This is a list of ordinances and bylaws in Mass. that outlaw activity that would normally be legal for a licensed gun owner otherwise. Many cities and towns have ordinances barring things such as carrying knives or discharging firearms, but this is for much less known violations.
Amesbury: No guns in cemetaries
Attleboro
Illegal to carry in many public areas (see list)
Long list of off-limits places in that city.
Boston
No carry in City Hall, even with an LTC
21-1.1 Possession, Detection of Weapons in City Hall.
Sale of replica firearms prohibited
City of Boston Municipal Code 16-5A says:
Notice that they're to return to the site of the violation unannounced to make sure you're not still engaging in this activity. I have no idea how that would be handled if the violation had occurred inside your home.
Boxborough
Illegal to carry on private land without owners express permission
It was written for hunting, but it's vague enough to outlaw any carry on private property without explicit permission to do so.
Cambridge
Cannot possess a toy gun on the street if it annoys anyone
You can't make this stuff up...
Cannot sell replica firearms
fairhaven
Amesbury: No guns in cemetaries
237-4 General Cemetary Rules
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K. No firearms are allowed in the cemeteries unless by public safety personnel or authorized persons on military occasions.
237-7 Violations and Penalties
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A. Any person violating this chapter shall be liable to the City in the amount of $50 for the first violation and $100 for each subsequent violation. Fines shall be recovered by or on complaint before the District Court or by noncriminal disposition in accordance with MGL c. 40, § 21D and Chapter 1, Article I of this Code. Each day of violation shall constitute a separate offense. The Director of the Department of Public Works and his designees are authorized as enforcing persons for this purpose. Section 237-4M may be enforced by the Animal Control Officer.
Attleboro
Illegal to carry in many public areas (see list)
Revised Ordinances of the
City of Attleboro
Section 12-3.3 Prohibited Activities (amended 4/3/08)
Unless otherwise directed, organized, or permitted by the Commissioners, it shall be unlawful in the parks, commons, playgrounds, athletic fields, and outdoor recreation facilities of the City of Attleboro to:
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s. Carry or discharge any firearms, fireworks, rockets, or other explosive devices.
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Section 12-3.5 Penalty for Violations
Any person who disrupts any activity being held in a park, common, playground, athletic field, or recreation center shall be removed from the facility. A person who violates any provision of this ordinance shall be punished by a fine according to the following schedule:
a. First Offense: $150.00
b. Second offense and each offense thereafter, $300.00.
Such penalties shall be assessed in accordance with the provisions for the non-criminal disposition of violations kin General Laws Chapter 40, Section 21D, as amended.
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Section 16-20 Restricted Use of Orr's Pond and Manchester Reservoir
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16-20.6 No person shall build a fire, picnic, smoke, hunt, shoot or trap on these fishing grounds. No person shall in any way bring firearms of any nature on these fishing grounds.
Long list of off-limits places in that city.
Boston
No carry in City Hall, even with an LTC
21-1.1 Possession, Detection of Weapons in City Hall.
No person other than a sworn officer of the Commonwealth, a member of the military service on active duty, or a constable, officer or official of the City or County having a license to carry firearms shall in any part of City Hall have possession of any dangerous weapon, which term shall include any firearm, and any item described in paragraphs (b) or (c) of Section 10 of Chapter 269 of the General Laws, unless authorized by the Commissioner of Real Property or that Commissioner's designee. If the Commissioner shall determine public safety requires, a system for detection of weapons may be established in City Hall and no person shall be admitted to, or enter, the building without submitting to such detection system. Any person violating the provisions hereof shall be punished by a fine of two hundred ($200.00) dollars.
(Ord. 1992 c. 3 § 2)
Sale of replica firearms prohibited
City of Boston Municipal Code 16-5A says:
16-5A. Regulating the Sale and Marketing of
Replica Firearms in the City of Boston
16-5A.1. Definitions. As used herein, the following words shall have the following meanings:
a. Commissioner shall mean the Commissioner of the Boston Police Department or his designee.
b. Department shall mean the Boston Police Department.
c. Market shall mean to display for sale.
d. Replica firearm shall mean any toy, imitation, or facsimile pistol, revolver, shotgun, rifle, air rifle, B-B gun, pellet gun, machine gun or other similar simulated weapon which because of its color, size, shape or other characteristics, can reasonably be perceived to be a real firearm from which a shot or bullet can be fired and which, pursuant to Subsection 16-5A.4, has been determined to pose a threat to public safety.
e. Sell shall mean to exchange or deliver.
1. For money or its equivalent; or
2. As a promotion or an inducement to buy.
16-5A.2. Regulation.
Except as provided in Subsection 16-5A.3 herein, no person or entity shall sell or market any replica firearm in the City of Boston.
16-5A.3. Exceptions.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the sale of replica firearms shall be permitted if the sale of such replica firearms is solely for purposes of or for transportation in intrastate, interstate or foreign commerce.
