Massachusetts regulates firearms through a licensing system that has been in place for decades, but the rules changed significantly in 2024 when the Legislature passed Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024, titled “An Act Modernizing Firearm Laws.” Two years later, parts of that law are fully operational, parts are still being implemented, and the entire statute faces a repeal question on the November 2026 ballot. This guide explains the license system, the application process, what Chapter 135 changed, and where the open questions stand as of August 2026.
Massachusetts gun laws change frequently, and individual circumstances vary. Your local police department’s licensing officer and a licensed Massachusetts attorney are the authoritative sources for your specific situation. This article is general information, not legal advice.
The License System: Who Needs What
Massachusetts requires a license to purchase, possess, or carry firearms, with the framework set out in General Laws Chapter 140, Sections 121 through 131. There are two main credentials.
License to Carry (LTC). The Massachusetts LTC is the broader license. It allows the holder to purchase, possess, transport, and carry handguns, as well as rifles and shotguns. It is the only license that permits carrying a concealed handgun in public. Applicants must be at least 21 years old.
Firearm Identification Card (FID). The FID covers non-large-capacity rifles and shotguns only. It does not authorize handgun possession or public carry of a handgun. Applicants must be at least 18, or between 15 and 17 with written consent of a parent or guardian.
In practical terms: anyone who wants a handgun needs an LTC. Someone who only wants a standard rifle or shotgun for hunting or sport can hold an FID. Both licenses require completing a state-approved Basic Firearms Safety course before applying, passing a background check, and clearing a suitability review by the licensing authority.
How to Apply: Steps, Timelines, and Fees
- Complete an approved safety course. New applicants must finish a Basic Firearms Safety course approved by the Massachusetts State Police. As of April 2, 2026, the state moved to a revised curriculum under Chapter 135 that adds instruction on safe storage, suicide prevention, de-escalation and disengagement tactics, and applicable laws. The statute also adds a live-fire component for new applicants; its enforcement status is discussed below.
- Apply through your licensing authority. The licensing authority is the police chief of the city or town where you live or have a place of business. Many departments now route applications through the state’s MIRCS electronic firearms portal, which launched its unified licensing and registration functions in October 2025. Some departments still begin with a local form, so check your department’s instructions.
- Fingerprints and interview. First-time applicants are fingerprinted and typically interviewed by the department’s licensing officer.
- Pay the fee. The standard application fee is $100 for an LTC or FID. FID applicants under 18 pay a reduced fee of $25.
- Background check and decision. The statute directs licensing authorities to act within 40 days, though real-world processing in some communities takes longer. A denial or restriction must be explained in writing, and applicants can seek judicial review in district court.
Both licenses are valid for up to six years. Renewal applications filed before expiration generally keep the license valid while the renewal is pending.
Suitability After Bruen: How Discretion Works Now
Before 2022, Massachusetts was a “may-issue” state where applicants had to show a reason to carry. The Supreme Court’s decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen ended good-cause requirements nationwide, and Massachusetts removed its “good reason” language. The Commonwealth did not become a pure shall-issue state, however. Licensing authorities still conduct a suitability review and may deny or revoke a license if reliable information shows the applicant poses a risk of danger to themselves or others. Chapter 135 codified standards for that determination, and every denial must state its reasons in writing and is subject to court review. The practical result is a system that issues licenses to qualified applicants as a matter of course while preserving individualized denial authority, a framework that continues to generate litigation and debate.
What the New Gun Laws Changed in Massachusetts
Governor Healey signed Chapter 135 on July 25, 2024. Most provisions were originally set to take effect on October 23, 2024, but an emergency preamble added on October 2, 2024 made the bulk of the law effective that day. Other pieces phased in through 2025 and 2026. The major changes, with their status as of August 2026:
Expanded training with a live-fire requirement. The revised Basic Firearms Safety curriculum took effect April 2, 2026, and the State Police published the approved course list on April 1, 2026. The statute requires live-fire practice for new applicants, but the live-fire component is not yet being enforced while the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security finalizes implementing regulations. People who already held an LTC or FID on or before August 1, 2024 are exempt from the live-fire requirement, including at renewal.
