Posted: 10/1/2002 3:13:16 AM EDT
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Good morning, all. Looks as if I am going to packing up and leaving Illinois for Boston, MA. Does anyone on here know the gun laws in Boston? I will be living within the city, so I need to know if they've got anything. I know Daley won't allow anyone to own a weapon or even spray paint here, so I'd thought I'd ask. Basically, I need to know the following: Hanguns, y/n ar15, y/n class iii y/n ccw y/n thanks! Thanks! |
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Live in New Hampshire, commute to the city. New Hampshire has the BEST gun community in New England. There are buses, two interstates (parking lots), and a train line on the coast, straight to downtown. Or park a cheap beater car at the train station and leave it in Mass all week. Say again-COMMUTE!!! New Hampshire RULES! |
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... I'd have to agree with [b]TimJ[/b]. I just got done with a job there that took a couple weeks to finish. (1) The Big Dig if finially coming to completion. (2) I-93 is wide and relatively fast (I really don't know how fast in the dead of winter) (3) New Hampshire is God's country. (I really don't know how Dodly it is in the dead of winter) ... Boston does have some nice hangouts, I took this picture on an afternoon lobster cruise last week in the "Bastin Haba". [img]http://www.boomspeed.com/winston_wolf/BostonHarbor.jpg[/img] |
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Quoted: (1) The Big Dig if finially coming to completion. I think there is about a year or so left. Not an issue unless you are actually living/working in Boston. (2) I-93 is wide and relatively fast (I really don't know how fast in the dead of winter). It is, until you get within 25 miles of Boston. The intersection between I-93/I-95/Rt 128 is a mess and is always backed up during the rush hour. (3) New Hampshire is God's country. (I really don't know how Dodly it is in the dead of winter) Both NH and MA are pretty good at clearing the roads of snow and are usually clear shortly after the storm. What you have to watch out for are the SUV/4-wheel drivers who think they can go 70mph in the snow...until they realize that 4-wheel drives aren't any better at stopping in snow/ice than any other vehicle. You usually see a number of them littering the sides of the roads when they spin out of control. Don't live in Boston! They have their own AW ban, and they rarely give out CCW licenses. The GOAL site has links and info, or give them a call. There are towns/cities all around Boston that are pretty free in giving out licenses. As you can imagine, the further from Boston, the easier it is. |
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Boston is as bad as New York City...maybe worse in some respects...in terms of gun controls. Mayor Menino exercises near absolute control of the issue in HIS city. Unfortunately he is very popular so he won't be unseated anytime soon. Ar15's and the like are out of the question in Boston proper. You CANNOT own a firearm in MA without a permit. Those permits are issued at your local police chief's discretion and the discretion of the Boston chief is that no-one without some real pull needs to have a permit, at least not one that allows you to actually carry a gun concealed. There is some controversy over the question, but it is likely that most tactical folders are not lawful in MA because it may be construed that they can be drawn in a locked open state. (Emerson's Wave equipped knives would be a definite no-no.) The permit system in the state has four or five levels. There is a basic Firearms ID card (FID) that can be had solely for chemical irritant sprays or it can be had in a class B and class A flavor. Class B is the basic firearms variety allowing you to own and carry to and from the range or hunting field, non-high capacity shotguns and rifles. You cannot own a handgun on ANY FID. The Class A FID allows you to own high capacity rifles and shotguns and carry them to the range (hunting with high caps is illegal.) The next tier is the License to Carry , of which there are two classes, the Class B and the Class A. The Class B allows you to own everything in the FID A class as well as low capacity handguns and revolvers. It does not allow you to carry a concealed weapon. Basically it allows you to own a low cap handgun for home defense and recreation. The Class A License to Carry allows everything in the previous classes, plus allows you to own high capacity handguns and MAY allow you to carry concealed for self defense or "All Lawful Purposes." That's the next hitch. The police chief may dictate limitations on what he considers to be allowable reasons to carry