Going to MA - anything to watch out for? - Page 2

AzQkr · March 15th, 2008, 05:02 PM

next door is AAA Police Supply. However unless you are LE, don't bother. They no longer sell guns at all and carry nothing that isn't strictly uniforms, supplies or ammo for LE. They can also sometimes be a bit gruff with non-LEOs.

Times have changed there with the above. I used to head into AAA once a month or so back from 76-88 or so. Bought a few Smith revos from them back then.

I'm glad I'm out of Ma, I had a permit to carry, then a class A hicap permit when they changed the system, from 1972 until 3 years ago when I moved.

Bostons knife regs are no blade over 2.5", enacted right after 9/11.
Ma statute 269-10 doesn't mention a state blade length restriction, and there isn't one, even though to a man, the Ma. officers I trained while the defensive edged weapons adjunct instructor for S+W's training division had other opinions.

I would hold up a 12" bladed bowie and ask them if that knife was illegal to carry in public or under the seat of a vehicle. They would all shake their heads yes.

I'd pass out 269.10 copies, have them read them, then hold the knife back up for them and ask them the same question. They'd shake their heads in disbelief.

All this to say, be careful what you carry for a blade in Ma. Not because you wouldn't probably be legal, but there are too many officers in that state that believe there's a blade length restriction.

I used to carry a reduced copy of that statute in my wallet for any officers who might question the rather long folder I had on me at any time.

Brownie

LenS · March 16th, 2008, 11:48 AM

Hi Brownie,

Quote:

Times have changed there with the above. I used to head into AAA once a month or so back from 76-88 or so. Bought a few Smith revos from them back then.

Yes indeed. I remember as a little kid going in there with my late Father and seeing reloading gear setup (and in use) along a bench at the back of that shop, along with a boat hanging from the ceiling. This had to be in the late 1950s-early 1960s. [They run a robust boat business at the same location and my late Father sold them some supplies for that business.]

Mark is a member of one of my gun clubs and he was telling me that it wasn't worth the hassle to sell guns any more and indeed PDs are going direct, undercutting the local LE dealers (in fact the 1998 law limits what a PD can buy thru MA dealers, while they can buy whatever they want from outside the state).

I bought the S&W Sigma 40V from Mark . . . although I don't blame him . . . it was a real piece of junk.

Quote:

I used to carry a reduced copy of that statute in my wallet for any officers who might question the rather long folder I had on me at any time.

Which one of your knives?

You'd blow the mind of any cop that stopped and frisked you.

Too many LEOs in MA don't know the gun or knife laws (the "bible" for MA gun law for LEOs is a 400 page tome by Chief Ron Glidden) . . . but many of them THINK that they know the laws . . . and they are usually wrong.

AzQkr · March 16th, 2008, 12:41 PM

LenS,

I forgot about always seeing the boats stacked up next door there.

Mark is a member of one of my gun clubs and he was telling me that it wasn't worth the hassle to sell guns any more and indeed PDs are going direct

People I'm still in touch with back in Ma. tell me a lot of the retail shops are going the way of the do do bird in that state. Sad state of affairs, and getting worse all the time. Glad I live in the [ for now ] free state of Az.

Which one of your knives?

Back them, there was a folder clipped to each of the front pockets. Every once in awhile, you'd get hastled if an officer saw the clips.

It was easier to have the statute with me than have to try to convince the officer he didn't know 269-10b.

Too many LEOs in MA don't know the gun or knife laws

I tried to change that through the blade training at the S+W academy whenever I had the chance to do so but it was a hard thing for officers to accept they had violated citizens rights by confiscating what they believed was contraband and/or illegal edged implements.

Brownie

Rexster · March 16th, 2008, 05:48 PM

Not just for MA, but for anywhere: If you see these words: club, billy, baton, mace, and such, these are words banning impact weapons, and a collapsible baton, such as an ASP, does fall into that category. Some jurisdictions may specifically ban collapsible batons, and others may specifically allow them, but by and large, they get no special mention.

March 15th, 2008, 05:02 PM	#11
AzQkr Distinguished Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: In the Superstitions Posts: 1,274	next door is AAA Police Supply. However unless you are LE, don't bother. They no longer sell guns at all and carry nothing that isn't strictly uniforms, supplies or ammo for LE. They can also sometimes be a bit gruff with non-LEOs. Times have changed there with the above. I used to head into AAA once a month or so back from 76-88 or so. Bought a few Smith revos from them back then. I'm glad I'm out of Ma, I had a permit to carry, then a class A hicap permit when they changed the system, from 1972 until 3 years ago when I moved. Bostons knife regs are no blade over 2.5", enacted right after 9/11. Ma statute 269-10 doesn't mention a state blade length restriction, and there isn't one, even though to a man, the Ma. officers I trained while the defensive edged weapons adjunct instructor for S+W's training division had other opinions. I would hold up a 12" bladed bowie and ask them if that knife was illegal to carry in public or under the seat of a vehicle. They would all shake their heads yes. I'd pass out 269.10 copies, have them read them, then hold the knife back up for them and ask them the same question. They'd shake their heads in disbelief. All this to say, be careful what you carry for a blade in Ma. Not because you wouldn't probably be legal, but there are too many officers in that state that believe there's a blade length restriction. I used to carry a reduced copy of that statute in my wallet for any officers who might question the rather long folder I had on me at any time. Brownie __________________ The mind is the limiting factor http://www.threatfocused.com/forums/index.php

March 16th, 2008, 12:41 PM	#13
AzQkr Distinguished Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: In the Superstitions Posts: 1,274	LenS, I forgot about always seeing the boats stacked up next door there. Mark is a member of one of my gun clubs and he was telling me that it wasn't worth the hassle to sell guns any more and indeed PDs are going direct People I'm still in touch with back in Ma. tell me a lot of the retail shops are going the way of the do do bird in that state. Sad state of affairs, and getting worse all the time. Glad I live in the [ for now ] free state of Az. Which one of your knives? Back them, there was a folder clipped to each of the front pockets. Every once in awhile, you'd get hastled if an officer saw the clips. It was easier to have the statute with me than have to try to convince the officer he didn't know 269-10b. Too many LEOs in MA don't know the gun or knife laws I tried to change that through the blade training at the S+W academy whenever I had the chance to do so but it was a hard thing for officers to accept they had violated citizens rights by confiscating what they believed was contraband and/or illegal edged implements. Brownie __________________ The mind is the limiting factor http://www.threatfocused.com/forums/index.php

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March 16th, 2008, 05:48 PM	#14
Rexster Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: SE Texas Posts: 156	Not just for MA, but for anywhere: If you see these words: club, billy, baton, mace, and such, these are words banning impact weapons, and a collapsible baton, such as an ASP, does fall into that category. Some jurisdictions may specifically ban collapsible batons, and others may specifically allow them, but by and large, they get no special mention.