Boston, Massachusetts has a few laws and regulations concerning airguns, BB guns, pellet guns and the like. These laws include the following:
16-5B REGULATING REPLICA FIREARMS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.
16-5B.1 Definitions.
As used herein, the following word shall have the following meanings: Replica firearm shall mean any toy, imitation, facsimile or replica pistol, revolver, shotgun, rifle, air rifle, B-B gun, pellet gun, machine gun, or other similar simulated weapon which, because of its color, size, shape, or other characteristics, can reasonably be perceived to be a real firearm capable of firing a bullet or other projectile. (Ord. 2015 c. 10 § 1)
16-5B.2 Regulation.
No person shall sell, offer to sell, possess, use, display or give away, any replica firearm on a public property unless:
a. The entire exterior surface of the imitation firearm is colored white, bright red, bright orange, bright yellow, bright blue, bright pink, or bright purple, either singly or as the predominant color in combination with other colors in any pattern; or
b. The imitation firearm is constructed entirely of transparent or translucent materials which permits unmistakable observation of the imitation firearm’s complete contents; and
c. The barrel of the imitation firearm, other than the barrel of a water gun, is closed with a blase orange plug, permanently affixed, of the same material of which the imitation firearm is made, for a distance of not less than one-half inch from the front end of said barrel; and
d. The imitation firearm had legibly stamped thereon, the name of the manufacturer or some trade name, mark or brand by which the manufacturer can be readily identified; and e. The imitation firearm does not have a laser pointer attached (Ord. 2015 c. 10 § 1)
16-5B.3 Enforcement.
If any individual under eighteen (18) years of age is found with a replica firearm by a member of the Boston Police Department, the officer shall contact his or her parent or guardian to inform them that the individual has been found with a replica firearm on public property. Parents or guardians shall be informed that they will be able to pick up the replica firearms at the district station after twenty-four (24) hours. The officer shall confiscate the replica firearm and bring it to the district station for holding. If the individual is over eighteen (18) years of age, the officer shall confiscate the replica firearm(s) and inform the individual that they can pick the item(s) up at the district station after twenty-four (24) hours. (Ord. 2015 c. 10 § 1)
In addition to Boston’s laws regarding airguns, BB guns, pellet guns and the like, residence of Boston will also have to observe the laws put in place by the state of Massachusetts. They include the following:
Massachusetts state law prohibits furnishing an air gun to anyone under the age of 18, with the exception of a minor’s parent / guardian or an adult teacher / instructor.
Massachusetts state law also prohibits a minor from possessing an air gun in a place which the public has right of access to unless the are accompanied by an adult or is the holder of a sporting / hunting license and has a permit (on your person) from the chief of police in the town in which they reside granting them the right to possess the air gun.
State Air Gun Laws:
No minor under the age of eighteen shall have an air rifle or so-called BB gun in his possession while in any place to which the public has a right of access unless he is accompanied by an adult or unless he is the holder of a sporting or hunting license and has on his person a permit from the chief of police of the town in which he resides granting him the right of such possession. No person shall discharge a BB shot, pellet or other object from an air rifle or so-called BB gun into, from or across any street, alley, public way or railroad or railway right of way, and no minor under the age of eighteen shall discharge a BB shot, pellet or other object from an air rifle or BB gun unless he is accompanied by an adult or is the holder of a sporting or hunting license. Whoever violates this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars, and the air rifle or BB gun or other weapon shall be confiscated. Upon a conviction of a violation of this section the air rifle or BB gun or other weapon shall, by the written authority of the court, be forwarded to the colonel of the state police, who may dispose of said article in the same manner as prescribed in section ten.
Whoever sells to a minor under the age of eighteen or whoever, not being the parent, guardian or adult teacher or instructor, furnishes to a minor under the age of eighteen an air rifle or so-called BB gun, shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty nor more than two hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than six months.
Massachusetts law prohibits anyone from furnishing an air rifle or BB gun to a person under age 18, except the minor’s parent, guardian or adult teacher or instructor. In addition, any person, including a parent, guardian or adult teacher or instructor, is prohibited from selling an air rifle or BB gun to a person under age 18.
Massachusetts law also prohibits any person under age 18 from having an air rifle or BB gun in his or her possession while in any place to which the public has a right of access unless:
•He or she is accompanied by an adult; or
•He or she is the holder of a sporting or hunting license and has on his or her person a permit from the chief of police of the town in which he resides granting him or her the right of such possession.
Whoever sells to a minor under the age of eighteen or whoever, not being the parent, guardian or adult teacher or instructor, furnishes to a minor under the age of eighteen an air rifle or so-called BB gun, shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty nor more than two hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than six months.
No minor under the age of eighteen shall have an air rifle or so-called BB gun in his possession while in any place to which the public has a right of access unless he is accompanied by an adult or unless he is the holder of a sporting or hunting license and has on his person a permit from the chief of police of the town in which he resides granting him the right of such possession. No person shall discharge a BB shot, pellet or other object from an air rifle or so-called BB gun into, from or across any street, alley, public way or railroad or railway right of way, and no minor under the age of eighteen shall discharge a BB shot, pellet or other object from an air rifle or BB gun unless he is accompanied by an adult or is the holder of a sporting or hunting license. Whoever violates this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars, and the air rifle or BB gun or other weapon shall be confiscated. Upon a conviction of a violation of this section the air rifle or BB gun or other weapon shall, by the written authority of the court, be forwarded to the colonel of the state police, who may dispose of said article in the same manner as prescribed in section ten.