your firearm from your home. A common limitation on all permits is "For Sport and Target Only" Which authorizes you to carry only to the range or field, not in daily use. The holy grail in MA is "For All Lawful Purposes." That pretty much says, you can carry it wherever other laws allow so long as you don't go commiting a crime with it. An LTC class A, For All Lawful Purposes is getting about as rare as hen's teeth, and in Boston is unattainable without an attourney's help. Outside of Boston, the level of licensure you can get is determined by the individual town police chief. Some towns (typically in more rural areas and suburbs) the LTC A ALP is just about the default license, while in others, it's as bad or worse than Boston. Typically the Commonwealth can be roughly divided along the major north/south highways. Inside of 128 (Metro Boston area) is an anti-gun uber-liberal wasteland. East of route 495 is only super-liberal anti-gun wasteland. From rt 495 West, things vary depending upon the town. The most Active high power rifle club in MA is in Reading MA, just off of 128. Reading has full 600 yard ranges and very active high power shooting teams. Of course is you hop over the border into NH, things improve dramatically. Unfortunately a lot of MA people have been shifting across the border to escape MA taxation, but they in turn are driving up NH taxes (mostly property taxes which are downright scary in Coastal NH and the vacation oriented communities in the Lakes Region of the state. Hopefully the democratic driven property tax increases will be alleviated after the November elections. NH stands a good chance of getting a Republican back in the statehouse. We'll see. The commute into Boston can be an absolute monster though. I live in the north western corner of Worcester County. Things are decidedly more rural out here, but the commute into Boston from here is about 2 hours at rush hour. |
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Iceman is right....The snow isn't a problem, the rush hour traffic can be bad, which is why I suggested the train or bus. Living in new Hampshire whould be about as expensive as Boston. Of course, you'll have little gun control (NH permit to carry is $10.00 for four years, took me a week to get mine in the mail), Class Three is easy to get, as most CLEO's sign off. And for the price of a loft in Boston you'll have something much bigger (or a house) in NH. Boston, like any city, has many beautiful places. But it's still a socialist hellhole, and NH could use more conservative residents-the Mass liberals are starting to infect the state. I compare them to a plague of locusts-laying waste to Mass, moving to escape the hell they created, then trying to recreate it when they arrive. Sad. OTOH, a liberal Dem in NH is more conservative than a Repub in Rhode Island. BTW, you can commute from RI, too. The commuter rail runs from Providence, and home prices are a LOT lower then in Boston metro. If you need RI info, ask or IM me. Tim Someday I WILL return to NH |
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Quoted: Boston is as bad as New York City...maybe worse in some respects...in terms of gun controls. Mayor Menino exercises near absolute control of the issue in HIS city. Unfortunately he is very popular so he won't be unseated anytime soon. True. The City of Boston has some of their own specific restrictions that go beyond those of the state. Ar15's and the like are out of the question in Boston proper. You CANNOT own a firearm in MA without a permit. Those permits are issued at your local police chief's discretion and the discretion of the Boston chief is that no-one without some real pull needs to have a permit, at least not one that allows you to actually carry a gun concealed. There is some controversy over the question, but it is likely that most tactical folders are not lawful in MA because it may be construed that they can be drawn in a locked open state. (Emerson's Wave equipped knives would be a definite no-no.) Correct that some types of knives, including dual-edged knives, are illegal. However, not all permit types are discretionary, see below. The permit system in the state has four or five levels. There is a basic Firearms ID card (FID) that can be had solely for chemical irritant sprays or it can be had in a class B and class A flavor. Class B is the basic firearms variety allowing you to own and carry to and from the range or hunting field, non-high capacity shotguns and rifles. You cannot own a handgun on ANY FID. The Class A FID allows you to own high capacity rifles and shotguns and carry them to the range (hunting with high caps is illegal.) This is [b]not[/b] correct. FID is a [b]shall issue[/b] permit; it [b]must[/b] be issued unless