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It would be legal in the circumstance you described. Pre-school inside of a church.
If the pre-school was on the "grounds" of an elementary school it would be a no-go.
Kindergarten is generally part of the elementary school and would be a no-go. I would also say a private kindergarten would be a no-go.
Does this govern religious schools? For example, you go to church/synagogue and there is CCD/hebrew school there. Can you carry?
I just don't see any gray area here.
Our kids attend pre-K at a private catholic school in MA and I was thinking of writing a letter to the school's principal to request their expressed written permission for me to be able to carry concealed on their school grounds (when I drop off/pick up the kids from school, for instance). I don't expect them to grant me this request but I'd like to try anyway.
Has anyone written such a letter? What are the kinds of things you would mention in the letter? And what guidance would you give the school for content to put in their permission letter for you to carry concealed?
And keep in mind, in today's day and age, there's a chance that your kids might be asked to leave if you write a letter saying you carry a gun and want to at their school too.
I have no advice for the letter, but keep in mind that MGL 269-10j doesn't apply if the gun is lawfully secured in the vehicle before entering school grounds, and not on your person.
And keep in mind, in today's day and age, there's a chance that your kids might be asked to leave if you write a letter saying you carry a gun and want to at their school too.
So I can park my car in the parking lot on school grounds, put a trigger lock on my handgun and lock it in the truck and I'm complying with MGL 269-10j?
Has anyone heard of this happening?
So I can park my car in the parking lot on school grounds, put a trigger lock on my handgun and lock it in the truck and I'm complying with MGL 269-10j?
(j) Whoever, not being a law enforcement officer, and notwithstanding any license obtained by him under the provisions of chapter one hundred and forty, carries on his person a firearm as hereinafter defined, loaded or unloaded or other dangerous weapon in any building or on the grounds of any elementary or secondary school, college or university without the written authorization of the board or officer in charge of such elementary or secondary school, college or university shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both. For the purpose of this paragraph, “firearm” shall mean any pistol, revolver, rifle or smoothbore arm from which a shot, bullet or pellet can be discharged by whatever means.
Any officer in charge of an elementary or secondary school, college or university or any faculty member or administrative officer of an elementary or secondary school, college or university failing to report violations of this paragraph shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars.
The chance of this happening is tantamount to the chance of obtaining permission - Slim to none.
As the others have said, the answer is no. MGL 269-10j says:
This makes it illegal to have the gun on your person while on school grounds or in school buildings. It would be legal to stop outside of the school property, lawfully secure the gun in the car, then proceed onto the school property.
But, and this is a big "but," I doubt there are many cops who know or care about the "on your person" part of MGL 269-10j, since what most cops and gun owners are told is "No guns in schools." So basically, even if the gun were legally stored, you could easily face arrest and revocation of your LTC if someone found out about it and the cops were called.
So once again we get back to the "understanding" that, yes, it's legal, but the law will not likely be enforced as written. I'd still go with the letter of the law.
It is the fringe cases and grey areas which cause the ripples.