Massachusetts Gun Laws
Gun Laws Overview
RIFLES & SHOTGUNS | HANDGUNS | |
---|---|---|
Permit to Purchase | FID Required | Yes |
Registration of Firearms* | No | No |
Licensing of Owner | Yes | Yes |
Permit to Carry | FID Required | Yes |
* Police recordation made of transfers. The list and map below are included as a tool to assist you in validating your information. We have made every effort to report the information correctly, however reciprocity and recognition agreements are subject to frequent change. The information is not intended as legal advice or a restatement of law and does not include: restrictions that may be placed on non-resident permits, individuals under the age of 21, qualifying permit classes, and/or any other factor which may limit reciprocity and/or recognition. For any particular situation, a licensed local attorney must be consulted for an accurate interpretation. YOU MUST ABIDE WITH ALL LAWS: STATE, FEDERAL AND LOCAL. |
STATE STATUS | |
---|---|
Castle Doctrine | No Law |
No-Net Loss | No Legislation |
Right to Carry Confidentiality | No Provisions |
Right to Carry in Restaurants | Legal |
Right To Carry Laws | Rights Restricted-Very Limited Issue |
Right To Carry Reciprocity and Recognition | None |
Right to Keep & Bear Arms State Constitutional Provisions | With Provisions |
Laws on Purchase, Possession and Carrying of Firearms
Additional Provisions for Boston
In Boston under a vague law it is unlawful to possess, display, transfer, or receive, without a license granted by the Boston Police Commissioner: MORE |
Antiques and Replicas
An antique firearm is defined as any handgun, rifle or shotgun manufactured in or before 1899, or any replica thereof which is not designed for firing fixed ammunition or which uses fixed ammunition no longer manufactured in the United States and no longer readily available commercially. MORE |
Carry
A license authorizes carrying of handguns, including large capacity handguns, for all lawful purposes, subject to such restrictions relative to the possession, use or carrying of handguns as the licensing authority deems proper, and carrying of rifles and shotguns, including large capacity rifles and shotguns, for all lawful purposes, subject to restrictions imposed by the licensing authority. MORE |
Machine Guns
A machine gun “is a weapon of any description . . . from which a number of shots or bullets may be rapidly or automatically discharged by one continuous activation of the trigger, and includes a submachine gun.” MORE |
Miscellaneous Provisions
Although persons in the military and other peace officers are exempt from the above requirements, this exemption is applicable only when they are performing their official duties or when duly authorized to possess weapons. It is not applicable for any private or sporting use of such rifles, shotguns or handguns. MORE |
Non-residents
A non-resident may possess a rifle or shotgun in Massachusetts: MORE |
Possession
Firearms and feeding devices for firearms are divided into classes. Depending on the class, a firearm identification card (FID or “card”), class A license or class B license is required to possess, purchase, or carry a firearm, ammunition therefor, or firearm feeding device, or “large capacity feeding device.”1 One’s home or place of business is not exempt from the FID or class A or B license requirements. MORE |
Purchase
A complex procedure is set out for the purchase of rifles, shotguns, handguns, their related feeding devices, ammunition, “large capacity firearms” and “large capacity feeding devices.” Care must be taken to have the correct card or license for a particular purchase. It is unlawful to sell or transfer any firearm, firearm feeding device, or ammunition to a person without the proper card, license, or permit. See possession for how to acquire a card, license, or permit. MORE |
Range Protection
Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law, rule or regulation to the contrary, no owner of a rifle, pistol, silhouette, skeet, trap, blackpowder, or other similar range shall be liable in any civil action or criminal prosecution in any matter relating to noise or noise pollution resulting from use of the range. MORE |
Note
In this summary, the term “firearm” has been used in its general sense, i.e., any rifle, shotgun or handgun. However, readers of the Massachusetts law should be aware that the term “firearm,” when it appears in the text of the statutes, has a special meaning, being defined as any pistol, revolver or other firearm with a barrel of less than 16 inches or a shotgun with a barrel length less than 18 inches. |
(1)
“Large capacity weapon” is any firearm that is semiautomatic with a fixed large capacity feeding device, or capable or readily modifiable to accept such a detachable feeding device, or employs a rotating cylinder capable of accepting more than 5 shotgun shells or more than 10 rounds of other ammunition, or that is an “assault weapon.” “Assault weapon” has the same meaning as federal law. “Large capacity feeding device” is a magazine or similar device holding more than 5 rounds of shotgun ammunition or more than 10 rounds of other ammunition. |
(2)
Regarding current holders of lifetime cards, the card expires in 1999 (if birthday is between July 1 and Dec. 31) or 2000 (birthday is between Jan. 1 and June 30). Any card holder on the effective date of the present law who lawfully possesses a large capacity rifle or shotgun shall be deemed to have a class B license for purposes of possession and must timely apply for the proper license, and any license holder lawfully possessing a large capacity handgun shall be deemed to have a class A license and must timely apply for the proper license. Any person who acquires ownership or possession of any firearm, firearm feeding device, or ammunition must apply for the appropriate card or license. See possession for how to acquire a card, license, or permit. |
CITATION: Mass. Statutes relating to firearms are: Part I, Chap. 140, §§121 to 131 I; Part II, Chap. 269, §§10 to 12 E. |
Monday, November 27, 2023
Tomorrow, November 28th, the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security will be holding a public hearing ...
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
This evening, anti-gun politicians in the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed H. 4135, “an act modernizing firearm laws” ...
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
Anti-gun politicians continue to play games around HD 4607, “an act modernizing firearm laws.” The bill, formerly known ...
Monday, October 9, 2023
Late last week, Massachusetts politicians released HD 4607, “an act modernizing firearm laws.” HD 4607 is a “re-write” ...
Friday, September 22, 2023
Gun Owners’ Action League (GOAL) will be holding a rally against HD 4420 “an act modernizing firearm laws,” ...
Friday, August 11, 2023
On Sunday, August 27th, Massachusetts's Gun Owners Action League will be holding a "2A Freedom Celebration" in Quincy, ...
Monday, July 17, 2023
Late last month, Massachusetts politicians put forth HD 4420, “an act modernizing firearm laws.” This massive piece of ...
Wednesday, July 5, 2023
This week, Massachusetts politicians put forth HD 4420, “an act modernizing firearm laws.” This massive piece of legislation re-writes ...
Friday, May 5, 2023
The Massachusetts House of Representatives will be holding a “Gun Law Listening Tour” event in Brockton, on Monday, ...
Wednesday, January 4, 2023
Today, January 4th, the Massachusetts General Court begins the 2023 legislative session. As in 2022, the General Court can expect to see both pro and ...