Numchucks? (sp?)

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You know... two sticks joined with a chain.

I noticed that a friend of mine has some. Are they controlled in any way by MA law? Any info appreciated.

Thanks!
 
Illegal in MA if you are caught with them under a "public disturbance" thing.

Chapter 269: Section 10. Carrying dangerous weapons...

(b) Whoever, except as provided by law, carries on his person, or carries on his person or under his control in a vehicle, any stiletto, dagger or a device or case which enables a knife with a locking blade to be drawn at a locked position, any ballistic knife, or any knife with a detachable blade capable of being propelled by any mechanism, dirk knife, any knife having a double-edged blade, or a switch knife, or any knife having an automatic spring release device by which the blade is released from the handle, having a blade of over one and one-half inches, or a slung shot, blowgun, blackjack, metallic knuckles or knuckles of any substance which could be put to the same use with the same or similar effect as metallic knuckles, nunchaku, zoobow, also known as klackers or kung fu sticks, or any similar weapon consisting of two sticks of wood, plastic or metal connected at one end by a length of rope, chain, wire or leather, a shuriken or any similar pointed starlike object intended to injure a person when thrown, or any armband, made with leather which has metallic spikes, points or studs or any similar device made from any other substance or a cestus or similar material weighted with metal or other substance and worn on the hand, or a manrikigusari or similar length of chain having weighted ends; or whoever, when arrested upon a warrant for an alleged crime, or when arrested while committing a breach or disturbance of the public peace, is armed with or has on his person, or has on his person or under his control in a vehicle, a billy or other dangerous weapon other than those herein mentioned and those mentioned in paragraph (a), shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than two and one-half years nor more than five years in the state prison, or for not less than six months nor more than two and one-half years in a jail or house of correction, except that, if the court finds that the defendant has not been previously convicted of a felony, he may be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars or by imprisonment for not more than two and one-half years in a jail or house of correction.

Sections bolded for emphasis. There may be some weird exemption somewhere for martial arts use, that I'm not aware of.... this particular law is like the kitchen sink MA law for basically banning anything interesting..... it was designed to stop zoobow murders. [rolleyes]

-Mike
 
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Carrying nunchaku is illegal in MA. See MGL Chapter 269 Section 10:

(b) Whoever, except as provided by law, carries on his person, or carries on his person or under his control in a vehicle, any stiletto, dagger or a device or case which enables a knife with a locking blade to be drawn at a locked position, any ballistic knife, or any knife with a detachable blade capable of being propelled by any mechanism, dirk knife, any knife having a double-edged blade, or a switch knife, or any knife having an automatic spring release device by which the blade is released from the handle, having a blade of over one and one-half inches, or a slung shot, blowgun, blackjack, metallic knuckles or knuckles of any substance which could be put to the same use with the same or similar effect as metallic knuckles, nunchaku, zoobow, also known as klackers or kung fu sticks, or any similar weapon consisting of two sticks of wood, plastic or metal connected at one end by a length of rope, chain, wire or leather, a shuriken or any similar pointed starlike object intended to injure a person when thrown, or any armband, made with leather which has metallic spikes, points or studs or any similar device made from any other substance or a cestus or similar material weighted with metal or other substance and worn on the hand, or a manrikigusari or similar length of chain having weighted ends; or whoever, when arrested upon a warrant for an alleged crime, or when arrested while committing a breach or disturbance of the public peace, is armed with or has on his person, or has on his person or under his control in a vehicle, a billy or other dangerous weapon other than those herein mentioned and those mentioned in paragraph (a), shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than two and one-half years nor more than five years in the state prison, or for not less than six months nor more than two and one-half years in a jail or house of correction, except that, if the court finds that the defendant has not been previously convicted of a felony, he may be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars or by imprisonment for not more than two and one-half years in a jail or house of correction.

Full text is here: http://www.malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIV/TitleI/Chapter269/Section10

I don't know if possession is controlled as well.

ETA: I see drgrant beat me to it...
 
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Also illegal if carried on your person, or under your control in a vehicle.

I guess I should have clarified, the law was clearly designed as "moral panic gone full retard. " As far as I know baton/billys are the only "iffy" thing in that whole list, which leads me to believe that the operative clause in the 2nd half of the law only applies in the case of billys or "other dangerous weapons" whatever those might be.... like a shod foot.... friggan state.

