Author Topic: Bill could affect airguns in Massachusetts (Read 20699 times))

dcorvino · « **on:** January 07, 2016, 12:10:37 AM »

Hi
Just wanted to let you know that tomorrow at 11 am they ate going to vote on Airgun and replica guns in Massachusetts.
This bill would require an orange marking that is not removable be places on the barrel.
My concern is will companies mark all there product like this for sale in MA?
I urge you to call your state reps the governors office tomorrow morning and voice your opinion
We have to stop this before its to late
Thank you
Mods please forgive me I don't know where to post this
And to MA residents I just found out about this so please excuse me for being late to report this

Dave

dcorvino · « **Reply #1 on:** January 07, 2016, 11:53:28 AM »

For anyone interested its bill H.3476
So make a call or email your state rep
This probably will affect your Airgun choices in MA
Have a happy day.

Dave

SSG Grampo · « **Reply #2 on:** January 07, 2016, 12:19:11 PM »

Dave, front page article in today's Boston Globe. This is not good. What happens to the airguns we have if this is passed?
Bill

cpt_sfc · « **Reply #3 on:** January 07, 2016, 12:45:27 PM »

Here they just made all air guns non firearms, (july 2015). So because we have so many LE in the woods ,(for our safety) of course!!. I took a couple of my most carried out and about air guns and taped off 1/2 inch of the muzzle and painted them the bright orange color they dictate. Then sure enough I was stopped by one of the LE and because my air rifle really looks like a rifle he asked for my lic and then wanted to know what I was hunting. Then he noticed the orange end. I said I was out to rid the woods of non game species and he said OH that's ok then, it's only an air rifle. End of talk , gave back my lic and wandered back to his truck. He did not ask any ? of cal, power etc . So other then putting a orange stripe on the muzzle of a 1000 dollar air gun it was a nice exchange for an encounter.

dcorvino · « **Reply #4 on:** January 07, 2016, 01:17:21 PM »

Quote from: SSG Grampo on January 07, 2016, 12:19:11 PM

Dave, front page article in today's Boston Globe. This is not good. What happens to the airguns we have if this is passed?
Bill

Hi Bill
I don't know what happens to them, either they are grandfathered in or we modify them or turn them in.
I am concerned about that and what do you do for future purchases?
Call you rep or write a letter to them we are under attack.
If it passes here it will probably affect other states as well.
Dave

dcorvino · « **Reply #5 on:** January 07, 2016, 01:21:46 PM »

airguns are under attack at the state house in Boston today... it's just a hearing but decisions are made fast and we all need to put our input into the authorities that are making the final decision. in short, they are proposing orange tips on pellet and bb guns so they are in the same class as paintball and air-soft. putting orange tips on hunting rifles and pistols is just plain silly if not stupid! please write to these people today and let them know they are making a huge mistake. At New England Airgun we are providing a safe and proper location for airgun use. We need more locations so others have the same opportunities, we don't need to loose this over orange tips!
Below is some information about H.3476, An Act relative to imitation firearms, which is being heard by the Public Safety Committee today.
The language of the bill and its history can be found here: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/House/H3476
If you would like to send a letter or an email to the Chairs of the Committee they can be reached using the information below:
Representative Harold Naughton
State House, Room 167
Boston, MA 02133
617-722-2230
Harold.naughton@mahouse.gov
Senator James Timilty
State House, Room 507
Boston, MA 02133
617-722-1222
james.timilty@masenate.gov

SSG Grampo · « **Reply #6 on:** January 07, 2016, 02:04:46 PM »

I hope the NRA will be representing us at this hearing. If your a NRA member make sure you voice your opinion to them.

UCChris · « **Reply #7 on:** January 07, 2016, 02:11:38 PM »

I seriously doubt the NRA is worried about an airgun bill. They are much more concerned about Obama's new executive orders.

dcorvino · « **Reply #8 on:** January 07, 2016, 02:12:30 PM »

Quote from: SSG Grampo on January 07, 2016, 02:04:46 PM

I hope the NRA will be representing us at this hearing. If your a NRA member make sure you voice your opinion to them.

Oh I will let them know
A hearing happened today.
I didn't know about this until last night at 11pm
Now I am playing catch up with emails and phone calls
So everyone send letters and make calls because if this passes here it can pass anywhere

cpt_sfc · « **Reply #9 on:** January 07, 2016, 02:37:17 PM »

I know I am most likely an enabler on this so I am sorry in advance. But as a prior LE who cares about a non firearm marking. IF they would take off all the other laws that cover these air arms I think this would be ok to mark them when off private property with a slide on cap. Not all LE are quick to understand new law and some don't want to. But here when they took all firearm law off air guns this notice , on the muzzle made my interaction a non issue With the Co/le I ran into. (this is not required here I just did it) He was on the ball and knew of the new non firearm policy. As An old officer I used to smack some dumb @@@ kid for pointing a bb gun at someone, BUT I/we can't do that anymore. Some of the air guns out there look real. I am on your side and think you should fight this there, mostly because of the other dumb laws they have there. Good luck and as a life member of NRA I will e-mail them in your support.

