GOAL Issues Warning to Non-residents

[GOALJim]

Gun Owners’ Action League (GOAL) is officially issuing a warning to all of the Second Amendment community in the United States.

GOAL is warning out of state gun owners to not enter Massachusetts with any type of firearm, magazines, ammunition, ammunition components, stun guns, Tazers for any purpose other than traveling through unless you have acquired a Temporary License to Carry Firearms by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Pepper spray is allowed if you are over 18 and qualify for a license.

GOAL.org/h-4885-non-residents

On July 25, 2024 the governor of Massachusetts, Maura Healey, signed into law Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024 “An Act Modernizing Firearms Laws”. This bill is 159 sections long and represents the most devastating attack on civil rights in modern U.S. history. It amounts to a hysterical tantrum by the Massachusetts legislature brought on by the landmark Bruen decision.

Aside from eviscerating the rights of Massachusetts residents, the new laws place out of state gun owners in legal peril. It was always GOAL’s opinion that the new law was a danger, but a recent case handed down from the State’s high court confirmed it.

Even if you are licensed as a non-resident, there are restrictions on what can be possessed. Much of that is still unclear as there are conflicting sections of the law with no real guidance. Law enforcement at all levels has not been trained on these law as of yet, so extreme caution should be taken.

What limited information we have can be found on our webpage: H.4885 Non-residents

 

[MAJoe]

This was the case before the new law. I guess, why the warning now? It’s “better” now, allowing passage through.

 

[G4Y4HK]

Do the MA state and local cops know this? "Just traveling thru RI, bro" law when my friend in MA got pulled over speeding down I-95 on the way to CT got him cuffed and sitting on a curb cause he had a pistol on him. Licensed in MA and CT but not RI.

 

[Rob Boudrie]

Do the MA state and local cops know this? "Just traveling thru RI, bro" law when my friend in MA got pulled over speeding down I-95 on the way to CT got him cuffed and sitting on a curb cause he had a pistol on him. Licensed in MA and CT but not RI.

GOALs reference was apparently to FOPA 86. FOPA86 required the gun be cases and inaccessible to the occupants of the vehicle, so it would not cover the "had a pistol on him" case. It also requires being very careful in your articulation to use the term "I am on a continuous and uninterrupted journey with the gun cases and inaccessible" if the gun becomes an issue. Although it can be argued as applying to > 10 round magazines as part of the gun, that is not specifically mentioned in FOPA86 so that could go either way.

This was the case before the new law. I guess, why the warning now? It’s “better” now, allowing passage through.

Before the new law, there was a competition and gun show exemption. Yes, I know there are arguments it was invalid because it required a permit from a state, district or territory that does not issue permits to drug user or felons - and all do with regard to minor MJ crimes. But it was something, and even that was removed upon passafe of the new law.

 

[GOALJim]

This was the case before the new law. I guess, why the warning now? It’s “better” now, allowing passage through.

Actually it was not the same. The exemption for hunting, shooting competitions, etc. is gone.

 

[Mark from ?]

So...must aquire temporary LTC prior to hunting/target shooting.....

What if using borrowed guns from someone who lives in state? How do you register something you don't own?

 

[MAJoe]

Actually it was not the same. The exemption for hunting, shooting competitions, etc. is gone.

Thanks - Was the exemption for competitions before the one where it didn’t matter because no other state permits met the requirements?

That’s unfortunate they removed exemptions for hunting.

 

[MAJoe]

So...must aquire temporary LTC prior to hunting/target shooting.....

What if using borrowed guns from someone who lives in state? How do you register something you don't own?

Loaning under 7 days doesn’t require any reporting in the new system.