Updated assault-style weapon definition and registration of pre-ban firearms. Chapter 135 replaced the old “assault weapon” definition with a broader “assault-style firearm” definition that reaches copies and duplicates of enumerated models. Firearms lawfully possessed in Massachusetts on or before August 1, 2024 by a license holder are grandfathered, but grandfathered owners must register them with the state. The statute’s original registration timeline could not be met because the registration system did not exist yet; the state’s MIRCS registration portal went live in October 2025, and current guidance directs owners to complete registration through that portal, with compliance materials citing an October 28, 2026 deadline. Owners should confirm the current deadline with the Firearms Records Bureau, since these dates have already shifted once during implementation.
Ghost gun serialization. The law requires serialization and registration of privately made firearms, along with unfinished frames and receivers, and restricts their manufacture and transfer by unlicensed persons. The state’s online serialization system launched alongside the registration portal in October 2025.
Machine gun conversion devices. Chapter 135 tightened prohibitions on automatic conversion devices, commonly called Glock switches or auto sears, which convert a semiautomatic pistol to fire automatically. These devices were already illegal under federal law; the state law gives Massachusetts prosecutors a direct avenue under Chapter 269, Section 10.
Red-flag expansion. The Extreme Risk Protection Order statute, which allows a court to order temporary surrender of firearms and licenses from a person found to pose a danger, was expanded so that school administrators and licensed health care providers may petition, in addition to family and household members and police. Courts issuing harassment prevention orders under Chapter 258E may also order surrender of firearms and licenses.
Prohibited places. The law barred carrying firearms in certain locations, discussed in the next section.
Where You Cannot Carry
Even with a valid LTC, Chapter 135 prohibits carrying in designated locations, including:
- Elementary and secondary schools, and college and university buildings, subject to institutional policies
- Government administrative buildings, courthouses, and correctional facilities
- Polling places, early voting sites, and locations where ballots are stored or counted
There are exceptions, including for law enforcement and, in some settings, for property owners or persons with written authorization. Private property owners may also prohibit firearms on their premises. Because the boundaries of some prohibited locations are defined by regulation and local practice, license holders should verify before carrying near government facilities.
Storage and Transport Requirements
Massachusetts imposes some of the strictest storage and transport rules in the country, and Chapter 135 kept them intact.
- Storage: All firearms must be stored in a locked container or equipped with a tamper-resistant mechanical lock whenever they are not under the owner’s direct control. Violations carry criminal penalties that escalate for large-capacity firearms and when minors could gain access.
- Vehicle transport, handguns: An LTC holder may carry a loaded handgun under their direct control in a vehicle. If the handgun is not under direct control, it must be unloaded and locked in a case, the trunk, or a locked container.
- Vehicle transport, long guns: Rifles and shotguns must be unloaded and, for large-capacity long guns, locked in a case or container during transport.
- Travelers passing through: The federal safe-passage provision, 18 U.S.C. Section 926A, protects continuous interstate travel with an unloaded, cased, inaccessible firearm, but it is a narrow defense. Stopping in Massachusetts for anything beyond incidental travel needs can take a traveler outside its protection.
Penalties
Unlicensed carrying of a firearm is one of the most seriously punished offenses in Massachusetts criminal law. Chapter 269, Section 10(a) carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 18 months in a house of correction, and the charge cannot be continued without a finding or placed on file. Subsequent offenses carry state prison mandatory minimums. Possession of a large-capacity firearm or feeding device without proper licensing, possession of an unregistered assault-style firearm, and possession of a machine gun conversion device each carry separate and often more severe penalties. Even paperwork-level lapses, such as an expired license, can produce criminal exposure, although the law treats an expired-but-renewable license more leniently than never having been licensed.
