Stun Guns Legal in Massachusetts?

For as long as I have been a law enforcement officer, Massachusetts has banned several “per se” weapons claiming them to be too dangerous to possess.  These weapons include stilettos, dirk knives, brass knuckles and of course electrical weapons (a.k.a: sun guns). Under Mass general law chapter 140 section 131J one could not possess or sell an electric weapon and the penalty could be up to two and a half years in jail. But a recent United Sates Supreme Court decision says the Massachusetts law is unconstitutional! Thus, a law that police have been enforcing for decades is now nullified and police departments across the state are educating their officers to NOT arrest for this crime.

According to a www.thetruthaboutguns.com article posted on March 21, 2016: The case at bar, Jamie Caetano v. Massachusetts involved a defendant — a 4’11” woman residing in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts — who had been given a stun gun by a friend for the purposes of protecting herself against an abusive ex-paramour, who was also the father of her two children. Caetano had allegedly been beaten previously by her ex so severely as to require medical attention.

This Supreme Court decision has dramatic implications in the area of self-protection and self-preservation. This means that one could make the argument that all types of weapons that are currently banned for being a per se weapon could be legalized under this decision. Thus, stilettos, dirk knives and even “brass knuckles” could be argued that they’re possessed for the purpose of protecting themselves.

Depending on where one is on the issue of self-protection, this can either mean that a woman who takes the train late at night in a rough neighborhood can now legally protect herself with a tool that works….Or, the dirtbag, drug dealing, robber can carry that weapon to rob said woman. Either way, protect yourself proactively by hiring a professional security guard! -Suburbanpatrol.com

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