I moved to Massachusetts several years ago.
For various reasons, mostly the lack of a dwelling in which I could fit or place a responsible gun safe and personal inertia, I've not yet obtained a license. Now that I've started on the road to a license, I need to address the poorly defined regulations on moving already owned firearms into the state.
There are, of course, gotchas. Ignoring the high-capacity issue that will require an LTC-A, there's another gloriously unclear issue.
Nearly every handgun involved is from a design that predates the MA AG safety feature requirements, but all were purchased in another state after the EOPS approved roster law. None can be purchased new in MA now. It is my understanding that this legislation and regulatory policy are restrictions on retail sale. I am unclear if that also means that they regulate FFL sales of used weapons.
Here's the puzzle. The collection is on the west coast. I would rather not drive these 2700 miles. That means I would like to ship them. It is my belief, though this may be incorrect, that an interstate shipment of a firearm must go to a recipient who is an FFL. It may be that this is just a shipper requiremenet to cover their liability, and that the legal regulations are on interestate transfers of ownership, not a person shipping their own property to themselves.
Am I legally required to ship it to an FFL in MA?
Will that FFL be legally required to treat that as a transfer?
Will that FFL believe me when I say it isn't a transfer?
FA-10 forms are described as being for transfers. This technically isn't a transfer. Should I file one anyway?
Will an FFL refuse to do this for me since the firearms are not on the EOPS approved handgun roster and do not have the magazine disconnect safety or loaded chamber indicator the AG requires?
I also have a during-Brady complete Bushmaster lower. It has never been part of a complete rifle. It is my understanding that it can be constructed into a legal post-ban MA rifle if it is matched with a post-ban upper and I don't change the stock - but what do I have to do to get it here?
For various reasons, mostly the lack of a dwelling in which I could fit or place a responsible gun safe and personal inertia, I've not yet obtained a license. Now that I've started on the road to a license, I need to address the poorly defined regulations on moving already owned firearms into the state.
There are, of course, gotchas. Ignoring the high-capacity issue that will require an LTC-A, there's another gloriously unclear issue.
Nearly every handgun involved is from a design that predates the MA AG safety feature requirements, but all were purchased in another state after the EOPS approved roster law. None can be purchased new in MA now. It is my understanding that this legislation and regulatory policy are restrictions on retail sale. I am unclear if that also means that they regulate FFL sales of used weapons.
Here's the puzzle. The collection is on the west coast. I would rather not drive these 2700 miles. That means I would like to ship them. It is my belief, though this may be incorrect, that an interstate shipment of a firearm must go to a recipient who is an FFL. It may be that this is just a shipper requiremenet to cover their liability, and that the legal regulations are on interestate transfers of ownership, not a person shipping their own property to themselves.
Am I legally required to ship it to an FFL in MA?
Will that FFL be legally required to treat that as a transfer?
Will that FFL believe me when I say it isn't a transfer?
FA-10 forms are described as being for transfers. This technically isn't a transfer. Should I file one anyway?
Will an FFL refuse to do this for me since the firearms are not on the EOPS approved handgun roster and do not have the magazine disconnect safety or loaded chamber indicator the AG requires?
I also have a during-Brady complete Bushmaster lower. It has never been part of a complete rifle. It is my understanding that it can be constructed into a legal post-ban MA rifle if it is matched with a post-ban upper and I don't change the stock - but what do I have to do to get it here?