-Mike
 
...As far as I know baton/billys are the only "iffy" thing in that whole list, which leads me to believe that the operative clause in the 2nd half of the law only applies in the case of billys or "other dangerous weapons" whatever those might be.... like a shod foot.... friggan state.

Yup, found it, and you're right...

an expandable baton is not among the weapons specifically listed in the first portion of G.L. c. 269, § 10 (b )

>snip<

There is no dispute that the second provision of the statute does not apply.   That provision applies only when a defendant is arrested on a warrant, or is arrested “while committing a breach or disturbance of the public peace.”  G.L. c. 269, § 10 (b ).

http://caselaw.findlaw.com/ma-supreme-judicial-court/1500802.html
 
Maybe at 34, Im too young to remember, but when did we ever have a rash of nunchaku and chinese star attacks in MA?

I'm still trying to find the Zoobow murders.

IIRC some road rager shot someone with a crossbow in MA... but that's a whole other ballgame.

-Mike
 
How do you guys stand this stuff? You have laws banning everything. Is there a person in your state government paranoid of everything? when it reaches the point where you have to ask and even with a copy of the law people still don't know or understand whats what then what is the point? Your state along with a few other has what I would call a Irrational fear of weaponry. I am sure Freud would have something to say about people with such fear of inanimate objects that have no power for good or evil in and of themselves.
 
How do you guys stand this stuff? You have laws banning everything. Is there a person in your state government paranoid of everything? when it reaches the point where you have to ask and even with a copy of the law people still don't know or understand whats what then what is the point? Your state along with a few other has what I would call a Irrational fear of weaponry. I am sure Freud would have something to say about people with such fear of inanimate objects that have no power for good or evil in and of themselves.

How do we stand it? This stuff happens without our input or approval. The moonbats do this stuff, not us. If I could snap my fingers and suddenly live in another state, I would. It ain't that easy.
 
How do we stand it? This stuff happens without our input or approval. The moonbats do this stuff, not us. If I could snap my fingers and suddenly live in another state, I would. It ain't that easy.


Ok I did not mean to offend you. My point was more why do you guys not vote get out the word? Here in Maine a few years ago we had a bill come up to ban the 50bmg and the 5-7 it created such a uproar the phone line at the capital Augusta actually burned out not all but one box did actually burn out. Amazingly enough even with all the dems that have ruled this state they have always been afraid to pass any type of firearm control. Every time there is even a mention of this type of bill the letters calls and faxes FLY to the capital.

As for moving well I did exactly that. I lived in Maryland for a few years and had a carry permit the whole time I was there. They changed the law to say that only if you where under threat or carried monies could you carry and my permit was not renewed. less then a month later I was back in Maine and my house was on the market and my business was sold to a local competitor for a nice profit I might add. Saying you do not have a choice of where you live is a easy way out. If you want to you can you just have to want it. All it took for me was one of my rights a important one in my book though. IMHO this is the major problem with most firearm owners. Many enjoy there rights but in the end are either afraid or simply not willing to do what is needed to either keep our rights or repeal those laws that have already done so. Then after I left they started eroding rights more and more. If Maine does did something similar then I will move again. Though I have no fear of that happening anytime before I die.

When the FED passed the AWB did you send letters to all you representatives and the President and keep doing so every so often? Did you go door to door every election and get the word out about our pro rights candidates? Did you vote in every election? Did you contribute to the candidates you supported? Did you support the pro firearm organizations? Did you let your state reps know exactly what you expect of them? I do!! IF you do not do these things then it is on you. Only those with a horse in the race can win.
 
Ok I did not mean to offend you. My point was more why do you guys not vote get out the word? Here in Maine a few years ago we had a bill come up to ban the 50bmg and the 5-7 it created such a uproar the phone line at the capital Augusta actually burned out not all but one box did actually burn out. Amazingly enough even with all the dems that have ruled this state they have always been afraid to pass any type of firearm control. Every time there is even a mention of this type of bill the letters calls and faxes FLY to the capital.

