Do you carry a gun onboard?

[Mr. Sandman]

For whatever reason...

[FISHING_FOOL]

Since I will soon be combining crow hunting and fishing July 1st yes I do some times....

This way itll be harder to get skunked

[BigBo]

At times; yes. For whatever reason.

[Typhoon]

I was going to bring my new .22 out for some target practice and someone told me it's illegal to shoot a gun in MA territorial waters unless you're actively engaged in hunting waterfowl. I looked up the CFR statute and it plainly says that.

Never knew that.

The CG always asks first if you're carrying any firearms on board.

[fishbones]

Originally Posted by Typhoon

I was going to bring my new .22 out for some target practice and someone told me it's illegal to shoot a gun in MA territorial waters unless you're actively engaged in hunting waterfowl. I looked up the CFR statute and it plainly says that.

Never knew that.

The CG always asks first if you're carrying any firearms on board.

So it sounds like it's ok to have the gun on board, but you can't shoot it.

[PRBuzz]

Never, don't own one. (maybe I shouldn't post that)

[clcharette]

If I'm going solo and I'm at the ramp pre dawn I usually carry, better safe than sorry.

[MakoMike]

Sometime yes and sometimes no. Sharking I usually have a shotgun on board with various types of ammo. Inshore rarely bring one along.

[niko]

Where are you guys fishing that you would need guns? I know - guns don't kill people, people kill people. Guns sure make it a hell of alot easier. I can understand for sharking
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[Typhoon]

If I'm fishing from shore at night in either Quincy, Weymouth or the back river in Hingham, I carry my .38 for defense against people or coyotes.

The last thing I want to deal with on my way back to the car at 1am is a rabid coyote or a rabid heroin zombie. (I don't know which is worse).

2005 Murders at Bare Cove Park.
http://nicolen.wordpress.com/2008/02...web-of-murder/

Man robbed fishing at town river, Quincy (several weeks ago)
http://www.patriotledger.com/news/co...-of-Town-River

[Van]

I'd like to mount a 50 cal on the bow some days.

[nightfighter]

I have..... been known to keep them handy be it boat, shop, truck, car, house.... old habits die hard.

But, if you have one onboard, it will need to be in a good, secured gun box/case, specific to the gun and ammo. Did I mention secured? As in fastened to the boat, not as in locked. Marine environment will require you to regularly check for condition or need to tear down or clean. Keep gun oil onboard too.

I also spray my flare guns flat black or gun metal gray. Not my first choice, but gets attention, and can still do some damage....

My current CC is not condusive to leaving onboard.

[Mr. Sandman]

As someone else said, the first thing a USCG officer says to you when they board is ...Do you have any guns, ammo or explosives on board?

So I gather from that question, that you can carry a rifle or shotgun on board. When I was a kid my Dad and uncle carried a gun on board but I only saw them fire them once on a big shark . (I was about 8 or 10 so it was a long time ago). I remember seeing a guns on boats at Montauk when I was a kid. I also remember when he decided to get rid of guns he did not want in the house anymore he dropped them off in about 600' of water. (old army weapons mostly)

Personally, I don't own any guns. There was a TV show that talked about carrying guns on boats (generally for guys headed to the islands) and how to defend yourself. It was pretty interesting. They rec'd a marinized shotgun that shoots a big slug to do the most damage and to aim just below the waterline and try and blow a few holes in the guys boat instead of trying to shoot someone.

When I was in CR the subject came up...I was talking to one guy in the harbor and he had 2 fully automatic machine guns with lots of ammo. He could fend off most pirates. I asked him have you ever fired them..."Oh yeah, it is a blast and it scares the hell out of the crew"

[Duke41]

50 call twin mounted machine guns on the bow.

[Rockport24]

I know the "Time Bandit" has plenty of guns on board their boat! They whip those things out all the time on that show!

[Typhoon]

In the 80s there were some legendary gun battles on Stellwagen over lost tuna.

I know for a fact, some people with more balls than brains are carrying out there now. It's a matter of time before egg sinkers escalates to harpoons and then to buckshot.

[thefishingfreak]

I'll never tell
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[JohnnySaxatilis]

Originally Posted by thefishingfreak

I'll never tell
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that means yes,

[Offshore24]

So all you guys from MA have carry permits? Thought you had to own a jewelry store to get a permit in MA.

[BigBo]

Originally Posted by Offshore24

So all you guys from MA have carry permits? Thought you had to own a jewelry store to get a permit in MA.

There are other ways and reasons.

