Gun laws in Massachusetts regulate the sale, possession, and use of firearms and ammunition in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. These laws are among the most restrictive in the entire country.
Summary table
Licensing process
Massachusetts law requires firearm owners to be licensed through their local Police Department or the Massachusetts State Police if no local licensing authority is available. A license is required by state law for buying firearms and ammunition. An applicant must have passed a State approved firearm safety course before applying for a license.
All applications, interviews, fees, and fingerprinting are done at the local Police Department then sent electronically to the Massachusetts Criminal History Board for the mandatory background checks and processing. All approved applicants will receive their license from the issuing Police Department. All licensing information is stored by the Criminal History Board. Non-residents who are planning on carrying in the state must apply for a temporary license to carry (LTC) through the State Police before their travel.
Mandatory reporting of transfers
All Massachusetts residents who sell, transfer, inherit, or lose a firearm are required to report the sale, transfer, inheritance, or loss of the firearms to the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services Firearms Records Bureau by filing a FA-10 form.
Types of firearm licenses
As of January 1, 2015, Massachusetts will no longer issue A and B Licenses to Carry, there will be just a single LTC which is identical to the old LTC-A. An LTC is required to carry a pistol both openly or concealed in Massachusetts.
FID (Firearms Identification Card): Permits the purchase of rifles and shotguns with a capacity of no more than 10 rounds and their carrying for hunting and sporting purposes. FIDs are "Shall issue," except if the applicant fails a background check or is deemed "unsuitable" by the Police Chief. LTC-A: This license allows purchase any firearm legal in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, are authorized to own "large capacity" firearms holding greater than 10 rounds assuming the magazine is "pre-ban" (Manufactured prior to September 13, 1994) post ban high-capacity magazines are not legal in Massachusetts with the exception of Law Enforcement. An LTC-A is the only permit that allows concealed carry in Massachusetts assuming it has not had any restrictions placed on it by the Chief of Police or issuing authority.
"Machine gun" license: A machine gun license, granted on a may-issue basis, is required to purchase/possess a machine gun. Issuance is at the discretion of the police chief of the city or town, and criteria vary widely. Machine gun licenses are generally only issued to collectors (C&R FFL holders) and police instructors.
Additionally, LTC permits may have the following restrictions, however, none of these restrictions have been clearly defined by state law, and are subject to each Chief of Police's definition of such. Violation of the restrictions imposed by the licensing authority shall be cause for suspension or revocation of the license and a fine of $1,000 to $10,000.
Employment: restricts possession to business owner engaged in business activities or to an employee while engaged in work-related activities, and maintaining proficiency, where the employer requires the carry of a firearm (i.e. armored car, security guard, etc.). Includes travel to and from activity location. Target and hunting: (Most Common restriction)– restricts possession to the purpose of lawful recreational shooting or competition; for use in the lawful pursuit of game animals and birds; for personal protection in the home; and for the purpose of collecting (other than machine guns). Includes travel to and from activity location Sporting: restricts possession to the purpose of lawful recreational shooting or competition; for use in the lawful pursuit of game animals and birds; for personal protection in the home; for the purpose of collecting (other than machine guns); and for outdoor recreational activities such as hiking, camping, cross-country skiing, or similar activities. Includes travel to and from activity location. Other: (Very Rare) Issuing Chief has special reason or direction for the restriction of the permit. Can vary greatly.