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Building AR's In MA ?

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lorenzoj

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OK so I'm a transplant to MA from NH & ME and used to a bit more of what passes for common sense in gun laws. I keep expecting to find a little more common sense in trying to wade through the MGL's down here

Anyway.........

Assuming a Class A license can someone give me the short answer as to what is or is not allowed in building and using AR type rifles in this state. I see MA has this "Approved Firearms List" does this affect an AR build project re sources of parts. etc. I understand having to take delivery of the stripped lower from a MA dealer.

Thanks from an NRA and GOAL member and former longtime FFL holder from ME
 
The simple answer is that with a Class A, you can possess, own, or build an AR in Mass.

You would be subject to any federal laws as well as the squirrelly Mass laws. If it is a preban AR (9-13-94) then you can have any number of the AW features. If it is not a preban AR then as a practical matter in Mass that means no flash hider, collapsible stock, or bayonet lug is allowed.
 
Thanks for the link......

"......Ban on recently-manufactured “assault weapons” and “large capacity magazines.” State law clearly limits
possession to pre-1994 items and exempts out only law enforcement and retired law enforcement:......."

A quick read of the entire PDF can easily lead someone to think that it is not possible to build-up any new AR in MA.

And even though the Class A allows high cap mags that does not apply to "assault weapons" for which mag cap over 10 is still banned unless the mags were made before 1994 in which case they're OK.

Anyone else getting a headache
 
If it only has one evil feature it is not an assault weapon its just a rife. So build away.[smile]

lorenzoj said:
Thanks for the link......

"......Ban on recently-manufactured “assault weapons” and “large capacity magazines.” State law clearly limits
possession to pre-1994 items and exempts out only law enforcement and retired law enforcement:......."

A quick read of the entire PDF can easily lead someone to think that it is not possible to build-up any new AR in MA.

And even though the Class A allows high cap mags that does not apply to "assault weapons" for which mag cap over 10 is still banned unless the mags were made before 1994 in which case they're OK.

Anyone else getting a headache
Click to expand...
 
So I can have new 30 round mags as long as I don't have a threaded muzzle, bayonet lugs, collapsible stock etc ... ? ?

Welded muzzle brake OK ?
 
Last edited:
Can you spell FELONY!?

Sorry for the sarcasim. No any mag above 10 rounds needs to be pre-1994. With the no bayo lug, no adjustable stock and no "flash hider". A fixed muzzle brake is okay...you figure out the difference.

Oh yeah...welcome to the People's Republic...vote for Scott Brown! [wink]
 
Yeah I knew that. Just trying to shoehorn in a little imaginary common sense where none seems to exist.... at least in the MA legislature. I thought this was supposed to be the place where freedom and liberty first stood up against tyrannical rulers. And now of course we only elect the best and the brightest to manage our affairs and they must know what's best for the rest of us poor ignorant souls who need constant protection from ourselves.
 
lorenzoj said:
Yeah I knew that. Just trying to shoehorn in a little imaginary common sense where none seems to exist.... at least in the MA legislature. I thought this was supposed to be the place where freedom and liberty first stood up against tyrannical rulers. And now of course we only elect the best and the brightest to manage our affairs and they must know what's best for the rest of us poor ignorant souls who need constant protection from ourselves.
Click to expand...

They're only doing it to Save the Children[thinking]

Good luck on figuring things out. I keep trying to explain these rules to my wife. She keeps asking me "Why?" "I don't understand it?" "Who the hell thought of that?" "What does that law prevent?" "Are we real or just a dream?"

I can only answer the last one.
 
Not to hijack the OP's thread, but when doing these AR builds - will the major national gun parts catalogs sell/ mail uppers. stock, lpks etc. to MA (I'm talking about the parts other than the registered lower)?
Or has Ted made the rounds turning them in to Martha?
 
As has been stated in other threads..... we do not discuss the specifics of who will mailorder directly to MA residents on this site. If you have a supplier do not list the name. Otherwise we could all lose. The AG can easily intimidate people into not dealing with MA residents. Personally I feel it has a great deal more to do with revenue enhancement then any real concern for public safety.
 
Last edited:
I was not looking for a list of mail order places which will ship to MA - BUT more looking for a general response that AR parts ARE readily shipped to MA or ARE NOT.

I'm not looking to "out" mail order houses.



lorenzoj said:
As has been stated in other threads..... we do not discuss the specifics of who will mailorder directly to MA residents on this site. If you have a supplier do not list the name. Otherwise we could all lose. The AG can easily intimidate people into not dealing with MA residents. Personally I feel it has a great deal more to do with revenue enhancement then any real concern for public safety.
Click to expand...
 
It doesn't take long to get a little cynical down here.

Yes there are suppliers who feel the only part that has to go through an FFL holder is the lower receiver per Federal rules as it should be. There are some who don't feel dealing with MA is worth the aggravation and they generally state that in their shiiping policy. A call or email to any others that interest you could be worthwhile.
 
