Massachusetts Gun Laws

Massachusetts has no constitutional or permitless carry. A License to Carry (LTC) issued under G.L. c. 140 § 131 is required to carry a handgun openly or concealed; carrying without a license is unlawful possession of a firearm under G.L. c. 269 § 10, which imposes a mandatory minimum 18-month sentence.

"No person having in effect a license to carry firearms for any purpose, issued under section one hundred and thirty-one or section one hundred and thirty-one F of chapter one hundred and forty shall be deemed to be in violation of this section."

G.L. c. 140 § 131 / G.L. c. 269 § 10 statute

The License to Carry (LTC) is issued by the licensing authority (local chief of police) in the applicant's city or town to a lawful resident 21 years of age or older, requires submission of a basic firearms safety certificate under § 131P, requires a personal interview on initial application, and is valid for up to 6 years (expiring on a birthday between the 5th and 6th anniversary of issuance). Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024 eliminated the prior Class A / Class B distinction and created a single unified LTC.

"A lawful resident 21 years of age or older residing within the jurisdiction of the licensing authority... may submit to the licensing authority an application for a license to carry firearms... provided that upon an initial application for a license to carry firearms, the licensing authority shall conduct a personal interview with the applicant."

G.L. c. 140 § 131 (License to Carry) statute

The licensing authority shall issue an LTC only if the applicant is 'neither a prohibited person nor determined to be unsuitable.' Unsuitability is an objective public-safety determination that survived Bruen; Chapter 135 codified the standard so that 'a reasonable belief exists that the applicant may create a risk to public safety' constitutes unsuitability.

"neither a prohibited person nor determined to be unsuitable to be issued a license as set forth in said section 121F"

G.L. c. 140 § 121F (suitability) statute

The Firearm Identification (FID) Card is required (separately from any LTC) to lawfully purchase, transfer, possess, or carry non-large-capacity, non-semi-automatic rifles and shotguns and to possess ammunition. Applicants must be at least 18 (with parental consent for ages 15-17), and the card is valid up to 6 years.

"A firearm identification card shall entitle a holder thereof to purchase, transfer, possess and carry rifles and shotguns that are not large capacity or semi-automatic, and to purchase, possess and transfer ammunition consistent with the entitlements conferred by said card."

G.L. c. 140 § 129B (Firearm Identification Card) statute

Chapter 135 § 74 enhanced the Basic Firearms Safety (BFS) course required for an LTC or FID, adding a mandatory live-fire component. EOPSS Guidance #4 confirms § 74 takes effect April 2, 2026; persons holding an FID or LTC on August 1, 2024 are exempt from the new BFS requirements at renewal. State BFS hour minimums are set by curriculum promulgated by the MSP Colonel and MPTC.

"a licensing authority may continue to do so until section 74 takes effect, on April 2, 2026."

G.L. c. 140 § 131P (basic firearms safety certificate) ag

The Massachusetts Firearms Records Bureau, a unit of the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services within the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, is the Commonwealth's repository for all firearms license and transaction data, issues non-resident firearms licenses, and provides guidance to local licensing officers.

"The Firearms Records Bureau is the Commonwealth's repository for all firearms license and transaction data, issues non-resident firearms licenses and resident alien permits, and provides guidance to local licensing officers."

Massachusetts Firearms Records Bureau ag

Open carry of a handgun is legally permissible for an LTC holder — the License to Carry does not distinguish between open and concealed carry — but open carry is practically uncommon and can independently support a licensing authority's revocation under the suitability standard if circumstances suggest a public-safety risk.

"A license shall entitle a holder thereof of a license to purchase, rent, lease, borrow, possess and carry firearms, including large capacity firearms and ammunition therefor."

G.L. c. 140 § 131(a) statute

An LTC holder may carry a loaded handgun in a vehicle only if the loaded firearm is 'under the direct control of the person.' Large-capacity rifles or shotguns may not be carried in a vehicle unless unloaded and secured in a locked container as defined in § 121. Per EOPSS Guidance #4, a locked vehicle alone does NOT qualify as a 'locked container,' but a locked glovebox, locked console, or locked trunk inaccessible from the passenger compartment does.

"No person carrying a loaded firearm under a license issued pursuant to section 129B 131 or 131F or through an exemption under section 129C shall carry the loaded firearm in a vehicle unless the loaded firearm while carried in the vehicle is under the direct control of the person."

