State · MA
Massachusetts gun laws
Here's a plain-language look at Massachusetts' own firearm laws, topic by topic. Federal law applies here too, so it's worth reading the federal page alongside this one. City and county rules aren't covered, and some places have stricter ones.
At a glance: Permit needed to carry concealed · magazine limit (10 rounds) · “assault weapon” ban
Recently changed or in flux
- On the ballotQuestion 9 on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot: a NO vote would repeal Chapter 135 (the 2024 gun law), and a YES vote keeps it. The result could change several entries on this page.
Permit to purchase#
- Handguns
- Yes. Handgun buyers need a License to Carry (LTC), and handguns sold by dealers must be on the state's approved roster.
- Long guns
- Yes. Long-gun buyers need a Firearms Identification Card (FID) or an LTC.
Registration#
- Yes, effectively. All transfers are reported to the state. Chapter 135 (2024) created a real-time electronic firearm registration system and added serial numbers for privately made firearms.
Carrying a handgun#
- Permitless carry
- No.
- Concealed carry permit
- Shall-issue after Bruen (the LTC, with a suitability standard; Chapter 135 revised licensing).
- Open carry
- Generally permitted with an LTC (subject to any restrictions on the license).
- Reciprocity
- Doesn't honor other states' carry permits; visitors need a nonresident permit, where one is available.
“Assault weapon” rules#
- Yes. Expanded by Chapter 135 (2024) and upheld by the 1st Circuit (Capen v. Campbell).
Magazine limits#
- 10 rounds (Chapter 135 revised the grandfathering rules for magazines owned before the ban).
Waiting period#
- None at the state level. Dealers run the federal NICS background check only.
Background checks and private sales#
- Yes. Private sales must be reported through the state portal, with license verification.
Red flag (ERPO) law#
- Yes (expanded by Chapter 135).
Suppressors, SBRs and SBSs#
- Suppressors
- Prohibited.
- Short-barreled rifles and shotguns
- Short-barreled shotguns are prohibited: owning or carrying a 'sawed-off shotgun' (a barrel under 18 inches, or an overall length under 26 inches) is a serious felony (M.G.L. c. 140 § 121; c. 269 § 10(c)). Massachusetts law doesn't name short-barreled rifles, and how it treats them hasn't been confirmed.Unverified: We haven't confirmed this against the statute yet. Check the official source. See the note below.
Unverified: The short-barreled shotgun ban is confirmed in the statute; how Massachusetts law treats short-barreled rifles hasn't been confirmed. We haven't confirmed this against the statute yet, so check the official source.
About the October 2026 federal NFA change
On October 9, 2026, ATF said it will stop enforcing the NFA's approval and registration requirements for suppressors, short-barreled rifles and shotguns, and AOWs. Massachusetts' own restrictions on suppressors still apply. ATF's federal non-enforcement policy doesn't change state law.
Ammunition#
- Yes. An FID or LTC is required to buy ammunition.
Minimum ages#
- Handgun purchase
- 21
- Long gun purchase
- 18 with an FID card, which covers only rifles and shotguns that aren't semi-automatic or large-capacity. Semi-automatic rifles and shotguns need a license to carry, which is issued at 21 (M.G.L. c. 140, §§ 129B(a), (c), 131(a), (d), as rewritten by St. 2024, c. 135).
Shipping and buying online#
- Most retailers don't ship firearms, ammunition or magazines to MA consumers without verifying a license, and handguns not on the roster and 'assault weapons' can't be sold. Expect very limited online deals.
Buying a firearm online means it ships to a licensed dealer, who completes the transfer. Find one near you in the Dealer Finder. Retailers make the final call on what they'll ship, so always check their policy too.
Pending legislation and litigation#
Bills, ballot measures, rules and court cases that could change the rules in Massachusetts. We check this list every week; last scan . See everything we're tracking.
Open (1)
Question 9: Firearm regulations referendum (Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024)
Question 9 · Massachusetts voters
Status:
Massachusetts voters will decide whether to keep the state's 2024 gun law, Chapter 135. A YES vote keeps the law; a NO vote repeals it.
What it would change: A NO majority would repeal Chapter 135, which could change several entries on the Massachusetts page.
Next key date: Election Day,
Status history (1)
- :
Sources:2026 Ballot Question 9 (Secretary of the Commonwealth) ↗
Added · Last checked
Recently resolved (1)
Commonwealth v. Thomson (under-21 license to carry)
SJC-13856 · Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Status:
Massachusetts' highest court upheld the state rule that people under 21 can't get a license to carry. The court said the age limit fits the nation's historical tradition of keeping guns from young people outside supervised settings. It also repeated its rule that you have to apply for (and be denied) a license before you can argue the licensing law is unconstitutional as applied to you.
