Massachusetts Firearm Law Reference Guide

A practical reference to Massachusetts firearm laws, regulations, licensing requirements, restrictions, and important legal issues affecting lawful gun owners.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This handbook is intended for general educational and informational purposes only. It may not address every statute, regulation, court decision, agency interpretation, exception, or factual circumstance that could apply to you. Massachusetts firearm law can change and frequently depends on the specific firearm, person, transaction, location, and circumstances. This information is not legal advice.

Massachusetts firearm law is among the most complicated in the country. The legal answer to what appears to be a simple question can depend on several different statutes, regulations, definitions, licensing requirements, and exceptions.

GOAL created this handbook to provide firearm owners, hunters, nonresidents, retailers, instructors, and other members of the firearm community with a practical starting point for researching Massachusetts law.

How to use this handbook: Start with the person, identify the firearm and feeding device, determine the applicable license or exemption, and then review possession, registration, serialization, storage, transportation, transfer, and location-specific restrictions.

Massachusetts Firearm Law Topics

1 Firearm Definitions

Massachusetts uses specific statutory definitions for firearms, rifles, shotguns, semiautomatic firearms, large-capacity firearms, assault-style firearms, frames, receivers, feeding devices, ammunition, and other regulated items.

2 Firearm Licensing

Understand the differences between the Massachusetts FID Card, License to Carry, nonresident licensing, and statutory exemptions.

3 FID Cards

Review eligibility, age requirements, application procedures, and the limits on firearms that may be possessed under an FID Card.

4 License to Carry

Review Massachusetts LTC requirements and understand that an LTC does not automatically authorize every firearm, magazine, location, or activity.

5 Semiautomatic Firearms

Semiautomatic classification can affect licensing, possession, purchase, transfer, nonresident exemptions, and hunting.

6 Assault-Style Firearms

Massachusetts law regulates specifically enumerated firearms, copies and duplicates, and certain semiautomatic firearms meeting statutory criteria.

7 Large-Capacity Firearms

Large-capacity classification is a separate legal issue that can affect possession, licensing, transportation, and transfer.

8 Magazines & Feeding Devices

Feeding devices are regulated separately from firearms. Capacity, configuration, date of possession, and location can all be legally significant.

9 Firearm Registration

Review Massachusetts firearm registration requirements, transaction reporting, applicable deadlines, exclusions, and the Commonwealth's electronic registration system.

10 Serialization

Registration and serialization are separate legal requirements. Review serial-number requirements for firearms, frames, receivers, and privately made firearms.

11 Frames & Receivers

Massachusetts separately defines and regulates certain frames, receivers, and unfinished frames or receivers.

12 Privately Made Firearms

Firearms manufactured or assembled by individuals may trigger serialization, registration, licensing, and other legal requirements.

13 Safe Storage

Massachusetts requires firearms that are stored or kept to be secured in accordance with state law, subject to statutory provisions and exceptions.

14 Transportation

Vehicle and transportation requirements can vary based on the firearm, license, feeding device, whether the firearm is loaded, and the circumstances of travel.

15 Ammunition

Massachusetts ammunition law can include complete cartridges as well as certain components such as primers, bullets, cases, and propellant powder.

16 Muzzle Loaders

Traditional and modern muzzle loaders may receive different legal treatment depending on their design, construction, and whether they qualify as antique firearms.

17 Nonresidents

An out-of-state firearm license does not automatically provide Massachusetts firearm authority. Nonresidents must review Massachusetts licensing requirements and statutory exemptions.

18 New Massachusetts Residents

Moving into Massachusetts can trigger licensing, registration, serialization, storage, and firearm-classification issues.

19 Hunters

Hunting licenses and firearm licenses serve different purposes. Hunters must comply with both firearm law and current wildlife regulations.

20 Youth & Junior Hunters

Massachusetts has specific age, licensing, supervision, and firearm-possession rules affecting youth and junior hunters.

21 Private Sales & Transfers

Private firearm transfers can involve licensing, classification, registration, reporting, and transaction requirements.

22 Firearm Retailers

Massachusetts firearm dealers must comply with both state and federal licensing, transaction, recordkeeping, registration, and firearm-classification requirements.

23 Restricted Locations

Firearm possession and carrying can be restricted at certain locations even when the person otherwise possesses a valid firearm license.

24 Red Flag / ERPO Law

Massachusetts Extreme Risk Protection Order law provides a court process that can result in firearm-license suspension and surrender of firearms and ammunition.

