Is it legal in MA to shot rats in my garage with 22 shot shells?

[Mach]

I think probably not.

Anybody want to confirm that.

Not hunting.
Pest destroying stuff in my garage.

.22shotshell is not going to go through a wall, so I think it is safe.

 

[JAYNOSE79]

Everything is illegal in Mass

 

[Royal]

If a tree falls in the woods....?

 

[NewGunGuy]

Stick with a pellet gun. They would probably come after you for defending yourself against a rabid dog or coyote in your yard, stating that "you shouldn't have been outside during that time".

Charles.

 

[swatgig]

Discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling?

 

[dbott63]

How close are your neighbors? If no one knows you shot the rat(s) did it actually happen?

 

[Climbnsink]

22 shotshells are safe for that, legally meh any real state I'd say blast away, MA is probably always going to be a risk. Can your neighbors see you carrrying aiming and shooting? Pellet gun is more legal but still might get the po po called if your neighbors are jackwads. I suggest poison, whenever I lived where there were rats I'd only see them dead, sneaky little bastards, poison never sleeps.

 

[MisterHappy]

General Laws: CHAPTER 269, Section 12E

See clause (c) in the linked statute.

If you're indoors and the "Target Range" is your garage and the rats are your targets, you're legally fine. Until the cops show up. Then the fun begins. Just because you are acting within the law, does not mean that you're safe.

If you're shooting a lot, you may attract attention, especially if the garage is usually quiet. If you're always running tools and noisy equipment, it would likely go unnoticed. I had squirrels in my mom's garage, and the 10-pump airgun did the job. A few were not "ethical" kills.....but those bastids had destroyed a lot of stuff, including eating the lacings of a pair of old, nice, snowshoes, and I was feeling vindictive.

If pest removal is the goal, not revenge, traps or poison is the way to go, IMO.

If it's bloodlust, that's another story.


IANAL YMMV RSTLNE, etc.

 

[DONALDG-HOG]

Try Colibri .22 primer fired out of a revolver. They sound about as loud as a kids cap gun.

 

[mass]

Why just .22? .357 or bigger is the way to go.

Sent from state prison using contraband cell phone.

 

[Billsail]

Leave your lawnmower, or other power equipment running, outside, during the extermination procedure.

 

[Finalygotabeltfed]

Leave your lawnmower, or other power equipment running, outside, during the extermination procedure.

This^^^^ and black or white out the windows too if there are any so nobody can see in.

 

[Mach]

Maybe I will just go buy a damn pellet gun. Seems like shotshell woud be safer, but when does that mean anything around here.

I have a single pump pellet pistol and it bounced right off him. I need more firepower.

I am cleaning out the garage in the snow and want this over with.

Eta. I like the snow blower running idea.

 

[fencer]

I have a 1200'/sec pellet gun with a scope on it that regularly knock squirrels out of trees at 50 yards, and pellets are cheap.

 

[SalemCat]

General Laws: CHAPTER 269, Section 12E

See clause (c) in the linked statute.

If you're indoors and the "Target Range" is your garage and the rats are your targets, you're legally fine. Until the cops show up. Then the fun begins. Just because you are acting within the law, does not mean that you're safe.

If you're shooting a lot, you may attract attention, especially if the garage is usually quiet. If you're always running tools and noisy equipment, it would likely go unnoticed. I had squirrels in my mom's garage, and the 10-pump airgun did the job. A few were not "ethical" kills.....but those bastids had destroyed a lot of stuff, including eating the lacings of a pair of old, nice, snowshoes, and I was feeling vindictive.

If pest removal is the goal, not revenge, traps or poison is the way to go, IMO.

If it's bloodlust, that's another story.


IANAL YMMV RSTLNE, etc.

NO NO NO !

If LEO arrives, act dumb.

Say as little as possible.

Don't let them in.

In fact, just use Glue Traps.

Don't lose your LTC over something like this.

 

[Kicker96FS]

.22 shorts. Sounds like a big rat fart.

 

[bricktop]

From our shed: gamecam + humane trap = entertainment. Chickens in the background noise. He won't be stealing grain any more...

 

[DrRansom]

From our shed: gamecam + humane trap = entertainment. Chickens in the background noise. He won't be stealing grain any more...

I love how the camera does not have the frame speed to catch his bouncing off the walls after he's caught...

 

[Contramnky]

My recommendation: pick up some subsonic 22LR. It's as loud as dropping a dictionary from five feet in the air.

 

[SalemCat]

From our shed: gamecam + humane trap = entertainment. Chickens in the background noise. He won't be stealing grain any more...

Poor little guy ....

 

[Lip]

Gamo whisper with a nitrogen piston. Living in Lynn I average 10-15 a month.

 

[FreeWillie]

I have a 1200'/sec pellet gun with a scope on it that regularly knock squirrels out of trees at 50 yards, and pellets are cheap.

This. Pick up a cheap Beeman .177 cal pellet rifle. Zero it and have at it.

 

[George D]

Pistol Crossbow, serious.

 

[Carnea]

.

 

[usp45ct]

Pistol Crossbow, serious.

This

 

[colt_fan]

Get one of these...


View attachment 55513

That won't work here, the Orientals would have ate it before it got that big.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Keeper]

I've used a blowgun for mice.

 

[falcon123]

How close are your neighbors? If no one knows you shot the rat(s) did it actually happen?

Use a throw down. Make sure you wipe it clean.

 

[joe847]

I think it is illegal in Mass to ask if something is illegal in Mass.

 

[winter]

+1

If LEO arrives, act dumb.

Say as little as possible.

Don't let them in.