Assualt Weapons Ban still in effect in Mass, a rant

[Ben Cartwright SASS]

I was looking at some guns, specifically the S&W 910, on gunbroker and getting aggravated as I can't buy any of the ones offered because they have more than a 10 round magazine. In Massachusetts in order to buy a gun or have a gun transferred by a FFL it can't have more than a 10 round magazine and has to be on the approved list of acceptable guns, there are not Colts on the list for example, or have proof that it was owned (registered?) in Mass before 1998. One caveat, if it is a FTF private sale the above doesn't apply, but how many people do you know that have what you want?

Gee since 2004 when this law was signed we haven't had any gun crime in Mass

The selections below are from the 2004 iBerkshires.com website

Governor Mitt Romney has signed into law a permanent assault weapons ban that he says will make it harder for criminals to get their hands on these guns.

“Deadly assault weapons have no place in Massachusetts,” Romney said, at a bill signing ceremony on July 1 with legislators, sportsmen’s groups and gun safety advocates. “These guns are not made for recreation or self-defense. They are instruments of destruction with the sole purpose of hunting down and killing people.”

Like the federal assault weapons ban, the state ban, put in place in 1998, was scheduled to expire in September. The new law ensures these deadly weapons, including AK-47s, UZIs and Mac-10 rifles, are permanently prohibited in Massachusetts no matter what happens on the federal level.

“We are pleased to mark an important victory in the fight against crime,” said Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey. “The most important job of state government is ensuring public safety. Governor Romney and I are determined to do whatever it takes to stop the flood of dangerous weapons into our cities and towns and to make Massachusetts safer for law-abiding citizens.”

 

[flop-shank]

Thanks for posting regarding Romney. Now I've got that SOB's number.

 

[Hunt200]

Same crap here in NY. Dumbasses making dumbass laws that do nothing to prevent crime because criminals do not follow the laws, that's why they are criminals.

 

[maxthedog]

Just one of the reasons I'd never live in Mass. Some of the laws they have there make no sense whatsoever.

 

[PDL]

NJ's almost as bad, but they let us have 15 rnd mags.
What part of self-defense doesn't involve someone getting killed. Hopefully the right person.
It will be interesting to see what happens after they decide the 2nd applies to states. First we work on keep, then we work on bear.

 

[Ben Cartwright SASS]

I heard someone in power argue that the 2nd amendment only applied to flintlocks, the guns they had at the time.

It is so nutty here in Mass that when they passed the 1998 (?) bill here that includes the law that ALL guns have to be locked up in a safe or with a trigger lock, they put trigger locks on the historical flintlocks in the State House collection! They also said that reenactors and Military in parades had to have trigger locks on the guns they carried in the parades! They managed to get around that,

But here in Mass to follow the law if you have a shotgun for home defense you better have it in a safe or with a trigger lock, unless you are wearing it, and if you are wearing it, if a cop can even see a hint that you have it you can be detained as happened in Springfield recently, I will post about that soon.

 

[Sebago Son]

I guess that would make me an outlaw if I lived in Mass.

 

[N_itis]

I heard someone in power argue that the 2nd amendment only applied to flintlocks, the guns they had at the time.

I suppose the Einstein referenced also believes that the First Amendment does not apply to television, radio, or the internet...and that we Peons may "assemble" so long as we do not use bullhorns or organize through the aforementioned 'lectric means.

Imagine how surprised he/she would be to find a group of flintlock/tomahawk/position pamphlet toting Citizens in front of his/her office...especially if they had a big pot of tar on the fire and a few bags of feathers at the ready.

 

[buckeyeshooter1]

That's what you get with that RINO. You need the NRA to file another lawsuit up there!

 

[billdeserthills]

Say Ben Cartwright, Doncha also need a fired cartridge casing? I think I remember selling a gun from AZ to a guy in MA once, sure was a hassle finding anything in his price range that jumped through all the damn hoops...

 

[Ben Cartwright SASS]

No, that is one of the few things we don't need, a fired cartrige casing.

We have two lists of "approved" guns, a gun has to be on both lists to be able to be purchased.
One of the requirements on a double action handgun is can't have less than a 10 pound trigger pull (according Latest arrivals: a large dealer here).

You cannot buy a new Colt handgun of any type from a dealer and a used Colt cannot be bought unless there is proof it was registered in Mass before 1998. Springfield Armory 1911's are also a no go.
Luckily Smith and Wesson submits all guns to Mass for a drop test and pays the fees and taxes.
But we still cannot have a magazine with more than 10 rounds unless it was made and owned in Mass before 1998.

Did I say this state is stupid

 

[LenS]

Ben,

A few corrections are in order . . .