Understanding the Legal Layers

Massachusetts firearm compliance often requires more than checking a single statute. Several different legal questions can apply to the same firearm or transaction.

For any firearm question, consider:
  • Who possesses the firearm?
  • How old is the person?
  • Is the person a Massachusetts resident or nonresident?
  • What firearm license or statutory exemption applies?
  • How is the firearm legally classified?
  • Is the firearm semiautomatic?
  • Is it large capacity?
  • Is it an assault-style firearm?
  • What feeding device is involved?
  • Is registration required?
  • Is serialization required?
  • Where is the firearm being possessed?
  • How is it being stored or transported?
  • Is a sale, loan, transfer, inheritance, or other transaction involved?

Massachusetts General Laws

Many of the Commonwealth's principal firearm laws are located in Chapter 140 of the Massachusetts General Laws. Other laws may also apply depending on the activity involved.

M.G.L. c. 140, §121

Contains many of the principal statutory definitions used throughout Massachusetts firearm law.

M.G.L. c. 140, §121B

Establishes Massachusetts firearm registration and transaction reporting requirements.

M.G.L. c. 140, §121C

Establishes firearm serialization requirements and related provisions.

M.G.L. c. 140, §129B

Governs Massachusetts Firearm Identification Cards and related licensing provisions.

M.G.L. c. 140, §129C

Contains important firearm-possession provisions and statutory exemptions, including provisions affecting nonresidents.

M.G.L. c. 140, §131

Governs the Massachusetts License to Carry.

M.G.L. c. 140, §131L

Contains Massachusetts firearm safe-storage requirements.

M.G.L. c. 140, §131M

Contains important restrictions concerning assault-style firearms and large-capacity feeding devices.

Massachusetts Regulations

Statutes are only part of the legal framework. Massachusetts agencies also issue regulations implementing firearm laws.

501 CMR 19.00

Massachusetts regulations governing firearm registration.

501 CMR 20.00

Massachusetts regulations governing firearm serialization.

803 CMR 10.00

Regulations addressing firearm transaction recording and related requirements.

321 CMR 3.00

Massachusetts hunting regulations administered through the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.

527 CMR 1.00

Massachusetts fire-safety regulations that can affect ammunition, primers, smokeless powder, black powder, and related storage issues.

Federal Law

Massachusetts firearm owners must also comply with applicable federal law. Federal requirements may affect prohibited persons, firearm dealers, interstate transfers, transportation, National Firearms Act firearms, serial numbers, background checks, and other activities.

STATE COMPLIANCE DOES NOT REPLACE FEDERAL COMPLIANCE. A transaction or possession situation must satisfy every applicable level of law.

Court Decisions

Constitutional firearm law continues to develop through decisions of the United States Supreme Court, federal courts, Massachusetts appellate courts, and other courts.

Court decisions can affect the interpretation or constitutionality of statutes and regulations. A statute appearing in the Massachusetts General Laws should therefore not always be analyzed without considering relevant controlling court decisions.

Agency Guidance

Massachusetts agencies may publish FAQs, guidance letters, implementation instructions, forms, portal instructions, and other materials explaining how the Commonwealth intends to administer firearm laws.

Important distinction: Statutes, regulations, court decisions, and agency guidance are not the same type of legal authority. GOAL recommends identifying the source of a rule before relying on it.

GOAL Analysis

GOAL may provide analysis concerning new legislation, regulations, agency guidance, litigation, implementation issues, and areas in which the law remains unclear or disputed.

GOAL's approach: Clearly distinguish between the text of the law, regulations, official state guidance, court decisions, and GOAL's own legal or policy analysis.

Before Relying on Any Firearm Law Summary

  • Check the current version of the statute.
  • Check applicable regulations.
  • Review current agency guidance.
  • Determine whether a court decision affects the rule.
  • Confirm that the rule applies to the specific firearm.
  • Confirm that it applies to the specific person.
  • Check residency and age requirements.
  • Check registration and serialization separately.
  • Check feeding-device restrictions separately.
  • Check storage and transportation separately.
  • Seek qualified legal counsel when individualized advice is required.

Primary Legal & Regulatory Sources

Legal Notice: This handbook is provided by Gun Owners' Action League for general educational and informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for advice from qualified legal counsel. Firearm laws, regulations, court decisions, and government guidance may change. Always review the current controlling authority before acting.

Gun Owners' Action League - Massachusetts Firearm Law Handbook