Source: http://andrewberman.com/practice-areas/criminal-defense/weapons-charges/
Timestamp: 2017-06-27 10:32:33
Document Index: 114654836

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 10', '§ 10', '§ 10', '§ 10', '§ 10', '§ 10', '§ 10', '§ 10', '§ 10', '§ 11', '§11']

| WEAPONS CHARGES Criminal Defense and Civil Litigation
Carrying a Firearm Outside Home or Business (G.L. c. 269, § 10 (a))
The offense found in G.L. c. 269, § 10(a) is commonly referred to as “carrying” a firearm, to distinguish it from the offense of “possession” of a firearm without a firearm ID card, found in § 10(h). In order to prove the defendant guilty of Possession of a Firearm Without a License Outside Home or Business, the Commonwealth must prove three things beyond a reasonable doubt:
First: That the defendant possessed a firearm (or) (that he [she] had a firearm under his [her] control in a vehicle);
Second: That what the defendant (possessed) (or) (had under his [her] control in a vehicle) met the legal definition of a “firearm”; and
Third: That the defendant knew that he (she) (possessed a firearm) (or) (had a firearm under his [her] control in a vehicle).
If there is sufficient evidence, the Commonwealth may have to prove any one of the following as a
Fourth element as well: that the defendant possessed the firearm outside of his (her) residence or place of business;
that the defendant did not have a valid license to possess a firearm outside his (her) home or office; or
that the defendant did not qualify for one of the exemptions in the law that are a substitute for having a license to possess a firearm outside his (her) home or business.
Sentencing: 1.5 to 2.5 years in the House of Corrections or up to 2.5 to 5 years in State Prison (1.5 years is minimum mandatory)
For the purposes of this section, a firearm is defined as a pistol, revolver or other weapon of any description, loaded or unloaded, from which a shot or bullet can be discharged and of which the length of the barrel or barrels is less than 16 inches
One’s residence includes “all areas in and around a defendant’s property, including outside areas, over which a defendant retains exclusive control,” but not including “public streets, sidewalks, and common areas to which occupants of multiple dwellings have access.” Carrying a Rifle or Shotgun Outside Home or Business (G.L. c. 269, § 10 (a))
In order to prove the defendant guilty of Possession of a Rifle or Shotgun Outside Home or Business, the Commonwealth must prove three things beyond a reasonable doubt:
First: That the defendant possessed a rifle or shotgun or that he (she) had a rifle or shotgun under his (her) control in a vehicle;
Second: That what the defendant (possessed) (or) (had under his [her] control in a vehicle) met the legal definition of a “rifle” or a “shotgun”; and
Third: That the defendant knew that he (she) possessed a rifle or a shotgun or had a rifle or a shotgun under his (her) control in a vehicle.
Fourth element as well: that the defendant possessed the rifle or a shotgun outside of his (her) residence or place of business;
that the defendant did not have a valid license to possess a rifle or a shotgun outside his (her) home or office; or
that the defendant did not qualify for one of the exemptions in the law that are a substitute for having a license to possess a rifle or a shotgun outside his (her) home or business.
A rifle is defined in our law as “a weapon having a rifled bore with a barrel length equal to or greater than sixteen inches, capable of discharging a shot or bullet for each pull of the trigger.”
A shotgun is defined as: “a weapon having a smooth bore with a barrel length equal to or greater than eighteen inches with an overall length equal to or greater than twenty-six inches, capable of discharging a shot or bullet for each pull of the trigger.”
Possession of a Firearm (G.L. c. 269, § 10 (h))
The offense found in G.L. c. 269, § 10(h) is commonly referred to as “possession” of a firearm without a firearm ID card, to distinguish it from the offense of “carrying” a firearm found in § 10(a). In order to prove the defendant guilty of Possession of a Firearm, the Commonwealth must prove three things beyond a reasonable doubt:
Second: That the item meets the legal definition of a “firearm”; and
Third: That the defendant knew that he (she) possessed that firearm.