Nonresident Licenses and Out-of-State Visitors
Massachusetts recognizes no other state’s carry permit. A resident of another state who wants to carry a handgun in Massachusetts needs a Massachusetts nonresident LTC, issued by the Firearms Records Bureau as designee of the Colonel of the State Police rather than by a local police chief. Nonresident licenses historically required annual renewal and remain more burdensome than resident licenses; nonresidents should confirm current terms and processing times with the Firearms Records Bureau, as Chapter 135 also adjusted nonresident and temporary-license provisions. Out-of-state visitors transporting firearms should rely on the federal safe-passage rules described above and avoid any unnecessary stops with a firearm in the vehicle.
BB Guns, Air Guns, and Stun Guns
Massachusetts also regulates devices that fall outside the standard firearm categories. BB guns and air guns are regulated at the local level. Most municipalities require a Firearm Identification Card for BB or pellet guns that discharge a projectile by spring, gas, or air pressure, though enforcement varies. Some communities treat recreational airsoft or paintball equipment more leniently if it does not exceed a certain velocity; always check your local ordinances before assuming a device is unregulated. Stun guns and electronic incapacitation devices may be legally possessed by anyone who could lawfully obtain an FID or LTC, and no separate license is required. However, carrying one in public is subject to the same restrictions that apply to firearms, including the prohibited-location rules under Chapter 135.
AR-15 and Other Semi-Automatic Rifles
The AR-15 platform has specific attention under the assault-style firearm definition in Chapter 135. The Colt AR-15 and certain other named models are enumerated as assault-style firearms, and the statute’s “copy or duplicate” language is designed to cover substantially similar rifles regardless of manufacturer or minor feature differences. Anyone who lawfully owned an AR-15 or similar rifle on or before August 1, 2024 may keep it, but must register it through the MIRCS portal. New purchases or transfers of models fitting the assault-style definition are prohibited unless the firearm was manufactured before the federal ban of 1994 and qualifies as a pre-ban rifle. The application of these rules to any particular rifle depends on model, date of manufacture, configuration, and the statutory definitions. Anyone uncertain whether a rifle they own or intend to buy is classified as an assault-style firearm should consult the Firearms Records Bureau or an attorney before proceeding.
Litigation and the 2026 Ballot Question
Two things could still change chapter 135 Massachusetts law, and honesty requires saying that both remain unresolved as of August 2026.
Litigation. In Capen v. Campbell, a challenge to the assault-style firearms ban, the First Circuit affirmed the denial of a preliminary injunction in April 2025, and the case returned to the district court for further proceedings. A separate NRA and GOAL-backed suit, Hanlon v. Campbell, filed in federal court in August 2025, challenges the new assault-style firearm definition; the Commonwealth responded in late 2025 and the case is pending. No court has enjoined any part of Chapter 135 as of this writing, so the law is fully enforceable, but the assault-style firearm provisions in particular remain under active challenge.
The repeal referendum. A veto referendum on Chapter 135 qualified for the ballot after organizers gathered signatures, and voters will decide it at the November 3, 2026 state election. The ballot wording matters: a yes vote keeps Chapter 135 in place, and a no vote repeals it. The referendum did not suspend the law, which has remained in effect since October 2, 2024 and continues to apply unless voters repeal it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Massachusetts have strict gun laws?
Yes. Massachusetts is widely considered to have some of the strictest gun laws in the United States. The state requires a license to possess any firearm, mandates secure storage, bans certain categories of firearms and devices, imposes waiting periods, and enforces harsh criminal penalties for unlicensed possession. Federal court challenges to parts of the law are ongoing, but as of 2026 the regulatory framework remains fully in force.
What are the gun laws in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts requires a License to Carry (LTC) or Firearm Identification Card (FID) to possess firearms. An LTC is required for handguns and all large-capacity firearms, and permits concealed carry. An FID covers non-large-capacity rifles and shotguns only. Both require a safety course, background check, and local police approval. The state also regulates storage, transport, and certain firearm types, and Chapter 135 added training requirements, a revised assault-style firearm definition, and carry restrictions in specified locations.