the applicant is disallowed by statute. FID is good for all (legal) rifles and shotguns except high-capacity rifles and shotguns and for (legal) chemical sprays like pepper spray. It does not override local restrictions on ownership/posession of specific firearms. An FID applicant can ask at the time of application that the FID be restricted to (legal) pepper sprays and the ==. This restriction cannot be imposed by the licensing authority. This is the only differentiator of FID's, there is no "class A" or "class B" FID. No FID allows you to own or posess high-capacity rifles/shotguns. You need a LTC for those. The next tier is the License to Carry , of which there are two classes, the Class B and the Class A. The Class B allows you to own everything in the FID A class as well as low capacity handguns and revolvers. It does not allow you to carry a concealed weapon. Basically it allows you to own a low cap handgun for home defense and recreation. The Class A License to Carry allows everything in the previous classes, plus allows you to own high capacity handguns and MAY allow you to carry concealed for self defense or "All Lawful Purposes." That's the next hitch. The police chief may dictate limitations on what he considers to be allowable reasons to carry your firearm from your home. A common limitation on all permits is "For Sport and Target Only" Which authorizes you to carry only to the range or field, not in daily use. The holy grail in MA is "For All Lawful Purposes." That pretty much says, you can carry it wherever other laws allow so long as you don't go commiting a crime with it. An LTC class A, For All Lawful Purposes is getting about as rare as hen's teeth, and in Boston is unattainable without an attourney's help. Outside of Boston, the level of licensure you can get is determined by the individual town police chief. Some towns (typically in more rural areas and suburbs) the LTC A ALP is just about the default license, while in others, it's as bad or worse than Boston. Typically the Commonwealth can be roughly divided along the major north/south highways. Inside of 128 (Metro Boston area) is an anti-gun uber-liberal wasteland. East of route 495 is only super-liberal anti-gun wasteland. From rt 495 West, things vary depending upon the town. Basically correct, except for the last 3 sentences. Things vary depending on the town throughout the state. "For All Lawful Purposes" is what you put on the application. "Protection of Life and Property", usually shortened to just "Protection", is the legal designation and is what you'd see as the reason for issue on the permit when issued. Permits are good for 4 years and must be renewed. Some cities and towns may place additional guidelines on issuance - I had to take a very basic written test and show that I could load, fire, and unload a .22 revolver before I was issued mine (I have an unrestricted class A) but otherwise had no problem at all (I live just outside of Rte 128.) It's usually easier to get a LTC if you belong to a gun club, there are a number of good ones around Boston and I know of at least 1 that has an indoor range in Boston, I think it's in Dorchester. You need a special permit to own/posess class III firearms. Under the law being a collector is considered a valid reason to own. Never tried to get one so I can't comment on the process. The most Active high power rifle club in MA is in Reading MA, just off of 128. Reading has full 600 yard ranges and very active high power shooting teams. I wonder if they still have a waiting list for membership. Of course is you hop over the border into NH, things improve dramatically. Unfortunately a lot of MA people have been shifting across the border to escape MA taxation, but they in turn are driving up NH taxes (mostly property taxes which are downright scary in Coastal NH and the vacation oriented communities in the Lakes Region of the state. Hopefully the democratic driven property tax increases will be alleviated after the November elections. NH stands a good chance of getting a Republican back in the statehouse. We'll see. The commute into Boston can be an absolute monster though. I live in the north western corner of Worcester County. Things are decidedly more rural out here, but the commute into Boston from here is about 2 hours at rush hour. The outflow from Massachusetts is turning most of southern NH into a Democratic stronghold (Portsmouth has already been one for years). For me it's a 30 minute commute into Boston during rush hour. Choose your poison. Unless you're coming from someplace like NYC or the Bay Area you'll probably faint at housing costs in metro Boston. We have a pretty good subway system for near the city and commuter rail stretches pretty far out. BTW the northbound side of the Big Dig is scheduled to open in about 6 months. The southbound side is supposed to be completed in 2004. |
