State Regulations

Subject Matter

Rifle / Shotgun

Handgun

Relevant Statute

General Description

State Permit Required to Purchase

Yes

Yes

MA Ch. 140 §129C

A Massachusetts-issued License to Carry (LTC/LTC-A or LTC-B), or Massachusetts-issued Firearm Identification Card (FID)

must be provided to the trnasfering Massachusetts FFL in order to transfer firearms to Massachusetts residents

State Firearm Registration

No

No

Magazine Capacity Restrictions

Yes

Yes

MA Ch. 140 § 121

Illegal to possess magazines of over 10 rounds capacity. Pre-ban magazines manufactured before September 13, 1994 are exempt from this restriction

State Preemption of Local Restrictions

No

No

NFA Weapon Restrictions

Yes

Yes

MA Ch. 140 § 131

Suppressors are restricted only for law enforcement or licensed manufacturers. Some destructive devices are banned at the state level, while others are banned at a local level. SBR's, SBS's, and AOW's are allowed with proper approval from the ATF. A machine gun license is required to possess a machine gun.

Assault Weapon Restrictions

Yes

Yes

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, § 131M.

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, §123 Sixteenth

No person in Massachusetts may sell, offer for sale, transfer or possess an assault weapon (or large capacity feeding device, see the Large Capacity Ammunition Magazines section) that was not otherwise lawfully possessed on September 13, 1994. Firearms dealers are also specifically prohibited from selling, leasing, renting, transferring, delivering, or offering for sale, lease, rent, transfer or delivery, any assault weapon or large capacity feeding device not otherwise lawfully possessed on September 13, 1994.

Massachusetts defines “assault weapon” by referring to the definition of semi-automatic assault weapon contained in federal law as it appeared on September 13, 1994 (that federal statute expired on September 13, 2004).3 The definition includes a list of named weapons and copies of those weapons; semi-automatic rifles and pistols that have the ability to accept a detachable magazine and have at least two specified characteristics;

Prohibited Items

Rifles

Any semi-automatic rifle that has an ability to accept a detachable magazine and has at least two of the following: 1) Folding or telescoping stock, 2) Pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon, 3) A bayonet mount, 4) Flash suppressor or threaded barrel designed to accommodate a flash suppressor.

Named “Assault Rifles:” 1) Automat Kalashnikov (AK) (all models and/or copies), 2) Action Arms Israeli Industries (IMI) UZI, Galil, and copies, 3) Beretta AR70 (SC-70) and copies, 4) Colt AR-15 and copies, 5) FN FAL, FN LAR, FNC, and copies, 6) Steyr AUG and copies. (Pursuant to July 20, 2016 Enforcement notice of Prohibited Assault Weapons) .

AR Lowers, stripped or complete, are prohibited.

Shotguns

AK or AR-type shotgun patterns, or any copies or duplicates thereof, are considered banned “assault weapons,” and are prohibited.

A semi-automatic shotgun that has at least two of the following: 1) Folding or telescoping stock, 2) Pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the firearm, 3) Fixed magazine capacity in excess of five rounds, 4) An ability to accept a detachable magazine.

Named “Assault Shotguns” also prohibited: 1) Automatic Kalashnikov (AK)-pattern shotguns, and 2) Revolving cylinder shotguns, such as, or similar to, the Street Sweeper or Striker 12.

Handguns

Semiautomatic pistol that has an ability to accept a detachable magazine and

has at least TWO of: 1) an ammunition magazine that attaches to the pistol outside of the pistol grip, 2) a threaded barrel capable of accepting a barrel extender, flash

suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer, 3) a shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel and that permits the shooter to hold the firearm with the

non-trigger hand without being burned, 4) a manufactured weight of 50 ounces or more when the pistol is unloaded, and 5) a semiautomatic version of an automatic firearm.

Named “Assault Handguns” that are prohibited: 1) Intratec Tec-9, Tec-DC9, and Tec-22, and copies, 2) Action Arms Israeli Military Industries (IMI) UZI, Galil, and copies

Allowed handguns MUST COMPLY to ALL of the following guidelines: 1) Magazines do not exceed ten (10) rounds, 2) Must be on the Massachusetts Approved Firearms Roster, 3) Must pass Massachusetts Attorney General Office Handgun Sales Regulations 940 CMR 16.00. (Firearms on the Approved Firearms Roster do not necessarily comply with the requirements of the Attorney General’s Handgun Sales Regulations and all THREE of the above requirements must be met before a Handgun can transfer) .

Accessories / Ammunition

Detachable magazines (rimfire or centerfire) over ten (10) rounds

Detachable shotgun magazines over five (5) rounds

Self-defense sprays (pepper & chemical sprays) may be sold only through a licensed in-state Massachusetts firearm dealer.

Stun guns, TASERs, and any electrical weapon

Ammunition sales to Massachusetts residents with LTC or FID AND must transfer through a Massachusetts-licensed ammunition seller who will agree to transfer.