. Laws are passed so that stupid voters will continue to support overpaid politicians who pass "feel good" laws, but they have no real bearing in a society where judges make decisions without any rule of law, nor command of the English language, nor possessing any common sense. What matters is what actually happens, not what the instruction manual says is supposed to happen. What I am telling you is a reflection of my experience in an attempt to translate into the reasonable tongue the reality that is MA. Take it for what you will, for I will also stand by the disclaimer of opencarry.org . Please contact GOAL if you need verification.