You can legally directly buy any component of an AR but the lower receiver. I have bought all of that stuff, and no supplier ever had any issues with shipping anything to MA.

Ammo is a different matter.

Number 6 said:
Not to hijack the OP's thread, but when doing these AR builds - will the major national gun parts catalogs sell/ mail uppers. stock, lpks etc. to MA (I'm talking about the parts other than the registered lower)?
Or has Ted made the rounds turning them in to Martha?
Click to expand...
 
Legal was not the issue. As I said earlier I would guess it was more of a revenue (ie sales tax) issue. I personally know of companies that will not as a matter of policy ship otherwise legal gun parts to MA. I assume they have been hasseled by the MA-DOR. MA would like to see no companies ship to MA residents without collecting sales tax up front.

On a related note I can get sights with lasers or even carpenters levels from numerous companies but there are other major suppliers that state right in their shipping policies for the exact same items " can not be shipped to MA "
 
Thanks Beaker and Lorenzoj,

My last AR build was done cobbling parts together from in-state sources but I was thinking for my next build I would try something more exotic and would need to catolog order some stuff.

Number 6


beaker said:
You can legally directly buy any component of an AR but the lower receiver. I have bought all of that stuff, and no supplier ever had any issues with shipping anything to MA.

Ammo is a different matter.
Click to expand...
 
Probably no more than any other retailers. If they have an office in state they have to charge tax (or they are big enough to be noticed by the state. I've not had any issues whatsoever. Order away!

lorenzoj said:
Legal was not the issue. As I said earlier I would guess it was more of a revenue (ie sales tax) issue. I personally know of companies that will not as a matter of policy ship otherwise legal gun parts to MA. I assume they have been hasseled by the MA-DOR. MA would like to see no companies ship to MA residents without collecting sales tax up front.

On a related note I can get sights with lasers or even carpenters levels from numerous companies but there are other major suppliers that state right in their shipping policies for the exact same items " can not be shipped to MA "
Click to expand...
 
lorenzoj said:
Legal was not the issue. As I said earlier I would guess it was more of a revenue (ie sales tax) issue. I personally know of companies that will not as a matter of policy ship otherwise legal gun parts to MA. I assume they have been hasseled by the MA-DOR. MA would like to see no companies ship to MA residents without collecting sales tax up front.

On a related note I can get sights with lasers or even carpenters levels from numerous companies but there are other major suppliers that state right in their shipping policies for the exact same items " can not be shipped to MA "
Click to expand...

Um it's your obligation to tell the state what you bought outside of MA for tax purposes not the retailers. The state can only hold a retailer accountable for state tax if they have a physical presence in this craphole.
 
I don't know but I tend to think that those currently in the gun trades and those of us who spent years working with firearms (gunsmith /dealer) had a lot more fun and job satisfaction then your average retailer. And that gets passed on to your customers. I used to hang out at other people's gunshops for fun quite often. Since I've been in commercial construction down here can't say I know too many guys in the trades who go hang out at other guys shops in the evening
 
abomb60 said:
Um it's your obligation to tell the state what you bought outside of MA for tax purposes not the retailers. The state can only hold a retailer accountable for state tax if they have a physical presence in this craphole.
Click to expand...

You will find that there is and has been a serious move across the country by many state governments to change this on a national level so that a "substantial physical presence" is not a requirement. If you think some AG's and DOR people get excised over the bogus so called "Gun Show Loophole" you haven't seen anything to compare to their recognition of the hugh amounts of lost sales tax revenue through internet and catalogue sales. And they are very determined to change this. It's not a sexy topic so tends to stay off the front page news but it is a very real threat to the way many businesses have been able to operate.
 
lorenzoj said:
Thanks for the link......

"......Ban on recently-manufactured “assault weapons” and “large capacity magazines.” State law clearly limits
possession to pre-1994 items and exempts out only law enforcement and retired law enforcement:......."

A quick read of the entire PDF can easily lead someone to think that it is not possible to build-up any new AR in MA.

And even though the Class A allows high cap mags that does not apply to "assault weapons" for which mag cap over 10 is still banned unless the mags were made before 1994 in which case they're OK.

Anyone else getting a headache
Click to expand...

Damn guys,

How do you all expect to defeat the socialist left vermin when you all have adopted their false terminology? There is no such thing as large capacity mags or high capacity mags! Magazines are standard issue only! To defeat your enemy is to know your enemy!
 
Savage11 said:
Damn guys,

How do you all expect to defeat the socialist left vermin when you all have adopted their false terminology? There is no such thing as large capacity mags or high capacity mags! Magazines are standard issue only! To defeat your enemy is to know your enemy!
Click to expand...

There's 20rd, 30rd and 40rd common AR mags, which one would be "standard issue"?
 

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