- The MA AWB NEVER had any "sunset clause" . . . it was not scheduled to expire in September 2004. However, since it referenced the Fed AWB by citation w/o all the verbiage, the wizards on Beacon Hill decided to modify the MGLs to specifically include the Fed language before the Fed AWB reference disappeared in September 2004. [Feel free to give Jim a call at GOAL to check out what I stated here, he'll confirm this for you.]

- Mags >10 rds need to have been MFD pre 9/13/1994. HOWEVER, they did NOT need to be owned in MA at all and are free to be "imported" from anywhere in the world as long as the DOB is pre-ban.

As for Romney, hopefully all gun owners will remember what he did TO US when he runs for Prez again shortly.

- He QUADRUPLED the cost of a LTC from $25 to $100. The legislature had suggested to raise it to $75 but Romney wanted to stick it to us and went for $100.

- Other "fees" and "licenses" also were raised thru the roof. I think the MA gun dealer and MA ammo dealer licenses were similarly raised to $100, etc.

 

[Ben Cartwright SASS]

You are correct in both statements, also if a mag is undated you have to be careful about dating it.

in 2012 we may not have much choice in the election if Romney is running against Obama or Clinton, I would still go with Romney.

It is a wonder that Mass hasn't come up with a per gun yearly tax!

 

[Ben Cartwright SASS]

hmmm :mop

 

[jkc]

" ---UZIs and Mac-10 rifles ---"

Well, you'll have to admit that since the MA assault weapons ban, nobody in the commonwealth has been killed or wounded by a Mac-10 rifle. Another example of the blind leading the blind, and know-nothings reporting on it...

 

[DonD]

in 2012 we may not have much choice in the election if Romney is running against Obama or Clinton, I would still go with Romney.

Talk about a sickening choice of the lesser of three evils. If the Republicans want to make our fearless leader a one term President, they need to find someone who is appealing to a wide range of people. Romney ISN'T it. I wasn't aware of his anti gun efforts in Mass, what a toad.

I'm expecting a lot of liberal, anti gun legislators will be very unhappy with the pro gun ruling expected in McDonald vs Chicago. HELL with them. Don

 

[500 Magnum Nut]

Governor Mitt Romney has signed into law a permanent assault weapons ban.

”

Now Mr. Romney is a NRA member.

We live with an assault weapons ban here in CT. Read the laws of your area and play inside the box.

I follow the laws of CT to the letter and have built several AR15s that are 100% legal to own. Laws have loop holes, so find yours and adapt.

For example, in California, most ARs have bullet buttons that make a AR have a fixed magazine. All this devise does is makes the user use the tip of the bullet to remove the mag. It makes the gun have a permanent magazine that must be removed with tools. A bullet is a tool in this case....

The Bullet Button Magazine Release


This night vision rifle is 100% legal to own in CT. There is no flash hider but I run a FSC556 comp that is pinned. This comp has failed the flash hider requirements set by the ATFE yet is wonderfully effective at night shootings using proper ammo.

So the laws make things more difficult, not impossible.

 

[Ben Cartwright SASS]

Nice looking piece.

On my A/R 15 I put a Comp in it, yes you are correct, if we know the laws inside out, then we can use them to our advantage.

In Mass it is illegal to have more than 10 rounds in a magazine unless the mag was made before 1994(?) I don't remember the exact date but all my M1 Carbine mags and my A/R mags are all dated older

 

[ctguy1955]

I just dont quite understand how 5 items make something a assault weapon? 3 are not allowed but you can have two (in state of CT).

IF a rifle for hunting holds only 3 rounds or 5 rounds, I can understand how a 30 round mag could be considered more for killing adversaries only, but if I were hunting a charging elephant or lion, I would want to have lots of backup !!!

The real jest of what I wanted to get at was the fact that I cant have
a bayonet lug, because I have a pistol grip and a magazine that pops out easily. When was the last time someone was killed in the state of
CT with a bayonet attached to a weapon ????? Revolutionary War?

One major Revolutionary War battle was fought in Connecticut. This was at New London and Groton. On September 6, 1781, British forces under General Benedict Arnold and Lieutenant Colonel Edmund Eyre landed at New London on both banks of the Thames River. On the west bank in New London, Arnold's soldiers met no resistance and destroyed goods and naval stores. Many buildings in the town were burned. On the east bank in Groton, Colonel Eyre's forces attacked and captured Fort Griswold which was commanded by Colonel William Ledyard. Colonel Eyre was mortally wounded in the battle. Colonel Ledyard was killed after he had surrendured the fort, and became a martyr to the American cause. The town of Ledyard Connecticut was named for him.

 

[bennettfam]

Living under an assault weapons ban here in Cali also.

It doesn't impact me much since I'm not interested at all in those types of firearms, but I sure would like the freedom to make that choice myself. So much for 2nd amendment protection.