If there is sufficient evidence, the Commonwealth may have to prove any one of the following as a Fourth element as well: that the defendant possessed the firearm outside of his (her) residence or place of business;
that the defendant did not have a valid firearm ID card.
that the defendant did not qualify for one of the exemptions in the law that are a substitute for having a valid firearm ID card.
General Laws c. 269, § 10(h) punishes “owning” or “transferring possession” as well as possession, and is applicable to a “rifle, shotgun or ammunition” as well as a firearm.
A defendant in possession of a loaded firearm manufactured before 1900 may not be guilty of the unlawful carrying of a loaded firearm, but may still be guilty of the unlawful possession of ammunition. Carrying Certain Dangerous Weapons (G.L. c. 269, § 10 (b))
The offense of Carrying Certain Dangerous Weapons encompasses a wide variety of weapons, including: Any stiletto;
Any dagger;
Any dirk knife;
Any ballistic knife;
A slung shot;
A blowgun;
A switch knife;
Any knife having a double-edged blade;
Any device or case which enables a knife with a locking blade to be drawn at a locked position;
Any knife with a detachable blade capable of being propelled by any mechanism;
A manrikigusari or similar length of chain having weighted ends;
Metallic knuckles or knuckles of any substance which could be put to the same use with the same or similar effect as metallic knuckles;
A shuriken or any similar pointed starlike object intended to injure a person when thrown;
A cestus or similar material weighted with metal or other substance and worn on the hand;
Any armband, made with leather which has metallic spikes, points or studs or any similar device made from any other substance;
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; and
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.
In order to prove the defendant guilty of Carrying Certain Dangerous Weapons, the Commonwealth must prove three things beyond a reasonable doubt:
First: That the defendant possessed a dangerous weapon or that he (she) had a dangerous weapon under his (her) control in a vehicle;
Second: That what the defendant possessed or had under his (her) control in a vehicle met the legal definition of a dangerous weapon; and
Third: That the defendant knew that he (she) possessed a dangerous weapon or had a dangerous weapon under his (her) control in a vehicle.
Sentencing: 6 months to 2.5 years in the House of Corrections or to 2.5 to 5 years in State Prison
This section also applies if the defendant is arrested (on a warrant or for disturbing the peace) and has in his possession a “billy club” or any other dangerous weapon.
If the defendant has not previously been convicted of a felony, the offense becomes a misdemeanor carrying a $50 fine and up to 2.5 years in the House of Corrections.
Defacing or Receiving Firearm with Defaced Serial Number (G.L. c. 269, § 11C)
Our law provides that every firearm shall bear a serial number permanently inscribed on a visible metal area of the firearm. It is a violation of §11C for a defendant to remove, deface, alter, obliterate or mutilate a serial or identification number on a firearm, or to knowingly receive such a firearm. In order to prove the defendant guilty of Defacing Firearm Serial Number, the Commonwealth must prove three things beyond a reasonable doubt:
First: That the item in question was a firearm;
Second: That defendant knew that it was a firearm; and
Third: That the defendant intentionally removed, defaced, altered, obliterated or mutilated in some manner a serial or identification number on the firearm.
In order to prove the defendant guilty of Receiving a Firearm with a Defaced or Obliterated Serial or Identification Number, the Commonwealth must prove five things beyond a reasonable doubt:
Second: That the defendant received the firearm;
Third: That the defendant knew that the item was a firearm;
Fourth: That the serial number or identification number on the firearm was removed, defaced, altered, obliterated, or mutilated in some manner; and
Fifth: That the defendant knew that the serial or identification number had been removed, defaced, altered, obliterated, or mutilated in some manner at the time when he (she) received it.
Sentencing: 1 month to 2.5 years in the House of Corrections
The mere fact that a defendant received a firearm with a serial or identification number on that had been removed, defaced, altered, obliterated or mutilated is prima facia evidence that the defedndant knew it was in that condition.
To prove that the defendant “received” the firearm, the Commonwealth must prove that he (she) knowingly took custody or control of it. It is not necessary that the defendant personally possessed the firearm, as long as it is proved that he (she) knowingly exerted control over it in some way.
Massachusetts Weapons Charges Lawyer