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Crap. So, from what I have read, I am screwed in Boston. At least at this time, I don't have much of a choice as to where I am going to live in MA. This sucks. So I need to get a "FID", which is no big deal, since I live in Illinois and we need the FOID here. From what I can tell, this what the law says in Boston: AR-15 - Forget it Handgun - Nope, unless you know someone M1 - Not likely That being said, let me ask you all this. Say I leave my weapons here in Illinois with my brother, who has a valid FOID card. Do I have to transfer them to him or can I just bring them over and lock them up in his safe until I can move to NH or RI? Boston sounds like Chicago in terms of gun laws. Wonderful |
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Big Dig almost over? puahahaha yea right... U see how theyre moving the funds around again..along with who has the contract work? Ahh well, the sooner the better. i93 along that part of boston is really focked up. My advice to anyone riding a motorcycle is to avoid the boston section of the I93 at all costs. I nearly flew off and had 3 tankslappers taking that stupid highway. Larry B has most of it down. Basically, its kinda hard to own a firearm in MA. But once u jump through a few loops, theres no ban on specific types of assault rifles and such. Hey Larry B, do u know if we can carry a knife folder (with a thumb stud) concealed in the city? Commonwealth of MA laws just give me a headache to read, and so i've never really gotten a clear answer. |
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OMG! Why in the world would you move from the frying pan to the fire??!! PRI is bad enough! MASS!!?? Boston!!?? [puke] I have to second the Idea of NH- why they even have seashore in NH... not a cesspool like boston harbor! I hope you have a damn good explanation for this! [:d] |
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Well, if u think about it..its not that bad. Unlike Kaliban, you can still purchase assault weapons and such. Although i belive they do limit new purchases on handguns. And you can still purchase hi caps..unlike jersey and Kaliban. Just got to do some groundwork and then ur fine. THat said, yea it still sucks more htna vermont and nevada, and florida, etc. |
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Yeah, it's pretty bad here in Illinois. Some rules..... Must have a FOID card to 'own or purchase' a firearms AND you must have one to buy ammo. This FOID, they claim it's not a registery. Right. Concealed? Forget it Class III? Got an FFL? No? Not in this state. Live in Chicago? Can't own anything. Period. not even spray paint. And with 'blow-me-bitch' becoming our next leader, we might as well all be chicago, because he doesn't want anyone to own them. sure you don't want to move here? |
| Well when my girlfriend went to get a gun license at the Boston police station they would only give her a restricted class B license to carry which means that she can't have any high capacity mags and that she can't carry a concealed firearm. You are allowed to get a class A license which allows you to carry a gun on you but you have to be a member of a gun club and actually be on your way to or from the range. That might be the best bet for you. Fortunately I am not a Boston resident so that crap doesn't apply to me. I got the feeling that if someone made a big enough stink at the police station and worked their way up the chain of command that they would eventually give you a concealed carry license without restrictions on it. The people behind the counter will try and lie to you so be on your guard. One other thing. If you go to a Red Sox game with a gun on you make sure it is very well hidden because they will pat you down at the entrance. And AR15s are a no no. |
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Quoted: If you go to a Red Sox game with a gun on you make sure it is very well hidden because they will pat you down at the entrance. And AR15s are a no no. Heh, that reminds me of a time when me and a few buddies snuck some jack daniels in. U know the small handy bottles. That was a doozy, had it pretty well hidden, but i got patted down over it. The idiot completely ignored it and said ok..go ahead. =D |
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For answers with no doubts, contact: Atty. Darius Arbabi 508-879-5879 www.massgunlaw.com This guy is Da Man when it comes to all things firearms in Mass. (or so I am told by the owner of Four Seasons Guns, Woburn, MA) You may also want to check their site at: www.fsguns.com Some interesting info |