What it changed: Nothing changes: the 21-and-over license-to-carry rule stays in place. This ruling is separate from Question 9 on the Nov. 3 ballot.
Outcome: Decided Oct. 20, 2026: the under-21 license-to-carry limit was upheld.
Status history (1)
- :
Sources:SJC opinion, Commonwealth v. Thomson, SJC-13856 (Oct. 20, 2026) ↗
Added · Last checked
Sources and official links#
- Mass. General Laws Ch. 140 · Officialhttps://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXX/Chapter140
- Mass.gov - Firearms Licensing · Officialhttps://www.mass.gov/topics/firearms-licensing
- 2026 Ballot Question 9 (Secretary of the Commonwealth) · Officialhttps://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/elections/research-and-statistics/2026-Information-for-voters/2026-ballot-question9.htm
- M.G.L. c. 140 § 121 (definitions, including 'sawed-off shotgun' and 'rifle') · Officialhttps://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXX/Chapter140/Section121
- M.G.L. c. 269 § 10 (possession of sawed-off shotguns) · Officialhttps://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIV/TitleI/Chapter269/Section10
- St. 2024, c. 135 (Massachusetts Legislature) · Officialhttps://malegislature.gov/Laws/SessionLaws/Acts/2024/Chapter135
Massachusetts entry last reviewed . Official state sites can move or change; if a link stops working, search the agency's site for the same title.
Notes that apply everywhere
Federal NFA change (suppressors, SBRs, SBSs, AOWs)
Congress set the federal NFA making and transfer tax to $0 for suppressors, short-barreled rifles (SBRs), short-barreled shotguns (SBSs) and 'any other weapons' effective January 1, 2026 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act, 2025). After a federal district court ruling (Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF, N.D. Tex., Aug. 5, 2026), ATF published an open letter from Director Robert Cekada, a press release, a fact sheet and an FAQ saying that as of October 9, 2026 it will not enforce the NFA's approval, registration, tax-stamp and related requirements for those four items, for everyone. Machine guns and destructive devices remain fully regulated. The Gun Control Act still applies, including dealer background checks, the prohibited-person rules, and an approved Form 20 to take an SBR or SBS across state lines, and dealers still may not sell in violation of state or local law. ATF says this does not override state or local law. A state that bans these items still bans them. Many state laws make these items legal only if they are 'registered' or 'lawful under federal law', and how those state laws apply to unregistered items is currently unclear. ATF also warns that enforcement could resume if the law, the ruling or DOJ policy changes. Keep this note in mind whenever you read a state's suppressor, SBR or SBS entry.
U.S. Supreme Court 'assault weapon' cases
The Supreme Court granted review (June 30, 2026) in Viramontes v. Cook County (No. 25-238, a Cook County, IL ordinance) and Grant v. Higgins (No. 25-566, Connecticut). The question is whether the Second Amendment protects possession of AR-15-platform rifles. The cases are scheduled for oral argument on December 2, 2026 (not yet argued as of October 15, 2026), and a decision is expected by mid-2027. Magazine-limit petitions (for example Duncan v. Bonta from CA and NAGR v. Lamont from CT) and New Jersey's petition (No. 26-452) were pending as of mid-October 2026. Every state 'assault weapon' and magazine entry could change as a result.
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Wolford v. Lopez (U.S. Supreme Court, June 25, 2026)
The Court struck down Hawaii's rule that licensed carriers may not carry on private property open to the public without the owner's express permission. Similar 'default no-carry on private property' rules in some other states (for example CA, NY, NJ and MD) may be affected. This guide hasn't verified how each state has responded.
Federal minimum ages
Under federal law, licensed dealers may sell handguns only to buyers 21 and older, and long guns only to buyers 18 and older. Federal courts have split on whether the 18-20 handgun-sale restriction is constitutional, and this guide doesn't try to resolve that litigation. State rules on how old minors must be to possess guns aren't fully covered here.
Local ordinances
Many cities and counties (for example Chicago and Cook County, IL; Denver and Boulder, CO; Philadelphia, PA; and New York City) have rules stricter than state law. This guide covers state-level law only.
All states, DC and territories · Federal law
Disclaimer
The firearm law information in Firearms Almanac's Laws & Regulations guide (federal, state and territory) is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. It is not a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction. Firearm laws change frequently, differ by city and county, and are often affected by court decisions that can take effect with little notice. We try to keep this guide accurate and cite official sources, but we make no guarantee that any entry is complete, current, or correct, and we are not responsible for actions taken based on it. Before buying, selling, carrying, transporting, or shipping any firearm, ammunition, magazine, or accessory, check the current law with the official federal, state or territory source linked on each page and, where appropriate, a qualified attorney. Retailers listed on this site set their own shipping and sales policies and are responsible for complying with the law. Each entry shows the date it was last checked. See also our site Disclaimer.