Traveling to Massachusetts. Legal Question inside!

[Geology Rocks]

I grew up in Boston and have zero desire to move back there with their whacked out gun laws. However being that my family still lives there I get to go back and visit. In June my wife and I will be traveling to Mass to be with my family. Now the legal question............

My family has a vacation house in NH of which we will be spending 1 weeks time there. NH accepts Colorado carry permit and the firearm I would be carrying. Mass does not accept either.

Is it against the law to fly there lawfully, possess the firearm in mass and only begin to carry it once we cross state lines into NH? Or is it illegal once I cross into Massachusetts and have the firearm in my check baggage?

I have flown with firearms before but only to states that allow it.

Thoughts? Couldnt find anything on it.

joe

[alxone]

are you that worried about your safty that you need to bring a gun for a visit ??? if your planing on doing any shooting dont you know anybody that can lend you a firearm when you get there ??

[TFOGGER]

The key here is "possession". If you take possession of your firearm while in Mass., you are most likely in violation of the law and subject to arrest. Logan airport has tried to arrest soldiers returning from overseas for taking possession of their sidearms in checked baggage before. A better option would be to ship your firearm to yourself in NH. This is perfectly legal, and does not require the services of an FFL, as long as you are shipping from yourself to yourself, as long as nobody else opens the package at the other end.

[JoeT]

have you thought about flying into Manchester? It's a great airport, and if you're ending up in New Hampshire anyways.

IANAL, but I think what you're planning is a "no no". In Mass you need to have a FID or LTC just to own a firearm, and with the rare chance that you get pulled over driving up 93, it's a mandatory 1 year in state prison for possession of a firearm without a license. (although I don't believe anyone has actually been convicted of this crime- it seems to be plea-bargened to lesser charges. . . .but the law is there)


Another option is to mail your gun to yourself at the address you'll be at in NH. Perfectly legal. It'll cost you a couple dollars to overnight, but it would be worth the couple buck not to go to jail

[Bailey Guns]

I'm not sure I care for my family enough to go to...or even through...Massachusetts to see them.

I'll have to think on that.

[KevDen2005]

I'm not sure I care for my family enough to go to...or even through...Massachusetts to see them.

I'll have to think on that.

Amen to that...

and Carry all the time if you can...isn't that the point?

[hurley842002]

are you that worried about your safty that you need to bring a gun for a visit ???

Hate to get off track, but I had to address my girlfriends flawed statement last night, which was very similar to yours. Why carry at all? Are you that worried about your safety, going to the grocery store, or the Village inn? I don't visit states that don't allow me to carry, period. Unfortunately for some, they don't have a choice rather they visit or not. Kind of the same mindset that many Liberals have, needless to say, my GF didn't like me saying that to her.

To the OP, sorry to derail, and not answer your question, just had to address the above statement.

[alxone]

Hate to get off track, but I had to address my girlfriends flawed statement last night, which was very similar to yours. Why carry at all? Are you that worried about your safety, going to the grocery store, or the Village inn? I don't visit states that don't allow me to carry, period. Unfortunately for some, they don't have a choice rather they visit or not. Kind of the same mindset that many Liberals have, needless to say, my GF didn't like me saying that to her.

To the OP, sorry to derail, and not answer your question, just had to address the above statement.

ok ill bite
after spending my life split between 5 points Denver Colorado and the Penn station area of Baltimore Maryland i still dont carry . Yes i have been shot at more than a few times , held up a gun point , had people break into my place (when im not there ) , stabbed in the gut (that one sucked , 29 staples, ouch ) ect. and i still dont carry . But i do keep a firearm handy at all times , in the truck (never leaving it over night ) , in a safe place in the home , a shotgun in the shed , that kind of thing . even in my mid 30's im not afraid to take a punch or punch someone .
Im not saying this about you or any other member of CoAr15 , but i find that most folks that carry are just plane scared or in some cases to lazy damn lazy to physically defend them selves .
when i travel across country i drive , this way i can have a gun handy. But when ever i go visit north east states (over the mason dixion line) , i just hit up a buddy if i want to do any shooting .
I really was not trying to be a dick , i was just asking because , traveling with a firearm can be a pain so unless there is a good reason ,why do it .
the only real reason i personally think of to carry (aside from work) is if you have small children to look after .

oh and liberal i am not !
liberal

[hurley842002]

ok ill bite
after spending my life split between 5 points Denver Colorado and the Penn station area of Baltimore Maryland i still dont carry . Yes i have been shot at more than a few times , held up a gun point , had people break into my place (when im not there ) , stabbed in the gut (that one sucked , 29 staples, ouch ) ect. and i still dont carry . But i do keep a firearm handy at all times , in the truck (never leaving it over night ) , in a safe place in the home , a shotgun in the shed , that kind of thing . even in my mid 30's im not afraid to take a punch or punch someone .
Im not saying this about you or any other member of CoAr15 , but i find that most folks that carry are just plane scared or in some cases to lazy damn lazy to physically defend them selves .
when i travel across country i drive , this way i can have a gun handy. But when ever i go visit north east states (over the mason dixion line) , i just hit up a buddy if i want to do any shooting .
I really was not trying to be a dick , i was just asking because , traveling with a firearm can be a pain so unless there is a good reason ,why do it .
the only real reason i personally think of to carry (aside from work) is if you have small children to look after .

oh and liberal i am not !
liberal

Sounds like you are quite the bad a$$, i'm likely not as tough as you, so i'll continue to carry everywhere, and continue to not travel where I can't carry. Call me scared, paranoid, crazy, whatever, I will continue to practice my 2nd.

[alxone]

Sounds like you are quite the bad a$$, i'm likely not as tough as you, so i'll continue to carry everywhere, and continue to not travel where I can't carry. Call me scared, paranoid, crazy, whatever, I will continue to practice my 2nd.

no not a bad ass . just remember" if your gonna be dumb you gotta be tough "
I think that everyone should be allowed to carry and im right there with everybody else on this forum when it comes to the 2nd . Just because i dont feel the need to carry dose not mean i want that right taken away for any reason .