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Federal law establishes a baseline national standard regarding individuals' eligibility to larn and possess firearms. Nether federal constabulary, people are by and large prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms if they have been convicted of a felony or some domestic violence misdemeanors, or if they are field of study to certain court orders related to domestic violence or a serious mental condition. All the same, federal police force merely provides a floor, and has notable gaps that allow individuals who have demonstrated meaning chance factors for violence or self-harm to legally larn and possess guns.

Massachusetts' state law firearm prohibitions are generally much broader than federal police and cover many of these gaps.

Massachusetts generally requires any person who wishes to purchase or possess a firearm to obtain a Firearm Identification Card or a License to Carry, pursuant to a background cheque.1 A Firearms Identification Card ("FID") generally authorizes a person to purchase, possess, and transport non-big-capacity rifles, shotguns, and ammunition, while a License to Bear ("LTC") generally authorizes a person to purchase, possess, ship, and acquit large- and non-large-capacity handguns, rifles, shotguns, and feeding devices, also equally armament. (Run into the Licensing in Massachusetts section for additional information almost these licenses).

Massachusetts mostly restricts people from receiving an FID card or License to Carry if they:two

  • Accept been convicted of (or adjudicated as a youthful offender or runaway child for the commission of) a:
    • Felony;
    • Misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for more than than ii years;
    • Misdemeanor criminal offense of domestic violence as defined in 18 The statesC. 921(a)(33);
    • Fierce crime equally defined by Massachusetts constabularyiii;
    • Violation of any constabulary regulating the use, possession, buying, transfer, buy, sale, lease, rental, receipt or transportation of weapons or ammunition for which a term of imprisonment may be imposed; or
    • Violation of any law regulating the use, possession or sale of controlled substances.
  • Are or have been committed to a hospital or institution for mental disease, alcohol or substance abuse;
  • Are or have been nether the engagement of a guardian or conservator on the grounds that he or she lacks the mental capacity to contract or manage his or her affairs;
  • Are an alien who does not maintain lawful permanent residency;
  • Are currently subject to orders for interruption or surrender of firearms because of domestic abuse, or permanent or temporary protection orders, including Extreme Risk Protection Orders;
  • Accept been dishonorably discharged from the military machine of the United States;
  • Are a fugitive from justice;
  • Take renounced their The states citizenship; or
  • Are currently the subject of an outstanding arrest warrant in any state or federal jurisdiction.4

Massachusetts law besides imposes minimum age qualifications to receive these firearm licenses. See the Minimum Age in Massachusetts section for more data virtually these historic period requirements.

For data near Massachusetts laws authorizing police force enforcement agencies to seek the deprival or suspension of a FID Card or LTC to a person found to pose a risk to public safety, see the Licensing in Massachusetts section. For information on the groundwork cheque process used to enforce Massachusetts' firearm prohibitions, see the Universal Background Checks section.

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  1. Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, § 129C.[↩]
  2. Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, §§ 129B; 131(d).[↩]
  3. Under Massachusetts police force, "Fierce criminal offence" generally means any law-breaking punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding ane year (or any deed of juvenile malversation involving the employ or possession of a deadly weapon that would be punishable by imprisonment for such term if committed by an adult), that: (i) has as an element the use, attempted employ or threatened utilize of physical force or a deadly weapon against the person of another; (ii) is burglary, extortion, arson or kidnapping; (3) involves the use of explosives; or (iv) otherwise involves conduct that presents a serious risk of physical injury to some other." Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, § 121.[↩]
  4. Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, §§ 129B, 131, 131F; ch. 123 § 35.[↩]