Massachusetts Firearms Laws Overview (2025 Edition)

LTC, FID, Training, Serialization & Compliance After the 2024 Law Changes

Massachusetts has some of the most complex and restrictive firearms laws in the United States. Whether you are a new firearm owner, a first-time License to Carry (LTC) applicant, or a long-time license holder, staying current with the law is essential to remaining compliant and protecting your rights.

This page provides a consolidated educational overview of Massachusetts firearms laws as of 2025, including major statutory changes enacted under Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024 (commonly referred to as the Firearms Law Modernization Act).

It is intended as an educational reference for lawful firearm owners and students and is not a substitute for official guidance or legal advice.

Massachusetts firearms law overview

How Chapter 135 (Acts of 2024) Changed Massachusetts Firearms Law

Chapter 135 represents the most significant restructuring of Massachusetts firearms law in decades. The Act amended more than 150 sections of Massachusetts General Laws across multiple chapters.

Key impacts include:

  • Expanded statutory definitions of firearms, frames, receivers, and components
  • New firearm serialization and electronic registration systems
  • Revised firearms training authority and future curriculum standards
  • New criminal offenses related to untraceable firearms
  • Expanded prohibited locations and enforcement authority
  • Revisions to Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) procedures

Important: Many provisions of Chapter 135 require future regulations by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) and the Massachusetts State Police (MSP) before they become fully enforceable.

Official statute:
Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024

1. License to Carry (LTC) and Firearms Identification (FID)

License to Carry (LTC)

  • Purchase, possess, and carry handguns
  • Purchase and possess rifles and shotguns
  • Carry a concealed handgun in public, subject to statutory restrictions
  • Possess large-capacity firearms and magazines only if lawfully owned prior to September 13, 1994, or otherwise exempt

Important Practical Guidance: Open Carry

Massachusetts law does not explicitly prohibit open carry by LTC holders. However, open carry is strongly discouraged.

Massachusetts is a discretionary licensing state. Licensing authorities retain broad authority under M.G.L. c. 140 § 131(d) to suspend or revoke an LTC if a license holder is deemed unsuitable. Open carry frequently results in 911 calls, law enforcement stops, and administrative review, even when no criminal conduct occurs.  Because many members of the public are unfamiliar with Massachusetts firearms law, open carry creates unnecessary legal and practical risk for otherwise lawful carriers.

Firearms Identification Card (FID)

  • Possession of non-large-capacity rifles and shotguns
  • Limited ammunition purchase
  • No authority to carry handguns
  • No authority to possess large-capacity firearms or magazines

Law references:
M.G.L. c. 140 § 129B
M.G.L. c. 140 § 131

2. Firearms Safety Training Requirements (Upcoming Changes)

Chapter 135 authorizes the Firearms Records Bureau (FRB), under EOPSS and MSP oversight, to establish new statewide firearms training standards.

As of 2025:

  • No revised statewide curriculum has been issued
  • No standardized written examination has been published
  • No live-fire training mandate is currently enforceable
  • Existing licensing and training standards remain in effect

The statute requires EOPSS to study implementation, conduct public hearings, and ensure training availability statewide before enforcement.

Based on statutory timelines, new training requirements may take effect no earlier than April 2, 2026, pending final regulations.

Until regulations are formally adopted, instructors may only teach what is currently authorized under existing Massachusetts State Police guidance.

Law reference:
Chapter 135, § 29

3. Safe Storage Laws

Massachusetts requires that all firearms be stored:

  • In a locked container, or
  • Equipped with a tamper-resistant mechanical locking device

Firearms must be secured in a manner that prevents access by unauthorized users, especially minors.  Failure to properly secure a firearm is a criminal offense, even if no injury occurs.

Law reference:
M.G.L. c. 140 § 131L

4. Magazine Capacity Limits

  • A large-capacity feeding device is defined as:

    • More than 10 rounds for rifles or pistols
    • More than 5 rounds for semi-automatic shotguns

    Pump-action and break-action shotguns are not subject to the semi-automatic capacity limit.

Law reference:
M.G.L. c. 140 § 121

5. Assault-Style Firearms Restrictions

Massachusetts continues to prohibit the sale, transfer, and new possession of assault-style firearms based on model names, features, and design lineage.

Grandfathering applies only to firearms lawfully possessed prior to the applicable statutory cutoff dates.

Approved Firearms Roster:
https://www.mass.gov/lists/approved-firearms-rosters

Law references:
M.G.L. c. 140 § 121
M.G.L. c. 140 § 131M

6. Firearm Transportation

  • Firearms must be unloaded during transport unless lawfully carried under an LTC
  • Ammunition must be removed from the firearm
  • A loaded firearm in a vehicle is permitted only under LTC authority and immediate control

Law references:
M.G.L. c. 140 § 131C
M.G.L. c. 140 § 131G

7. Reciprocity and Interstate Travel

Massachusetts does not recognize out-of-state carry permits.

Federal law provides limited interstate transport protections when firearms are unloaded, locked, and inaccessible.

Federal law reference:
18 U.S.C. § 926A

8. Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO)

Courts may issue ERPOs to temporarily remove firearms from individuals deemed a danger to themselves or others. This is a civil process with serious legal consequences.

Law references:

9. Unserialized Firearms (“Ghost Guns”)

Massachusetts law now explicitly criminalizes the manufacture, possession, transfer, or importation of untraceable firearms and certain components.

Possession of an untraceable firearm may constitute prima facie evidence of a violation, subject to limited defenses.

Law reference:
Chapter 135, §§ 18–23

10. Firearm Serialization and Registration

Chapter 135 establishes new statewide systems for firearm serialization and electronic registration.

  • All firearms must be registered through a new electronic system
  • The system must be operational within one year of the Act’s effective date
  • Existing license holders will receive formal notice of requirements

Failure to comply may result in criminal penalties.

11. Prohibited Locations and Carry Restrictions

Firearms are prohibited in certain locations, including:

  • Government buildings and court facilities
  • Polling places and ballot storage sites
  • Designated municipal properties

Proper secure vehicle storage remains a recognized legal defense when performed correctly.

12. Suppressors and Prohibited Devices

Suppressors remain prohibited for civilian ownership in Massachusetts regardless of federal registration.

Law reference:
M.G.L. c. 269 § 10

Legal Disclaimer

Educational Use Only — Not Legal Advice

This page is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Firearms laws are subject to change through regulation and court interpretation.

Readers are responsible for verifying current law through official sources and consulting qualified legal counsel for advice specific to their situation.

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Last Updated: January 8, 2026