G.L. c. 140 § 131C statute

A nonresident may carry a firearm on their person while in a vehicle 'lawfully traveling through' Massachusetts, but the firearm must remain in the vehicle, must be stored under §§ 131C and 131L when outside the owner's direct control, and per Commonwealth v. Marquis, 494 Mass. 434 (2025), traveling to a Massachusetts workplace is NOT 'traveling through the commonwealth.' Brief stops incidental to travel are permissible if the firearm remains secured.

"Going to your workplace would not be 'traveling through the commonwealth' under Commonwealth v. Marquis, 494 Mass. 434 (2025)."

G.L. c. 140 § 129C(k) (nonresident travel) / Commonwealth v. Marquis, 494 Mass. 434 (2025) ag

Massachusetts has no 'guns in trunks' or employer parking-lot protection statute. Private employers may lawfully prohibit firearms — including stored in employee vehicles — on company property; Massachusetts is also a strong at-will employment state, so employees discharged for violating such a policy generally have no statutory cause of action.

"Chapter 149 (Labor and Industries) contains no firearm employer-parking-lot protection."

No Massachusetts employer parking-lot statute statute

Massachusetts recognizes NO out-of-state carry permits. A non-resident who wishes to lawfully carry in the Commonwealth must apply for a Massachusetts non-resident temporary License to Carry from the Firearms Records Bureau under G.L. c. 140 § 131F; a non-resident temporary LTC does not authorize purchase of firearms or ammunition in the Commonwealth.

"May a nonresident with a temporary license under section 131F of chapter 140 purchase firearms or ammunition in the Commonwealth? No."

G.L. c. 140 § 131F (non-resident temporary licenses) statute

Massachusetts codifies a limited castle doctrine for the dwelling only: an occupant who reasonably believes an unlawful intruder is about to inflict great bodily injury or death may use reasonable defensive force without retreating from inside the dwelling. The statute does not extend to vehicles, businesses, or curtilage.

"There shall be no duty on said occupant to retreat from such person unlawfully in said dwelling."

G.L. c. 278 § 8A statute

Massachusetts is NOT a stand-your-ground state. Outside the dwelling, a person who can retreat in complete safety must do so before using deadly force; the no-retreat rule applies only inside the dwelling under § 8A. Self-defense is otherwise governed by common-law principles requiring proportional force and a duty to retreat where reasonably available.

"There shall be no duty on said occupant to retreat from such person unlawfully in said dwelling."

Massachusetts common law / G.L. c. 278 § 8A statute

Massachusetts does not impose a general duty to proactively inform a law enforcement officer that you are armed. LTC and FID holders must, however, carry the license and exhibit it on demand of a law enforcement officer under G.L. c. 140 § 129C.

"The provisions of this section shall not apply to: ... any person presenting on demand a valid license to carry a firearm or a valid firearm identification card."

G.L. c. 140 § 129C (display on demand) statute

Carrying a firearm on the person, loaded or unloaded, in any building or on the grounds of any elementary or secondary school, college, or university — including school transport — without the written authorization of the board or officer in charge is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 or imprisonment up to 2 years, or both.

"carries on the person a firearm, loaded or unloaded... in any building or on the grounds of any elementary or secondary school, college or university... without the written authorization of the board or officer in charge... shall be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment for not more than 2 years or both."

G.L. c. 269 § 10(j) (schools) statute

Chapter 135 § 124 added subsection (k) to G.L. c. 269 § 10. It is now an offense (up to $1,000 fine and/or 2½ years in the house of correction) to possess a firearm in a 'prohibited area,' defined as: (i) any state, county or municipal property used for government administration, judicial or court administrative proceedings, or correctional services (buildings, grounds, parking areas) — excluding state-owned public hunting land; and (ii) any active ballot storage/tabulation location, polling place, or early voting site (during voting), including within 150 feet of the entrance. A municipality may vote under c. 4 § 4 to exclude its administrative buildings from the rule.

"Whoever possesses a firearm, loaded or unloaded, as defined in section 121 of chapter 140, in a prohibited area, and knows or reasonably should know such location is a prohibited area, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 2½ years, or both."

G.L. c. 269 § 10(k) (prohibited area — added by Chapter 135 of 2024) statute

Massachusetts prohibits carrying a firearm while under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances. Carrying or possessing a firearm in licensed alcohol-service establishments is restricted by license conditions imposed by local licensing authorities and the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission.

