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Mr. Luddite

On 11/13/2013 3:33 PM, wrote:
On Wednesday, November 13, 2013 2:11:32 PM UTC-5, iBoaterer wrote:
In article ,

says...

On 11/13/2013 12:13 PM, wrote:

On Wed, 13 Nov 2013 11:58:49 -0500, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

There are several of those cases working their way through the court

as we speak.

Florida? $25 fine, right?

2d degree misdemeanor

$500 and 60 days in jail for the first offense, if there are no other

charges present.

If you knowingly provided a weapon to a minor or anyone else who was

prohibited from having one you can get up into felony territory.

Here's the law in MA:

Section 131L. (a) It shall be unlawful to store or keep any firearm,

rifle or shotgun including, but not limited to, large capacity weapons,

or machine gun in any place unless such weapon is secured in a locked

container or equipped with a tamper-resistant mechanical lock or other

safety device, properly engaged so as to render such weapon inoperable

by any person other than the owner or other lawfully authorized user.

For purposes of this section, such weapon shall not be deemed stored or

kept if carried by or under the control of the owner or other lawfully

authorized user.

(b) A violation of this section shall be punished, in the case of a

firearm, rifle or shotgun that is not a large capacity weapon, by a fine

of not less than $500 nor more than $5,000 or by imprisonment for not

more than one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment, and in the

case of a large capacity weapon or machine gun, by a fine of not less

than $1,000 nor more than $10,000 or by imprisonment for not less than

one year nor more than ten years, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

That's just for them finding out you didn't secure them as required.

The last sentence in (a) gives you an easy out.

Except that if you want to have quick access to one at night while
you sleep, it sounds like you must sleep with a holster. Having it
under the bed (12 gauge) or in a night stand drawer (9mm) doesn't
sound like it qualifies for that exemption. It has to either be
locked up, or in your hands/on your belt.

I don't interpret it that way. Having it on or in a nightstand beside
your bed qualifies as "under direct control" I think. Same as having
one in the center compartment of your truck or car. It doesn't have to
physically be "on" you in order to be "under direct control".

In reality, in this state I suspect there would be an investigation and
even preliminary charges brought against you, even if you shot an
intruder in the middle of the night. Where the guns are kept would
become a minor point. MA has a castle law that can be used in your
defense in the event of a shooting, but I suspect you would have to
convince everyone that it was self defense. It's a squishy law in a
squishy state when it comes to guns. Our governor, Deval Patrick (we
call him "Minnie Me") is intent on tightening gun control laws further
to the point where very few would qualify for a new permit or renewals
of existing permits.