Hello!
Hopefully posting this in the right thread. I apologize for the long windedness in advance. I sincerely appreciate any help I can get on the matter.
I thought I understood MA gun laws... yes, queue the laughter. But I really hope someone can help answer some questions. I have done extensive research, but this site seems to have a great community for this!
So, hypothetically... I recently got a H&K P7M8. It was manufactured in 07/1994 (clearly printed on the gun itself), well before the 1998 laws went into effect. The P7M8 is not on the list of approved firearms for MA.
I got the gun through private sale. The person I received it from is an MA resident, and had the gun for 8 years (2010 - 2018), and got it from someone (an MA resident) who had it for two years prior (2008 - 2010). Beyond that history, neither of us know anything else.
I was under the impression that the gun has to be registered by an MA resident before 1998 to be legal to be traded in MA. I would think that the gun would follow these guidelines, because getting into MA at any point after 98 would have required an FFL to "sanction" the trade, essentially approving its legality in MA.
But, how can I be sure that the gun is able to be in MA? Am I incorrect about the gun having to be registered by a MA resident before 1998, or does the gun just have to be made before 1998? Is there any way to prove its legitimacy? (ownership records...?)
My main fear is that I use this gun for my concealed carry. I do not know what the repercussions are if a police officer saw my gun on my person for any reason (traffic stop, etc. if requested). Is that grounds for confiscation? Can they even tell?
I registered the gun online and I feel as though it is legitimate to be owned and carried within MA from the information I have gathered. But I wanted to ask these questions to an audience that knows much more than me.
Thank you for any and all help!!
Hopefully posting this in the right thread. I apologize for the long windedness in advance. I sincerely appreciate any help I can get on the matter.
I thought I understood MA gun laws... yes, queue the laughter. But I really hope someone can help answer some questions. I have done extensive research, but this site seems to have a great community for this!
So, hypothetically... I recently got a H&K P7M8. It was manufactured in 07/1994 (clearly printed on the gun itself), well before the 1998 laws went into effect. The P7M8 is not on the list of approved firearms for MA.
I got the gun through private sale. The person I received it from is an MA resident, and had the gun for 8 years (2010 - 2018), and got it from someone (an MA resident) who had it for two years prior (2008 - 2010). Beyond that history, neither of us know anything else.
I was under the impression that the gun has to be registered by an MA resident before 1998 to be legal to be traded in MA. I would think that the gun would follow these guidelines, because getting into MA at any point after 98 would have required an FFL to "sanction" the trade, essentially approving its legality in MA.
But, how can I be sure that the gun is able to be in MA? Am I incorrect about the gun having to be registered by a MA resident before 1998, or does the gun just have to be made before 1998? Is there any way to prove its legitimacy? (ownership records...?)
My main fear is that I use this gun for my concealed carry. I do not know what the repercussions are if a police officer saw my gun on my person for any reason (traffic stop, etc. if requested). Is that grounds for confiscation? Can they even tell?
I registered the gun online and I feel as though it is legitimate to be owned and carried within MA from the information I have gathered. But I wanted to ask these questions to an audience that knows much more than me.
Thank you for any and all help!!