MA Gun Laws? (Springfield: crime, felony, house) - Massachusetts - City-Data Forum

NEOhioBound · 01-30-2011, 08:50 PM

What are the gun laws in MA like? We are trying to find out if we are able to purchase a hand gun to keep in the home (locked up)? We have been wanting to get one for a few years now since we have a little child, but have kept putting it off and wondering if we should get one now or wait until our next move.

Thank you. (And I tried reading a site that posted the law, but was kind of confused on if they require a a permit, a registration and license.

Thank you

ogre · 01-31-2011, 12:27 AM

Unlike most states, MA requires that you obtain a basic license in order to own a gun. This basic license will allow you to keep a gun in your home. This is the only level of gun permit that is automatically issued to any adult with a clean record who chooses to go through the application process. You apply for gun permits at the police station in the town where you live. Beyond the basic permit, it's at the discretion of the police chief in each city or town whether to issue other types of permits, such as those allowing you to carry a handgun off your own property

I believe that the law here requires that you keep guns locked up inside the home. I'm not sure about the details of what kind of method of securing a gun is required, such as trigger locks or a strong box. At the police department when you apply for the permit, they should be able to give you details about legal requirements for keeping a gun secure inside the house.

fxtrader · 01-31-2011, 08:27 AM

Don't want to steal someone's thread, but we might be moving to Mass. What do you do if you already own guns and will be bringing them with you?

skydiveintohell · 01-31-2011, 03:11 PM

Goal.com has a wealth of info for you
Also ma.gov

AzScorpion12 · 01-31-2011, 05:04 PM

Mass has some of the strictest gun laws around.There's a mag capacity limit of 10 rounds unless it's pre ban,before 9/94,it's a felony if you're caught with them.Also, there's an approved list from the AG as to which guns are legal here.Yes, there's only certain ones you can purchase here,unless you already own them and bring them here with you. First you'll have to take a NRA safety course then apply at your local PD for your permit.It usually takes 4-6 weeks to process this and even then it's still up to the chief,some are not gun friendly and will deny you or put restriction on it.If you're in Springfield don't even bother unless you know someone in LE,you'll never get one there. Check the link below as to which towns are more "gun friendly",there's also a whole section on Mass gun laws there too.Not sure where in Mass you are but if you're anywhere in Western Mass. I know someone who teaches the NRA course,if you're interested you can DM me.

Guide to gun rights in your Massachusetts town

Northeastshooters.com

Firearms Registration & Laws - Executive Office of Public Safety (http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eopstopic&L=2&L0=Home&L1=Firearms+Registra tion+%26+Laws&sid=Eeops - broken link)

ogre · 02-01-2011, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fxtrader

Don't want to steal someone's thread, but we might be moving to Mass. What do you do if you already own guns and will be bringing them with you?

Once you know the town or city where you'll be living, your first move is to obtain the basic license for gun ownership by applying at the town's police department.

I'm not sure what the laws are on bringing guns you already own which are barred by MA law (such as too many rounds in the magazine for an automatic). If the law says they're banned, period, then you're out of luck. If the law in effect grandfathers those who move from out of state who already own guns that would be illegal to purchase within MA, then you're okay. I'm not sure which is the case.

The basice license allows only gun ownership, and possession in your own house. The first link in Gixxer's post gives a town-by-town overview of which cities and towns usually do or usually do not issue carry permits. If being permitted to carry is important enough to you to choose a place to live on that basis, you might want to look over that list, then do some further checking about any town that appeals to you, to make sure nothing has changed in the local policy about gun permits.

NEOhioBound · 02-01-2011, 05:11 PM

Thank you.
We are not wanting to take hand gun out of the house so definitely not looking for a permit to carry
Since husband is Active Army and I am prior service, I hope we won't have too much trouble get a basic permit to have a gun in our home

Edit- and great, the town we live in is Red "Bold Red May Issue and/or are difficult to obtain a "Class A" "All Lawful Purposes" usually give out restricted such as "Sport and Target""

WTH?! With all the crime in this town? Are you kidding me?

AzScorpion12 · 02-01-2011, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NEOhioBound

Thank you.
We are not wanting to take hand gun out of the house so definitely not looking for a permit to carry
Since husband is Active Army and I am prior service, I hope we won't have too much trouble get a basic permit to have a gun in our home

Edit- and great, the town we live in is Red "Bold Red May Issue and/or are difficult to obtain a "Class A" "All Lawful Purposes" usually give out restricted such as "Sport and Target""

WTH?! With all the crime in this town? Are you kidding me?

If you're just looking for a handgun permit without conceal carry you should be OK."All Lawful Purposes" is an unrestricted license to carry loaded and concealed. If you apply for sporting and target you can still have one in your home and even transport it in a locked case if you want to join a shooting range.Either one will require a NRA safety course before you apply.

ogre · 02-02-2011, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NEOhioBound

Thank you.
We are not wanting to take hand gun out of the house so definitely not looking for a permit to carry
Since husband is Active Army and I am prior service, I hope we won't have too much trouble get a basic permit to have a gun in our home

Edit- and great, the town we live in is Red "Bold Red May Issue and/or are difficult to obtain a "Class A" "All Lawful Purposes" usually give out restricted such as "Sport and Target""

WTH?! With all the crime in this town? Are you kidding me?

You're welcome. As for the crime in the town where you live, well you know, there are two schools of thought. One camp, which I happen to belong to, and which it sounds as if you do too, is that the presence of crime increases the need for law-abiding citizens to have guns for protection if they so choose. The other camp takes the view that you can reduce crime by restricting gun ownership. I tend to think that the bad guys will have guns no matter what restrictions the law places on gun ownership. After all, criminals by definition are people who ignore the law if obeying it would not suit their purposes. Anyway, that school of thought that says you reduce crime by placing a lot of restrictions on gun ownership does exist, and you'll encounter that view in a number of localities in this state. Regardless of one's views on this issue, that's one of the facts of life in MA.

NEOhioBound · 02-02-2011, 08:54 AM

I agree with you ogre. Restricting guns doesn't do anything for crimes committing with guns because the criminals don't give a damn about breaking laws (just look how making drugs illegal is working out). Law abiding citizens however should have the right to protect their home and family however from those that would try to break in and commit a crime.