I'm trying to work my way through the convoluted Mass regs that pertain to legality of firearms purcases. Specifically, I want to know whether I could buy an older gun from an out-of-state source and have it transferred to my local FFL where I would pick it up. Lets say I'm interested in a 1960's vintage S&W Model 27 .357 magnum revolver, or maybe a 1960s vintage Colt Python.
Since the gun would have pre-dated the 21 October 1998 AG regulations therefore they would be exempt from those regs. That leaves the Approved Firearms Register. These two revolver models are not listed on the Approved Firearms Roster, even though it stands to reason that they were, at the time of their manufacture, readily available in Massachusetts. So it appears to me the only way to legally buy these revolvers would be the exemption established by section 79 of Chapter 180 of the Acts of 1998:
“SECTION 79. Clause Eighteenth to Twenty-first, inclusive, of said section 123 of said chapter 140, inserted by section 19 of this act, shall not apply to any firearm lawfully owned or possessed under a license issued under said chapter 140 on the effective date of this act.”
Does this mean the specific gun I want would have to have been registered in Massachusetts before 1998? This would drastically limit the universe of available guns. Or does it mean the model was registered in Massachusetts prior to 1998 and that I can own any particular revolver of that model that I please? This would allow me to shop outside of Mass for a nice old revolver.
One other thought...don't the C&R exemptions apply to guns that are 50 years old or older? Could I get my C&R and buy a 1955 Colt Python (not that I could actually locate or afford one)?
Since the gun would have pre-dated the 21 October 1998 AG regulations therefore they would be exempt from those regs. That leaves the Approved Firearms Register. These two revolver models are not listed on the Approved Firearms Roster, even though it stands to reason that they were, at the time of their manufacture, readily available in Massachusetts. So it appears to me the only way to legally buy these revolvers would be the exemption established by section 79 of Chapter 180 of the Acts of 1998:
“SECTION 79. Clause Eighteenth to Twenty-first, inclusive, of said section 123 of said chapter 140, inserted by section 19 of this act, shall not apply to any firearm lawfully owned or possessed under a license issued under said chapter 140 on the effective date of this act.”
Does this mean the specific gun I want would have to have been registered in Massachusetts before 1998? This would drastically limit the universe of available guns. Or does it mean the model was registered in Massachusetts prior to 1998 and that I can own any particular revolver of that model that I please? This would allow me to shop outside of Mass for a nice old revolver.
One other thought...don't the C&R exemptions apply to guns that are 50 years old or older? Could I get my C&R and buy a 1955 Colt Python (not that I could actually locate or afford one)?