Can you shoot in your back yard?

[Sdexcalibur]

I live in New Bedford and we are thinking of moving soon. What towns around me where you can go and shoot in your back yard. Obviously depends on the size of your property, but I'm sure some towns are better than others with hearing gun fire.

 

[Prepper]

New Hampshire or Maine.

 

[enbloc]

This thread would be so much more fun if it was written...

Can I shoot in your back yard?

 

[one-eyed Jack]

New Hampshire or Maine.

Or maybe out to the western part of the state. Jack.

 

[Prepper]

Or maybe out to the western part of the state. Jack.

Yep that can work too. I can't imagine shooting around New Bedford being a great idea unless it is an official range.

 

[appraiser]

We can in Florida !

NH not so much where I am, due to restrictions on how far from a dwelling, how far from a road, etc etc etc

MA? You would have to be in the middle of nowhere to meet MA requirements for distances from roads, dwelling, etc, and then local restrictions on discharging of firearms inside town limits

 

[AM13]

Co worker in Freetown does it all the time. As long as you have the land and there is no town ordinance against firearm discharge your good. If your asking were it's more common I'd say Freetown and Rochester are the best bets near NB.

 

[one-eyed Jack]

Don't tell anyone, but I've shot at targets in my back yard with the suppressed Ruger pistol with CB Caps. Jack.

 

[Palladin]

Berkley...plenty of open land

 

[426wedge]

I have enough wooded acreage, but wifey says, "you'll scare the horses". (and the customers too). And I get it, she is running a business.

 

[swatgig]

Brockton. Nobody would notice

 

[snax]

Does it count when you're shooting subsonic .22 at little critters destroying your garden?

 

[Dip Dungles]

Dorchester, Lynn, Lowell and Lawrence would be perfect locations, just make sure to hold your gat sideways while popping off caps.... /sarc

In reality Western MA or the boonies would be your best bet.

 

[M1911]

Does it count when you're shooting subsonic .22 at little critters destroying your garden?

Shoot, shovel, and shut up.

 

[EddieCoyle]

If you're more than 150' from a road, have the permission of the property owners/occupants of any dwelling within 500', and your town permits discharge of firearms, you're good from a legal standpoint.

 

[ChevyGuy91]

NH not so much where I am, due to restrictions on how far from a dwelling, how far from a road, etc etc etc

Just about everyone I know in town shoots in their back yard. I do all the time, sometimes from my deck.

 

[Tackdriver VillenTactical]

Check mgl. C269 12e ( I think). I believe it spells out the law and exemptions.

Additional town laws my apply.

Dave

 

[rcoolbaugh]

Check mgl. C269 12e ( I think). I believe it spells out the law and exemptions.

Additional town laws my apply.

Dave

Has anyone ever tested (d) ...

Section 12E. Whoever discharges a firearm as defined in section one hundred and twenty-one of chapter one hundred and forty, a rifle or shotgun within five hundred feet of a dwelling or other building in use, except with the consent of the owner or legal occupant thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty nor more than one hundred dollars or by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than three months, or both. The provisions of this section shall not apply to (a) the lawful defense of life and property; (b) any law enforcement officer acting in the discharge of his duties; (c) persons using underground or indoor target or test ranges with the consent of the owner or legal occupant thereof; (d) persons using outdoor skeet, trap, target or test ranges with the consent of the owner or legal occupant of the land on which the range is established; (e) persons using shooting galleries, licensed and defined under the provisions of section fifty-six A of chapter one hundred and forty; and (f) the discharge of blank cartridges for theatrical, athletic, ceremonial, firing squad, or other purposes in accordance with section thirty-nine of chapter one hundred and forty-eight.

 

[JRLB]

Middleboro, Lakeville, Rochester, Freetown, Berkley.

 

[45collector]

Has anyone ever tested (d) ...

Section 12E. Whoever discharges a firearm as defined in section one hundred and twenty-one of chapter one hundred and forty, a rifle or shotgun within five hundred feet of a dwelling or other building in use, except with the consent of the owner or legal occupant thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty nor more than one hundred dollars or by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than three months, or both. The provisions of this section shall not apply to (a) the lawful defense of life and property; (b) any law enforcement officer acting in the discharge of his duties; (c) persons using underground or indoor target or test ranges with the consent of the owner or legal occupant thereof; (d) persons using outdoor skeet, trap, target or test ranges with the consent of the owner or legal occupant of the land on which the range is established; (e) persons using shooting galleries, licensed and defined under the provisions of section fifty-six A of chapter one hundred and forty; and (f) the discharge of blank cartridges for theatrical, athletic, ceremonial, firing squad, or other purposes in accordance with section thirty-nine of chapter one hundred and forty-eight.

The 2nd bold/red part of your quoted text refers to an "established range".

 

[HuntMaine]

New Hampshire or Maine.

Even there there are limits.

 

[Hetzer]

First find a house you want, then check the local laws.

 

[PATRON]

In Roxbury,but only from your car.

 

[Chevy 2 65]

Berkley...plenty of open land

Still shoot in my friends yard in Taunton. He is near the norton line, next to Rehoboth side.

 

[M1911]

Has anyone ever tested (d) ...

Section 12E. Whoever discharges a firearm as defined in section one hundred and twenty-one of chapter one hundred and forty, a rifle or shotgun within five hundred feet of a dwelling or other building in use, except with the consent of the owner or legal occupant thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty nor more than one hundred dollars or by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than three months, or both. The provisions of this section shall not apply to (a) the lawful defense of life and property; (b) any law enforcement officer acting in the discharge of his duties; (c) persons using underground or indoor target or test ranges with the consent of the owner or legal occupant thereof; (d) persons using outdoor skeet, trap, target or test ranges with the consent of the owner or legal occupant of the land on which the range is established; (e) persons using shooting galleries, licensed and defined under the provisions of section fifty-six A of chapter one hundred and forty; and (f) the discharge of blank cartridges for theatrical, athletic, ceremonial, firing squad, or other purposes in accordance with section thirty-nine of chapter one hundred and forty-eight.

That was recently tested in Edgartown. A guy built a range in his backyard. The neighbor complained but was shutdown because of that clause.

Based on my reading of the news coverage, neighbor #1 had basically converted the house on his property to an inn, which was quite noisy, and he wasn’t responsive to neighbor #2’s complaints about the noise. As a result, neighbor #2 built a range in his backyard and shot a lot in order to piss off neighbor #1, who then complained to the town. This all happened on Chappaquiddick Island, which is a rural part of Edgartown.

I don’t think this ever went to court, so a judge might have a different interpretation from the Edgartown Police chief.

 

[gscott]

I shoot out back all the time . Favorite pastime in summer is sniping dragonflys near my pond with a scoped. 22

 

[rcoolbaugh]

The 2nd bold/red part of your quoted text refers to an "established range".

If I install a berm, have I not "Established" a range? What is the legal definition of an "Established Range"?

 

[PatMcD]

I shoot out back all the time . Favorite pastime in summer is sniping dragonflys near my pond with a scoped. 22

Why are you shooting dragonfly's??? They are eating your mosquitos , you know.

 

[PatMcD]

I shoot mostly in my front yard.

 

[gscott]

I'm not good enough to hit a mosquito