MASS. laws re: handguns

This is in no way a political anything...trying to help my Dad.

I was going to buy him a particular pistol for Father's Day to take to the range, etc. I was talking to him about it and he says that there is a specific list of hand guns that you are allowed to have in MA, and if your gun isn't on that list, you can't have it.

The particular S&W gun I had in mind isn't on the list, but many other models that are virtually identical are. Does anyone here know anything about this, and if so, could you give me a run down of what this list is all about?

Thanks!

 

"Virtually identical" could be your problem. Alot of firearms are very similar to each other with one or two very important differences.

The S&W you want to buy may be able to be modified in some way to make it illegal in MA. The mod can be as simple as allowing a larger magazine, or it can be a part that turns a single repeater into fully automatic.

Talk to a licensed MA. dealer and they should be able to let you know.

 

I actually found a web site that outlines the info, so I've got a handle on The List etc. What I haven't found yet is info re: how the law would apply if I bought it and gave it to him, v. a dealer selling it to him.

Thanks.

 

Thanks. I talked to one dealer, and he was more interested in selling a gun that he could sell (understandably) than he was about educating me on the laws and regs.

 

A better gift...

MA -> FL

 

Dave, try calling one of the gun clubs. They were very helpful for me when I was up there. I wasn't a resident so the laws were different for me.

I can't remember the name of the gun club/range I went to. It was in the Stow, MA area. Can't remember if it was Stow, Hudson or Acton address.

 

Hey, good idea. My Aunt (Dad's sis) lives in Stowe coincidentally, so she might know it.

Thanks!

 

Dave...try to find more of a Gun Broker then a dealer. In otherwords a dealer that is more willing to do the transfer. They should be able to do this quite easy. This is done all the time, as many people now days are buying guns from online or out of state stores to get better prices.:up:

Or...have your Dad or you join a forum based in that State. They should have a list of Brokers/Dealers that have done good by others.:up:

 

Look for a Mass gun owners association message board online. We have one in PA, and they'll quote you PA state gun laws chapter and verse.

 

Here you go.

http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=54

 

+1

If you live out of state, you'll need one, just to handle the cross State lines transfer. The whole " Socialist State of Massachusetts" makes it even more difficult. FID cards, hand gun permits, etc.

Heck, I live in NH and you could probably walk down a back road with a B.A.R. without getting a second glance. However, you still need to have a dealer/broker move a hand gun across the State line.

If all else fails, call the Kittery Trading Post in Kittery, Maine ( I don't have the # handy ). They sell thousands of guns a year to Mass. residents. Their a friendly group of people who can answer your questions and probably arrange transfer and possibly get you a better deal. Their not a mom & pop operation, their pretty big.

 

Mass gun laws aren't as crazy as everyone thinks actually. Still a bit more whacky than TN but really not all that bad.

 

In TN I can go to a gun shop at lunch, show my DL, arm myself like The Terminator, and be back in time to eat a sandwich. Not so much in my home state

 

If I remember correctly, he wasn't exactly a good customer when it came to payment.

 

He did say he'll be bawk.

 

Gotta love the South. The other day I managed to buy a 9mm pistol and get my concealed weapons permit, during my lunch break.

 

Actually I wasn't thinking about the Brady Bill no longer being in affect. You couldn't do that back then. Had to wait, just like Mass. In Mass to carry concealed I was told it required taking the shooting safety course, fingerprinting & background check then it was a matter of waiting on the application. The Trooper told me the wait was the bad part... took a few months just because they(MA DoJ or whatever they call it) didn't keep enough staff to process them. Only major difference from TN was the long wait to get the permit. In MA there is a way to apply for reciprocity on another state's conceal carry permit for non-residents but it was a fairly long wait also.

Where MA gets really silly compared to TN is with rifles and shotguns for residents. I was told that even to possess one in your home it had to be registered. For non-residents visiting it wasn't a problem.

Where was that at?

Here you have to take a school before you can apply for the permit.

 

Sweet Home Alabama

 

TN is just so damn Kalifornia in some ways... taking a damn school to carry a pistol. Geez.