5 ms·

Do NOT fly into Massachusetts with a gun. To have a gun in MA you must have a MA gun license

romaaeterna 7y ago
Mass non-residents don't need the license as long as it's unloaded and in a case. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/gun-ownership-in-massachusetts#non-residents- https://www.mass.gov/info-details/gun-ownership-in-massachus...
- ryeights 7y ago
  >Non-residents with a valid Massachusetts non-resident hunting license do not need a firearm license to possess or carry rifles and shotguns and ammunition during the hunting season. >Non-residents do not need a firearms license to transport their firearms in or through the Commonwealth, provided the firearms are unloaded and enclosed in a case while traveling. Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer. This seems to indicate that a MA firearms license is required if a. You are staying in MA b. You don’t have a MA hunting license and/or it is not hunting season.
  - romaaeterna 7y ago
    It's worth looking up the law in question, instead of their description. https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXX/Chapter140/Section129C https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXX/Cha... Here the exemption is for: > (h) Possession of rifles and shotguns and ammunition therefor by nonresidents traveling in or through the commonwealth, providing that any rifles or shotguns are unloaded and enclosed in a case; I'd think that it would be hard to argue that "traveling in or through" doesn't include staying in some sort of accommodations during your trip.
    - asmithmd1 7y ago
      > Possession of rifles and shotguns This specifically does not mention handguns. Handguns have much narrower exemptions: https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXX/Chapter140/Section131G https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXX/Cha... IANAL but a starter pistol with no ammo is probably ok, but hey, it is only 2 1/2 years in jail if you are convicted. (edit - fixed typo)
    - ryeights 7y ago
      Ah, you’re absolutely right. Interesting, though, that their FAQ page says “firearms” are allowed while the code only provides an exception for rifles and shotguns (excluding handguns). Seems dangerously misleading considering the penalties for violations
      - i_am_proteus 7y ago
        Yes... I might switch to using a Remington 870 action with barrel and magazine removed. Still reasonably compact!
  - jdkee 7y ago
    Yes, there is a federal preemption law (FOPA) that permits travel through a restrictive/prohibitive state if the origin and destination permit the carrier to lawfully posses the firearm. However, meeting the FOPA criteria may be treated as an affirmative defense in some states. IANAL so YMMV.
- asmithmd1 7y ago
  IANAL but you should read the actual law, not a summary even when it is from the state: https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXX/Chapter140/Section131G https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXX/Cha... I am a Mass resident and know not to mess with Mass gun laws - they carry a minimum of 2 1/2 years in jail. Total coincidence - MA has the lowest gun death rate at <1/3 the national average and <1/6 some of the most dangerous states: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearm_death_rates_in_the_United_States_by_state https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearm_death_rates_in_the_Uni...
  - kbutler 7y ago
    But Massachusetts is middling (20/50) on the gun murder rate ('''includes murders and willful manslaughters, but excludes "deaths caused by negligence, suicide, or accident" and justifiable homicides.'''). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearm_death_rates_in_the_United_States_by_state#Murders https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearm_death_rates_in_the_Uni...
    - asmithmd1 7y ago
      Yes, the only thing the Mass laws do is stop gun deaths "caused by negligence, suicide, or accident" and justifiable homicides - self defense or police shootings
      - kbutler 7y ago
        If the primary source of gun deaths is suicide/accident, does it make sense to put limits on "assault rifles"? Do background checks help prevent suicides or accidents? On the other hand, waiting periods, permit to purchase, etc., may be more helpful in preventing suicides (or minimizing fatal suicide attempts). What were the statistics and trends in Massachusetts before the laws were in force? It's important to look at the intent and effect of proposed (and on-the-books) legislation, and at the context of statistics.
        briandear 7y ago
jws 7y ago
A starter pistol with a non-bored barrel is purported to be legal in Massachusetts, so that's an option too. Just don't bring ammunition, that's a problem if it is a type usable in a regular firearm.
fyfy18 7y ago
Does that include a flare gun?