"It is an offense to carry a firearm under the influence of intoxicating liquor or a controlled substance."

G.L. c. 269 § 10(h) (intoxication / under the influence) statute

Massachusetts requires that any firearm not under the owner's immediate control be 'secured in a locked container or equipped with a tamper-resistant mechanical lock or other safety device, properly engaged so as to render such firearm inoperable.' Violation is a criminal offense and creates civil liability under § 131K.

"firearm is secured in a locked container or equipped with a tamper-resistant mechanical lock or other safety device, properly engaged so as to render such firearm inoperable"

G.L. c. 140 § 131L (safe storage) statute

G.L. c. 140 § 131K, referenced in the § 131L safe-storage citation, makes the sale within the Commonwealth of any firearm without an approved safety device a breach of warranty (G.L. c. 106 § 2-314) and an unfair or deceptive trade act (G.L. c. 93A § 2). Manufacturers, importers, and sellers are individually and jointly liable for personal injury or property damage caused by the absence of the required device; statutory exceptions apply to law-enforcement and military-issued firearms and to pre-1899 firearms.

"Any firearm or large capacity firearm... sold within the commonwealth without a safety device designed to prevent the discharge of such firearm by unauthorized users and approved by the colonel of state police... shall be defective and the sale of such a firearm shall constitute a breach of warranty under section 2-314 of chapter 106 and an unfair or deceptive trade act or practice under section 2 of chapter 93A."

G.L. c. 140 § 131K (firearm safety device / civil liability) statute

Massachusetts requires universal background checks: all firearm transfers — including private, non-dealer transfers — must be processed through a licensed dealer or through the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services online portal, and the transaction must be recorded in the state registration system. A person may only conduct up to 4 personal (non-dealer) firearm transfers per calendar year per § 128A(c).

"a person may only transfer up to 4 firearms per year as a personal transfer, even if the firearms are inherited, pursuant to G.L. c. 140, §128A(c)."

G.L. c. 140 § 121B / § 128A (real-time electronic registration; private transfers) statute

Federal law requires that handguns be purchased from a federally licensed dealer only by buyers 21 or older, and long guns by buyers 18 or older. Massachusetts imposes additional state thresholds: LTC eligibility is 21+ (required for handgun purchase or possession), and FID Card eligibility is 18+ for full rights (15-17 with parental consent for an FID restricted to non-large-capacity rifles/shotguns under § 129B).

"A licensee may not sell a handgun to anyone under the age of 21. A licensee may not sell a long gun to anyone under the age of 18."

18 U.S.C. § 922(b)(1) (federal) / G.L. c. 140 § 129B, § 131 atf

Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024 created a mandatory real-time electronic firearms registration system codified at G.L. c. 140 § 121B. All firearms must be registered at the time of acquisition or transfer, and loss or theft must be reported within 7 days. Per § 157 of the Act, individuals are not required to comply with the new registration and serialization requirements until October 28, 2026; firearms previously recorded on the existing FA-10 transaction portal need not be re-registered.

"individuals are not required to comply with the registration and serialization requirements set forth in sections 121B and 121C of chapter 140 until October 28, 2026, pursuant to section 157 of An Act Modernizing Firearm Laws."

G.L. c. 140 § 121B (real-time electronic firearms registration system) statute

G.L. c. 140 § 121C, added by Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024, requires all firearms to bear a permanent serial number on the frame or receiver and prohibits possession, manufacture, transfer, or import of any 'untraceable firearm.' Privately made firearms (PMFs) must obtain a unique serial number from DCJIS prior to manufacture, be serialized during manufacture, and be registered under § 121B within 7 days. Firearms manufactured prior to October 22, 1968 are exempt; per Chapter 135 § 157, individual compliance is required by October 28, 2026.

"All firearms shall have a serial number in accordance with the requirements of this section... No person shall knowingly possess, manufacture or assemble... an untraceable firearm in the commonwealth."

G.L. c. 140 § 121C (serial numbers / privately made firearms) statute

Massachusetts has an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) statute enacted in 2018 (Chapter 123 of the Acts of 2018) and broadened by Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024. A petitioner may file with the district or BMC court alleging the respondent 'may pose a risk of causing bodily injury to self or others' through firearm possession; a hearing is held within 10 days (2 days if the respondent's employment requires firearms), and the standard at the hearing is preponderance of the evidence.