As for moving well I did exactly that. I lived in Maryland for a few years and had a carry permit the whole time I was there. They changed the law to say that only if you where under threat or carried monies could you carry and my permit was not renewed. less then a month later I was back in Maine and my house was on the market and my business was sold to a local competitor for a nice profit I might add. Saying you do not have a choice of where you live is a easy way out. If you want to you can you just have to want it. All it took for me was one of my rights a important one in my book though. IMHO this is the major problem with most firearm owners. Many enjoy there rights but in the end are either afraid or simply not willing to do what is needed to either keep our rights or repeal those laws that have already done so. Then after I left they started eroding rights more and more. If Maine does did something similar then I will move again. Though I have no fear of that happening anytime before I die.

When the FED passed the AWB did you send letters to all you representatives and the President and keep doing so every so often? Did you go door to door every election and get the word out about our pro rights candidates? Did you vote in every election? Did you contribute to the candidates you supported? Did you support the pro firearm organizations? Did you let your state reps know exactly what you expect of them? I do!! IF you do not do these things then it is on you. Only those with a horse in the race can win.

I'm not offended, but you have no idea what it is like here.
 
I know that the rights I have here in Maine you in Mass do not. I also know IF by chance I lived there I would move.

What else would one need to know.

If your life fits in a neat little container it's easy to say "move out". A lot of people here don't have that luxury. I am blessed in that when the time comes, I won't have to sacrifice a hell of a lot to get out of here. Other people are not so lucky, they have "legacy problems" like family or lives built around the place they live in.

Ok I did not mean to offend you. My point was more why do you guys not vote get out the word? Here in Maine a few years ago we had a bill come up to ban the 50bmg and the 5-7 it created such a uproar the phone line at the capital Augusta actually burned out not all but one box did actually burn out. Amazingly enough even with all the dems that have ruled this state they have always been afraid to pass any type of firearm control. Every time there is even a mention of this type of bill the letters calls and faxes FLY to the capital.

In MA we don't have power in that regard. The MA legislature is run by full on moonbats. Making lame gun laws in MA is not politically costly.... in Maine it is because even a lot of the lesser moonbats in Maine own guns. The level of communism up there is not nearly the same. It's a big culture shift. MA is easily one of the top 5 communist states in the US, and Maine is probably about halfway down the list, despite it's socialist leanings on certain things.

MA went down the s**tter a long time ago. Now we don't even have a quarter million or so (licensed) gun owners, and likely over 50% of them are fudds.

The amount of gun owners that care in MA is probably some small 5 digit number. That's not enough to throw any election. That means logistically speaking, gun owners in MA have almost no real political power. It's a simple logistics problem. About all we can do is try to tell the legislators that normally support us that we support them, and try to throw some of the weeble wobble vote. The inside 95 loop crowd, though... forget it, lost cause with a handful of exceptions.

-Mike
 
If you operate as if everything is illegal in Massachusetts, you will more often be right than wrong.

I realize the temptation but I think that mindset is self-corroding. This state is full of gun owners that have assumed the same thing, and they're often wrong about the laws in the wrong direction, and they end up obeying laws that don't exist, and a bunch of other things. The mind numbing legal threads we get on here on a daily basis are living proof of that. I see stuff like guys that show up at the range with a locked box full of trigger locked handguns. Misunderstanding of the laws has people scared of their own shadows.

It's also playing right into the moonbats hands- they -WANT- you to think that everything is illegal. They WANT you to live in fear.

-Mike
 
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I realize the temptation but I think that mindset is self-corroding. This state is full of gun owners that have assumed the same thing, and they're often wrong about the laws in the wrong direction, and they end up obeying laws that don't exist, and a bunch of other things. The mind numbing legal threads we get on here on a daily basis are living proof of that. I see stuff like guys that show up at the range with a locked box full of trigger locked handguns. Misunderstanding of the laws has people scared of their own shadows.

It's also playing right into the moonbats hands- they -WANT- you to think that everything is illegal. They WANT you to live in fear.

-Mike

EXACTLY. They have made it so hard to do things legally you have two three choices. One do it illegally Two do it legally Third the sad side effect Give up and don't even try. I have relatives in Mass They live with it my great uncle who grew up in NH with firearms in there home and hunting as a way of life ( They where REAL poor MONEY wise people ) Along with canning all summer to survive the winter they took there shotguns and rifles to school everyday and where expected to shoot something eatable on the way to or from school. They even kept them in the classroom during the day. I have asked him on our many family get together s in NH why he does not have any firearms as he loves to shoot all the ones I bring. Answer "I don't want to deal with the hassle". I you guys got all those to confused and unwilling to deal with the hurtles you would increase your numbers. Say put a add in the paper want to buy a firearm in Mass we will help you do all the paperwork and get some guys to volunteer. I bet many FFL would love to help people buy more firearms.
 
