clam chowder (: dont ask why...
Shells and all? Sure, you could but, most people are put off by crunchy chowder. If you mean that you plan to substitute fresh clams into a recipe that calls for canned clams, of course you can.
clam chowder
Clam Chowder
No, there's no MA law against suicide. Attempted suicide might be illegal indirectly, such as jumping in front of a commuter train.