"A petitioner who believes that a person may pose a risk of causing bodily injury to self or others may... file a petition in court."

G.L. c. 140 §§ 131R-131Y (Extreme Risk Protection Orders) statute

Massachusetts prohibits possession, sale, transfer, or import of any 'assault-style firearm' or 'large capacity feeding device.' Chapter 135 broadened the definition to a feature-test plus enumerated-make list and set an August 1, 2024 grandfather date — assault-style firearms lawfully possessed by that date are exempt only if the owner holds a § 131 LTC or § 122 dealer license AND the firearm is registered per § 121B and serialized per § 121C. First-offense penalty: $1,000-$10,000 fine and/or 1-10 years.

"No person shall possess, own, offer for sale, sell or otherwise transfer in the commonwealth or import into the commonwealth an assault-style firearm, or a large capacity feeding device."

G.L. c. 140 § 131M statute

Section 131¾ of Chapter 140 directs the Secretary of EOPSS, in consultation with the Firearms Control Advisory Board (FCAB), to compile and publish a 'Roster of Approved Firearms' that may be sold by licensed dealers in Massachusetts. Per EOPSS Guidance #4 (Nov 13, 2025), handguns must appear on the roster to be sold; the Secretary has determined with FCAB advice that rifles and shotguns (long guns) do NOT need to appear on the roster to be lawfully sold, provided they are not otherwise prohibited.

"the Secretary has determined, with the advice and counsel of the FCAB, that shotguns and rifles ('long-guns') do not need to be on an approved roster to be legally sold in MA."

G.L. c. 140 § 131¾ (Approved Firearms Roster) statute

G.L. c. 140 § 122, referenced in the § 131M assault-style firearm grandfather exception, authorizes a licensing authority to grant a license to sell, rent, lease, purchase, or transfer firearms and ammunition, or to be a gunsmith, to any person 21 or older who is neither a prohibited person nor deemed unsuitable under § 121F and who completes the online dealer training under § 125. The license is location-specific and does not itself authorize personal possession of firearms outside the licensed business premises.

"A licensing authority, in accordance with section 121F, may grant or renew a license to sell, rent, lease, purchase or otherwise transfer firearms and ammunition therefore, or to be in business as a gunsmith, to any person 21 years of age or older who is neither a prohibited person nor deemed unsuitable to be issued said license pursuant to said section 121F."

G.L. c. 140 § 122 (firearm dealer license) statute

Massachusetts caps magazine capacity at 10 rounds for rifles and handguns and 5 shells for shotguns. A 'large capacity feeding device' (above the limit) is prohibited to possess, sell, transfer, or import under § 131M except for devices lawfully possessed on September 13, 1994 (federal AWB date), which are grandfathered under conditions in § 131M(c).

"a fixed or detachable magazine, belt, drum, feed strip or similar device that has a capacity of, or that can be readily converted to accept, more than 10 rounds of ammunition or more than 5 shotgun shells"

G.L. c. 140 § 121 (definition of 'large capacity feeding device') / § 131M statute

Massachusetts prohibits civilian possession of a silencer (suppressor). G.L. c. 269 § 10A imposes a state prison term of not less than 1 year nor more than 2½ years for possession, with limited exceptions for law enforcement and licensed dealers. Federal NFA registration does NOT shield civilian possession in Massachusetts.

"Whoever sells or keeps for sale, or offers, or gives or delivers to another a silencer, or possesses any silencer... shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not less than one year nor more than two and one-half years."

G.L. c. 269 § 10A (silencers) statute

Short-barreled rifles (rifle barrel under 16 inches) and short-barreled shotguns (shotgun barrel under 18 inches or overall length under 26 inches) fall outside the statutory definitions of 'rifle' and 'shotgun' and are treated as 'sawed-off' weapons subject to special restrictions. Machine guns may be possessed only under a Massachusetts machine gun license issued under § 131; federal NFA compliance alone is insufficient.

"'Rifle', a firearm having a rifled bore with a barrel length equal to or greater than 16 inches and capable of discharging a shot or bullet for each pull of the trigger."