StevenG · « **Reply #10 on:** January 07, 2016, 03:10:28 PM »

Orange tip means toy. We are talking about airguns that are killing small game to now even big game. If it can kill a tree rat, it will cause a real wound on a person. If it can kill a deer, it can do far worse. Those do not sound like toys to me.

dcorvino · « **Reply #11 on:** January 07, 2016, 03:12:01 PM »

Thank you Max
We need all the help we can get
Something tells me it might be a long haul

Dave

cpt_sfc · « **Reply #12 on:** January 07, 2016, 03:21:27 PM »

Thank you, Also no one said TOY . If you leave your own property to hunt why could you not slip on a orange end cap so a LE could tell its a non firearm. Heck the crooks are dipping the real thing in paint to get an edge. There will always be misuse, THAT is what should be addressed. Some of the more bottled guns you can tell from a mile away but some like my daystate or SY 909 look like a fire arm. I will support you but I am out of here Thank goodness I don't live in mass mi. is bad enough.

dcorvino · « **Reply #13 on:** January 07, 2016, 04:40:55 PM »

Quote from: StevenG on January 07, 2016, 03:10:28 PM

Orange tip means toy. We are talking about airguns that are killing small game to now even big game. If it can kill a tree rat, it will cause a real wound on a person. If it can kill a deer, it can do far worse. Those do not sound like toys to me.

Hi I know orange tip means toys, unfortunetly the state legislature wants to add this to airguns
Wich will probably destroy air gun use in MA based on public safety
A state rep told me several states have this law already but I don't believe them
I can't see PA selling an Airgun that's been painted orange for a certain location, that functions the same as an Airgun for other locations and is just cosmetically different.
So if anyone out there lives in a state that requires differnt markings on an Airgun pleàse let me know

Dave

GungaDin · « **Reply #14 on:** January 07, 2016, 05:37:45 PM »

Quote

A state rep told me several states have this law already but I don't believe them

He's probably thinking about airsoft, there is a federal law requiring orange tips for those, and cap guns too.

This is a kneejerk reaction to incidences which have occurred in other states. It seems like it was hastily written without a lot of thought. While it would be simple enough to spray paint the tip on the end of the barrel for a gun you already own, it is doubtful a lot of retailers are going to unbox every airgun, spraypaint the stripe, then rebox them just so they can ship them to Massachusetts.
Funny I made a recent post about many retailers not shipping airguns to Mass even though they got declassified as firearms in the late 90's. If this law get's passed, no one will ship them here, not only not to individuals, but not even to box stores.

dcorvino · « **Reply #15 on:** January 07, 2016, 05:41:47 PM »

Quote from: GungaDin on January 07, 2016, 05:37:45 PM

Quote
A state rep told me several states have this law already but I don't believe them
He's probably thinking about airsoft, there is a federal law requiring orange tips for those, and cap guns too.

This is a kneejerk reaction to incidences which have occurred in other states. It seems like it was hastily written without a lot of thought. While it would be simple enough to spray paint the tip on the end of the barrel for a gun you already own, it is doubtful a lot of retailers are going to unbox every airgun, spraypaint the stripe, then rebox them just so they can ship them to Massachusetts.
Funny I made a recent post about many retailers not shipping airguns to Mass even though they got declassified as firearms in the late 90's. If this law get's passed, no one will ship them here, not only not to individuals, but not even to box stores.

Hi hats what I am afraid of.
Contact the legislature and give them your opinion on it.
We need all the help we can get here.

Dave

Habanero69er · « **Reply #16 on:** January 07, 2016, 06:39:42 PM »

It must be tough living in such a highly regulated state like Massachusetts. They don't seem to be happy unless they're trying save everyone from themselves. I really feel for those who have to live under that kind of government control.

GungaDin · « **Reply #17 on:** January 07, 2016, 06:48:42 PM »

If the state HAS to have an orange tip law, why can't they do it from the owner, NOT the retail end, so it won't be a huge hassle to ship airguns to MA?
If they are worried about individual non-compliance, well the same guy who wouldn't paint his airgun tip orange if that was the law, is going to take a trip to the NH Walmart, buy whatever airguns he wants there and NOT paint them anyway under this law if it passes.
It's dumb and it will discourage new people from getting in to airguns here.

GungaDin · « **Reply #18 on:** January 07, 2016, 07:00:36 PM »

Quote from: Habanero69er on January 07, 2016, 06:39:42 PM

It must be tough living in such a highly regulated state like Massachusetts. They don't seem to be happy unless they're trying save everyone from themselves. I really feel for those who have to live under that kind of government control.

I was in Tallahassee Florida for a couple of weeks around Thanksgiving. Attitude, weather, laws, it was like being in another universe.

dcorvino · « **Reply #19 on:** January 07, 2016, 07:01:51 PM »

Sad thing is currently then only restriction on airguns is you must be 18 to possess and with an adult to shoot it.
Other then that only other restrictions are hunting and you can't shoot across roads etc.
So this bill is insane

Dave