Mass non-residents don't need the license as long as it's unloaded and in a case. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/gun-ownership-in-massachusetts#non-residents- https://www.mass.gov/info-details/gun-ownership-in-massachus...

ryeights 7y ago
>Non-residents with a valid Massachusetts non-resident hunting license do not need a firearm license to possess or carry rifles and shotguns and ammunition during the hunting season. >Non-residents do not need a firearms license to transport their firearms in or through the Commonwealth, provided the firearms are unloaded and enclosed in a case while traveling. Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer. This seems to indicate that a MA firearms license is required if a. You are staying in MA b. You don’t have a MA hunting license and/or it is not hunting season.
- romaaeterna 7y ago
  It's worth looking up the law in question, instead of their description. https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXX/Chapter140/Section129C https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXX/Cha... Here the exemption is for: > (h) Possession of rifles and shotguns and ammunition therefor by nonresidents traveling in or through the commonwealth, providing that any rifles or shotguns are unloaded and enclosed in a case; I'd think that it would be hard to argue that "traveling in or through" doesn't include staying in some sort of accommodations during your trip.
  - asmithmd1 7y ago
    > Possession of rifles and shotguns This specifically does not mention handguns. Handguns have much narrower exemptions: https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXX/Chapter140/Section131G https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXX/Cha... IANAL but a starter pistol with no ammo is probably ok, but hey, it is only 2 1/2 years in jail if you are convicted. (edit - fixed typo)
  - ryeights 7y ago
    Ah, you’re absolutely right. Interesting, though, that their FAQ page says “firearms” are allowed while the code only provides an exception for rifles and shotguns (excluding handguns). Seems dangerously misleading considering the penalties for violations
    - i_am_proteus 7y ago
      Yes... I might switch to using a Remington 870 action with barrel and magazine removed. Still reasonably compact!
- jdkee 7y ago
  Yes, there is a federal preemption law (FOPA) that permits travel through a restrictive/prohibitive state if the origin and destination permit the carrier to lawfully posses the firearm. However, meeting the FOPA criteria may be treated as an affirmative defense in some states. IANAL so YMMV.
asmithmd1 7y ago
IANAL but you should read the actual law, not a summary even when it is from the state: https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXX/Chapter140/Section131G https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXX/Cha... I am a Mass resident and know not to mess with Mass gun laws - they carry a minimum of 2 1/2 years in jail. Total coincidence - MA has the lowest gun death rate at <1/3 the national average and <1/6 some of the most dangerous states: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearm_death_rates_in_the_United_States_by_state https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearm_death_rates_in_the_Uni...
- kbutler 7y ago
  But Massachusetts is middling (20/50) on the gun murder rate ('''includes murders and willful manslaughters, but excludes "deaths caused by negligence, suicide, or accident" and justifiable homicides.'''). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearm_death_rates_in_the_United_States_by_state#Murders https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearm_death_rates_in_the_Uni...
  - asmithmd1 7y ago
    Yes, the only thing the Mass laws do is stop gun deaths "caused by negligence, suicide, or accident" and justifiable homicides - self defense or police shootings
    - kbutler 7y ago
      If the primary source of gun deaths is suicide/accident, does it make sense to put limits on "assault rifles"? Do background checks help prevent suicides or accidents? On the other hand, waiting periods, permit to purchase, etc., may be more helpful in preventing suicides (or minimizing fatal suicide attempts). What were the statistics and trends in Massachusetts before the laws were in force? It's important to look at the intent and effect of proposed (and on-the-books) legislation, and at the context of statistics.
      - briandear 7y ago

jws 7y ago

A starter pistol with a non-bored barrel is purported to be legal in Massachusetts, so that's an option too. Just don't bring ammunition, that's a problem if it is a type usable in a regular firearm.

fyfy18 7y ago

Does that include a flare gun?