[Typhoon]

Originally Posted by Offshore24

So all you guys from MA have carry permits? Thought you had to own a jewelry store to get a permit in MA.

Certain towns are harder than others to get a LTC Class A (Large capacity concealed carry). It's up to each individual police chief.

Some chiefs are ball busters and you need to prove you carry cash or work in a dangerous area. Quincy flat out refused to give out LTC Class A until the chief resigned. The new chief is much more understanding and I was able to get mine no problem.

In Boston you need to pass a competency course at the range. Boston is very tough to get a LTC. The further west or south you go in the state the easier it is.

It's also an expensive process. A handgun course and license fees are around $500, require a justice of the peace, retinal scan, anal cavity search, fingerprinting. My brother in ME paid $20 and showed them his library card.

[Offshore24]

Yea, Maine requires a Safe Gun in the House Course. Two days of class. Then you sign up, they check to see if you're a felon, child molester, mental patient, bait fisherman.... I had a carry permit in MA when I was a resident. Tried to renew as a non-resident and ran into a beaurocratic nightmare. I don't carry on the ocean. Up in the sticks, fishing the wilds I carry a nice little .45 long-colt mountain gun.

[Mr. Sandman]

This makes a statement...

[Hookedagain]

I never used to carry, until about two years ago. We were at the ramp about 3:30 launching the boat. Once the baot was in the water the truck went up the ramp....without either one of us in it! The only thing that saved us was the tires started to spin on the wet ramp. The guy jumped out and ran...with me in chase. Never did catch the little bass-turd. We realized how close we were to having the truck and trailer taken right out from under us. When we returned to the ramp that afternoon we had another guy watching the rod on the boat, we never gave him a chance to act. I didn't know it was illeagel to have a sidearm on board.

[Rip Runner]

Originally Posted by Hookedagain

I never used to carry, until about two years ago. We were at the ramp about 3:30 launching the boat. Once the baot was in the water the truck went up the ramp....without either one of us in it! The only thing that saved us was the tires started to spin on the wet ramp. The guy jumped out and ran...with me in chase. Never did catch the little bass-turd. We realized how close we were to having the truck and trailer taken right out from under us. When we returned to the ramp that afternoon we had another guy watching the rod on the boat, we never gave him a chance to act. I didn't know it was illeagel to have a sidearm on board.

There is a bigger problem here. What if you did have a gun on you? Would you have shot the guy for stealing your truck? Hopefully your gun would have been on your person and not still in the truck. If you are going to carry it needs to be on you. I am personally not against protecting your property in such matter, but the state of MA is. A truck, boat, house, etc...isn't worth going to jail for the rest of your life. I don't carry on the boat, but I'm not at the Ramp at 3:00AM either.

Guns aren't made to point at people, people that point guns end up getting hurt, or killed. If my gun comes out of it's holster someone is going to die, it's that simple. The only time that would ever happen is if me or my family were in immediate mortal danger.

I may have side tracked a little because I see a-lot of people carry when they don't really need too. However, if you feel you need to carry for whatever reason then I'm 100% on board with that. It is your right!

[Swimmer]

99 % of the people who carry guns don't have the nuts to pull the trigger. It just makes the person carrying more brave than what they are normally. Generally a perp, lifetime criminal, he/she is not going to be afraid of your gun, nor you.

I am curious how it feels to be forced to lay down on your face, or at the very least, kneel down for awhile, when you are being boarded by the CG when you answer in the affirmative about whether or not you have a gun on board?

Imminent serious bodily injury or death about to happen to you or someone with you should be the only reason why you draw a weapon. Regardless of whether your right or wrong, be prepared to hire an attorney if the worse occurs.

[thefishingfreak]

Nothing says "get outta my slick" like a few shots across the bow.
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[Hookedagain]

Very good points gentleman. I would not have shot him or even at him, however, I would have defended myself had it gone any ferther. After it was over I spoke to a friend who happens to be a sargent in the state police,he said I could have LAWFULLY held him at gun piont until the authorities arrived. Some, ok...alot of paperwork, but he would not gotten away. In Mass you can not shoot to protect personal property like in other states. I also have my LTC in 3 other states and Mass is byfar the most strict.

[Goose]

As gun owner & fisherman, after reading this thread i still see no reason to carry a gun unless your a serious shark fisherman

[outnumbered]

When the Coasties board you and you tell them where the weapon is they just get the weapon, clear it of any ammo and lay the ammo back where it was and hold the weapon until they check the boat along with your LTC card. They really make no big deal out of it as long as you have the required permits.