As a final follow-up:
Suffolk DA’s office got back to me (I wasn’t expecting them to, but I am pleasantly surprised). I’ll probably post this over on the Boston AWB thread as well. This was in regard to their interpretation “substantially identical” language of the Boston AWB:
“Thank you for contacting our office. We do not issue permits for firearms or establish ownership rules or regulations. We do prosecute firearm offenses. I am not immediately aware of any prosecutions regarding a properly permitted individual in possession of a weapon banned by Boston’s bylaw. However, I’m told that, hypothetically, a person could be arrested if authorities discovered and determined a weapon to be “substantially similar” to the weapons you mentioned. The burden would then be on the Commonwealth to convince a jury that the weapon is indeed “substantially similar.” So, the jury would be the ultimate litmus test. I would encourage you to contact the
City of Boston licensing authority.”
Interesting stuff.