I'm not offended, but you have no idea what it is like here.

I'll second that. Mass. is a "perfect storm" of anti gun problems. Reading the NRA-ILA gunlaw brief doesn't explain half of what the heck is going on in that state.

What else would one need to know.

A lot. Do some reading on here, there's many many aspects to this issue.

MA went down the s**tter a long time ago. Now we don't even have a quarter million or so (licensed) gun owners, and likely over 50% of them are fudds.

And remember that's the total number of licensees, including Mace restricted FID's and every LEO who needs an LTC for a job in Mass. but could care less about guns.

I you guys got all those to confused and unwilling to deal with the hurtles you would increase your numbers. Say put a add in the paper want to buy a firearm in Mass we will help you do all the paperwork and get some guys to volunteer. I bet many FFL would love to help people buy more firearms.

Getting licensed is just one of the dozens of hurdles to legal gun ownership in Mass.
 
I have a question or two..... when it states "dagger or a device or case which enables a knife with a locking blade to be drawn at a locked position, any ballistic knife", does this refer to a Navy Mark I in a sheath?

I realize it isn't a folding knife, which is what this seems to apply to, but this is MA so interpretation of the law depends on the latest vilification of said "weapon".

Also when it states "having a blade of over one and one-half inches", is this applicable to all knives, or just the prior wording regarding spring released knives?

I'm VERY confused, which I'm sure was the goal, to keep us all divided so they can conquer us into submission. LOL Funny, but not, at the same time!


TG, I carry a hammer in my car door pocket, I don't see those listed! LOL

Chapter 269: Section 10. Carrying dangerous weapons...

(b) Whoever, except as provided by law, carries on his person, or carries on his person or under his control in a vehicle, any stiletto, dagger or a device or case which enables a knife with a locking blade to be drawn at a locked position, any ballistic knife, or any knife with a detachable blade capable of being propelled by any mechanism, dirk knife, any knife having a double-edged blade, or a switch knife, or any knife having an automatic spring release device by which the blade is released from the handle, having a blade of over one and one-half inches, or a slung shot, blowgun, blackjack, metallic knuckles or knuckles of any substance which could be put to the same use with the same or similar effect as metallic knuckles, nunchaku, zoobow, also known as klackers or kung fu sticks, or any similar weapon consisting of two sticks of wood, plastic or metal connected at one end by a length of rope, chain, wire or leather, a shuriken or any similar pointed starlike object intended to injure a person when thrown, or any armband, made with leather which has metallic spikes, points or studs or any similar device made from any other substance or a cestus or similar material weighted with metal or other substance and worn on the hand, or a manrikigusari or similar length of chain having weighted ends; or whoever, when arrested upon a warrant for an alleged crime, or when arrested while committing a breach or disturbance of the public peace, is armed with or has on his person, or has on his person or under his control in a vehicle, a billy or other dangerous weapon other than those herein mentioned and those mentioned in paragraph (a), shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than two and one-half years nor more than five years in the state prison, or for not less than six months nor more than two and one-half years in a jail or house of correction, except that, if the court finds that the defendant has not been previously convicted of a felony, he may be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars or by imprisonment for not more than two and one-half years in a jail or house of correction.
 
IANAL, but the following is my understanding...

...when it states "dagger or a device or case which enables a knife with a locking blade to be drawn at a locked position, any ballistic knife", does this refer to a Navy Mark I in a sheath?

No.
It refers to the Emerson "Wave" type opening mechanism...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDPerNV9nWQ
...and, as it states, ballistic knives...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrlzBj2lIJg

Also when it states "having a blade of over one and one-half inches", is this applicable to all knives, or just the prior wording regarding spring released knives?

The length restriction applies only to fully automatic knives ("switchblades").
 
I have a friend of mine that is into martial arts. He has nunchucks that have a cord between them with a knife in the same bag. If he ever gets pulled over, he just cuts the cord, and now he has two pieces of wood.
 
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