G.L. c. 140 § 121 (sawed-off shotgun / machine gun) / § 131 statute

Massachusetts does NOT have a state firearm-preemption statute. Under the Home Rule Amendment, municipalities may impose firearm-related regulations stricter than state law in matters not occupied by state legislation. Boston, Cambridge, and other cities have local rules; G.L. c. 269 § 10(k)(2)(i) expressly preserves a municipality's ability to vote under c. 4 § 4 to exclude its administrative buildings from the new 'prohibited area' rule.

"a municipality may vote pursuant to section 4 of chapter 4 to exclude its administrative buildings from being a 'prohibited area'"

Mass. Const. art. 89 (Home Rule) / no firearms preemption statute statute

G.L. c. 4 § 4 is the general 'local-option' mechanism referenced by the new G.L. c. 269 § 10(k)(2)(i) 'prohibited area' rule: where a Massachusetts statute is to take effect upon municipal acceptance, the acceptance occurs by vote of the legislative body (city council / town meeting), subject to the municipal charter. This is the procedural route by which a Massachusetts municipality may vote to exclude its administrative buildings from the firearm 'prohibited area' rule.

"Wherever a statute is to take effect upon its acceptance by a municipality or district, or is to be effective in municipalities or districts accepting its provisions, this acceptance shall be, except as otherwise provided in that statute, in a municipality, by vote of the legislative body, subject to the charter of the municipality."

G.L. c. 4 § 4 (municipal acceptance of statute) statute

Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024 — 'An Act Modernizing Firearm Laws' — was signed by Governor Healey on July 25, 2024 and took effect October 2, 2024. It unified the LTC (eliminating Class A/B), restructured the assault-style firearm and large-capacity feeding device ban with an August 1, 2024 grandfather date, created a real-time electronic firearms registration system, added a live-fire BFS course requirement (effective April 2, 2026), expanded the 'prohibited area' list (§ 10(k) of c. 269), and required serialization including of privately made firearms (compliance by October 28, 2026 per Act § 157).

"Approved, July 25, 2024."

Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024 (H.4885) statute

The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security issued Guidance #4 on November 13, 2025, confirming Chapter 135 took effect October 2, 2024; § 74 (new BFS course and live-fire requirement) takes effect April 2, 2026; and registration and serialization compliance under §§ 121B and 121C is required by October 28, 2026. The Firearms Control Advisory Board first met November 8, 2024 and continues monthly.

"Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024, An Act Modernizing Firearm Laws (Act), that took effect on October 2, 2024."

EOPSS Guidance #4 (Nov 13, 2025) — Chapter 135 implementation ag

Chapter 123 of the Acts of 2018, signed July 3, 2018, created the Massachusetts Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO / 'red flag') framework codified at G.L. c. 140 §§ 131R-131Y. The 2018 framework was broadened by Chapter 135 of 2024 with respect to petitioner eligibility and procedure.

"Approved, July 3, 2018"

Chapter 123 of the Acts of 2018 (Extreme Risk Protection Orders) statute

Per § 157 of Chapter 135, individuals are not required to comply with the new real-time electronic firearm registration system (§ 121B) or the serialization requirements (§ 121C) until October 28, 2026. Firearms previously recorded on the existing FA-10 transaction portal need not be re-registered; firearms manufactured prior to October 22, 1968 are exempt from serialization.

Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024 § 157

Section 74 of Chapter 135 takes effect April 2, 2026, requiring all new LTC and FID applicants to complete an enhanced Basic Firearms Safety (BFS) course including a live-fire component, with curriculum minimums set by the MSP Colonel and the Municipal Police Training Committee. Persons holding an FID or LTC on August 1, 2024 are exempt from the new BFS at renewal.

Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024 § 74; EOPSS Guidance #4

Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024 (H.4885), signed July 25, 2024 and effective October 2, 2024, restructured Massachusetts firearm law. Major changes: unified License to Carry (eliminating Class A/B); tightened assault-style firearm and large-capacity feeding device ban with an August 1, 2024 grandfather date; required serialization of all firearms including privately made firearms; expanded sensitive-place restrictions via new G.L. c. 269 § 10(k); created a Firearms Control Advisory Board; restricted 3D-printer / CNC firearm manufacturing.

Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024

Chapter 123 of the Acts of 2018 ('An Act Further Regulating Certain Weapons') created Massachusetts' first Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO / red-flag) framework, codified at G.L. c. 140 §§ 131R-131Y. The 2018 framework was further broadened by Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024.

Chapter 123 of the Acts of 2018