Is Massachusetts a shall-issue state?
Not in the pure sense. After the Supreme Court’s Bruen decision, Massachusetts dropped its “good reason” requirement, so applicants no longer need to justify why they want a license. Licensing authorities still perform a suitability review and can deny an applicant found to pose a risk of danger, with written reasons and a right to judicial review. It is often described as shall-issue with a suitability screen.
Do I need a license to own a rifle?
Yes. Possessing any rifle or shotgun in Massachusetts requires at least a Firearm Identification Card. A non-large-capacity rifle or shotgun can be owned on an FID; large-capacity long guns and all handguns require a License to Carry.
Can I carry in Massachusetts with an out-of-state permit?
No. Massachusetts has no reciprocity with any state. Carrying a handgun here on an out-of-state permit is unlicensed carry under Chapter 269, Section 10, which carries an 18-month mandatory minimum sentence. Nonresidents who want to carry must obtain a Massachusetts nonresident LTC from the Firearms Records Bureau.
What is the new live-fire training requirement?
Chapter 135 added a live-fire component to the Basic Firearms Safety course for new applicants, as part of a revised curriculum that took effect April 2, 2026. As of August 2026, the live-fire piece is not yet being enforced while state regulators finish the implementing rules, and anyone who held an LTC or FID on or before August 1, 2024 is exempt, including at renewal. Check the approved course list published by the State Police for current requirements.
Do I have to register guns I already own?
Owners of assault-style firearms lawfully possessed on or before August 1, 2024 must register them through the state’s MIRCS portal, which opened in October 2025, and privately made firearms must be serialized and registered. Compliance guidance circulating in 2026 cites an October 28, 2026 registration deadline, but dates have shifted during implementation, so confirm the current deadline with the Firearms Records Bureau before assuming you have time.
How long does it take to get a Massachusetts gun license?
The statute directs the licensing authority to act within 40 days of application, but actual timelines vary by community and can run longer, particularly in departments with appointment backlogs for fingerprinting and interviews. Budget several months from safety course to license in hand, and apply for renewals early; a timely renewal application generally keeps your license valid while it is processed.
Are BB guns and pellet guns regulated in Massachusetts?
Yes, at the local level. Most cities and towns require a Firearm Identification Card for BB guns, pellet guns, or air rifles. The rules vary by municipality, so check your local ordinances and confirm with your police department’s licensing officer.
Can I own an AR-15 in Massachusetts?
If you lawfully owned an AR-15 in Massachusetts on or before August 1, 2024, you may keep it but must register it with the state through the MIRCS portal. New purchases or transfers of AR-15 models that meet the assault-style firearm definition are generally prohibited unless the rifle was manufactured before September 1994 and qualifies as a pre-ban firearm. The specific rules depend on the rifle’s make, model, date of manufacture, and features, so consult the Firearms Records Bureau or an attorney if you are uncertain.
Do Massachusetts gun laws apply to visitors from other states?
Yes. All Massachusetts firearm laws apply to nonresidents while they are in the state. A nonresident who wants to carry a handgun must have a valid Massachusetts nonresident LTC. The federal safe-passage law, 18 U.S.C. Section 926A, offers a narrow defense for continuous interstate travel with an unloaded, locked, inaccessible firearm, but stopping for any reason beyond brief necessities can remove that protection. Out-of-state visitors should plan carefully and avoid carrying without a Massachusetts license.
The Bottom Line
As of August 2026, the essentials of gun ownership laws in Massachusetts are unchanged: an LTC for handguns and full carry rights at 21, an FID for standard long guns at 18, a $100 fee, a six-year term, and an application through your local police department. Layered on top is Chapter 135, which is in force, partially implemented on the training and registration side, under challenge in federal court, and headed to the voters in November. Anyone making decisions about acquiring, registering, or carrying a firearm this year should verify the current status of these moving pieces with their local licensing officer, the Firearms Records Bureau, or a Massachusetts firearms attorney rather than relying on any fixed summary, including this one.