Was the rifle loaded or not? It is not clarified in the article.
An earlier version makes it sound unloaded.
SJC will review gun lock ruling - Law at odds with US high court (MA)
The Lowell judge cited the Supreme Court’s ruling in dismissing the case against Richard Runyan of Billerica, who in April 2008 was charged with improperly storing a semiautomatic hunting rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun, and a drawer full of ammunition.