16-5A.4. Enforcement.
a. The Commissioner shall identify those replica firearms which he deems to pose a threat to public safety and shall make a list thereof. Such list shall include, where available, the following information: the product name, the manufacturer and the model number. The Commissioner shall post the list in the Department and shall make available copies thereof to the general public. The Commissioner shall update the list from time to time as he deems warranted. Any individual may provide information to the Commissioner regarding replica firearms to be added to the list.
b. Any person who observes the sale or marketing of a replica firearm which he believes to be a violation of this section may register a written or oral complaint with the Department. A Boston Police Officer, in response to each complaint, shall investigate the complaint forthwith in person and determine whether there is such a violation.
c. Any Boston Police Officer who observes the sale or marketing of a replica firearm which he believes to be a violation of this section shall investigate forthwith and determine whether there is such a violation.
d. If a Boston Police Officer determines that there is a violation of this section, he shall order the individual or entity to remove immediately from sale or marketing all the replica firearms found to be in violation. In addition, the Department shall impose the following penalties on the individual or entity violating the section:
1. A written citation or warning for the first violation;
2. A one hundred ($100.00) dollar fine for the second violation; and
3. A two hundred ($200.00) dollar fine for the second and any subsequent violations.
For purposes of penalties to be imposed under this section, if a Boston Police Officer determines that a sale or marketing of replica firearms has occurred, that determination shall constitute one violation, regardless of the number of replica firearms involved. A Boston Police Officer shall return, unannounced, to the site of the violation within the thirty (30) day period following the determination of a violation to ensure that the individual or entity has not resumed the sale or marketing of replica firearms.
16-5A.5. Appeal Procedure. Any individual who is aggrieved by an action taken by a Boston Police Officer under this section may, within ten (10) days of such action, file an appeal, in writing, to the Commissioner. After notice to such individual, the Commissioner shall hold a hearing, after which he shall issue a decision in which he affirms, annuls or modifies an action taken by a Boston Police Officer, giving his reasons therefor. The Commissioner shall send the decision to the individual by first class mail within ten (10) days after the hearing. The decision shall be a final administrative decision. The individual shall have thirty (30) days from the date of the written decision to seek judicial review in the Suffolk County Superior Court.
Notice that they're to return to the site of the violation unannounced to make sure you're not still engaging in this activity. I have no idea how that would be handled if the violation had occurred inside your home.
Boxborough
Illegal to carry on private land without owners express permission
HUNTING AND TRAPPING BYLAW
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Section 2.
No person shall carry a rifle, pistol, shotgun or other firearm, or a trap or traps on any private land within the Town of Boxborough without the express permission of the landowner, except a law enforcement officer in the discharge of his duties.
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Section 4.
Any person who violates any of the foregoing provisions shall be subject to a fine of twenty ($20.00) dollars, to be collected as provided in the General Laws.
It was written for hunting, but it's vague enough to outlaw any carry on private property without explicit permission to do so.
Cambridge
Cannot possess a toy gun on the street if it annoys anyone
9.16.080 - Toy pistols, slingshots and other weapons.
No person shall have in his possession a toy pistol, crotch, rubber sling or other device for throwing missiles of any kind, with intent to use it to the injury of persons or property, or to the annoyance or discomfort of any person, upon the street.
(Prior code § 13-17)
You can't make this stuff up...
Cannot sell replica firearms
9.16.090 - Replica firearms.
A. Definitions. As used in this section, the following words shall have the following meanings:
1."Chief" means the Chief of the Cambridge Police Department or his designee.
2."Department" means the Cambridge Police Department.
3."Market" means to display for sale.
4."Replica firearm" means any toy, imitation or facsimile pistol, revolver, shotgun, rifle, air rifle, B-B gun, pellet gun, machine gun or other similar simulated weapon which because of its color, size, shape or other characteristics, can reasonably be perceived to be a real firearm from which a shot or bullet can be fired and which, pursuant to subsection D of this section, has been determined to pose a threat to public safety.
5."Sell" means to exchange or deliver:
a.For money or its equivalent, or
b.As a promotion or an inducement to buy.
B.Regulation. Except as provided in subsection C of this section, no person or entity shall sell or market any replica firearm in the City.
C.Exceptions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the sale of replica firearms shall be permitted if the sale of such replica firearms is solely for purposes of or for transportation in intrastate, interstate or foreign commerce.
D.Enforcement.
1.The Chief shall identify those replica firearms which he deems to pose a threat to public safety and shall make a list thereof. Such list shall include, where available, the following information: the product name, the manufacturer and the model number. The Chief shall post the list in the Department and shall make available copies thereof to the general public. The Chief shall update the list from time to time as he deems warranted. Any individual may provide information to the Chief regarding replica firearms to be added to the list.
2.Any person who observes the sale or marketing of a replica firearm which he believes to be a violation of this section may register a written or oral complaint with the Department. A Cambridge police officer, in response to each complaint, shall investigate the complaint forthwith in person and determine whether there is such a violation.
3.Any Cambridge police officer who observes the sale or marketing of a replica firearm which he believes to be a violation of this section shall investigate forthwith and determine whether there is such a violation.
4.If a Cambridge police officer determines that there is a violation of this section, he shall order the individual or entity to remove immediately from sale or marketing all the replica firearms found to be in violation. In addition, the Department shall impose the following penalties on the individual or entity violating this section:
a.A written citation or warning for the first violation;
b.A one hundred dollar fine for the second violation; and
c.A two hundred dollar fine for the third and any subsequent violations.
5.For purposes of penalties to be imposed under this section, if a Cambridge police officer determines that a sale or marketing of replica firearms has occurred, that determination shall constitute one violation, regardless of the number of replica firearms involved. A Cambridge police officer shall return, unannounced, to the site of the violation within the thirty day period following the determination of a violation to ensure that the individual or entity has not resumed the sale or marketing of replica firearms.
E.Appeal Procedure. Any individual who is aggrieved by an action taken by a Cambridge police officer under this section may, within ten days of such action, file an appeal, in writing, to the Chief. After notice to such individual, the Chief shall hold a hearing, after which he shall issue a decision in which he affirms, annuls or modifies an action taken by a Cambridge police officer, giving his reasons therefor. The Chief shall send the decision to the individual by first class mail within ten days after the hearing. The decision shall be a final administrative decision. The individual shall have thirty days from the date of the written decision to seek judicial review in the Third District Court of Eastern Middlesex County.
fairhaven
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