Restricted Firearms

Learn what Massachusetts law says about assault-style firearms and machine guns.

Assault-style firearms

Massachusetts makes it illegal to possess, own, sell, or transfer what they consider "assault-style-firearms", except under specific circumstances. The regulations around assault-style firearms can be confusing, as the provisions and definitions may leave questions on interpretation. This page is going to focus simply on what the law states, but we plan on posting and linking an article that will go more in-depth on the nuances.

Enumerated assault-style firearms

The following "enumerated" firearm models or types are explicitly banned, including any copies or duplicates of such firearms:

• Avtomat Kalashnikov, or AK
• Action Arms Israeli Military Industries UZI and Galil
• Beretta AR70 (SC-70)
• Colt AR-15
• Fabrique National FN/FAL, FN/LAR and FNC
• SWD M-10, M-11, M-11/9 and M-12
• Steyr AUG
• INTRATEC TEC-9, TEC-DC9 and TEC-22
• Revolving cylinder shotguns

A "copy or duplicate" of the above firearms is defined as a firearm that was manufactured or subsequently configured with an ability to accept a detachable magazine and also fits one of the following criteria:

• has internal functional components that are substantially similar in construction and configuration to the above mentioned models of firearms
• has a receiver that is the same as or interchangeable with the receiver of one of the above mentioned models of firearms

Assault-style rifles

A rifle is considered an assault-style rifle if it is a semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that can accept a detachable feeding device, and has more than one of the following features:

• A folding or telescopic stock
• A thumbhole stock or pistol grip
• A forward, second, or protruding grip that can be held by the non-trigger hand
• A threaded barrel
• A shroud that covers the barrel, such as a handguard

Assault-style pistols

A pistol is considered an assault-style pistol if it is a semiautomatic pistol with the capacity to accept a detachable feeding device, and has more than one of the following features:

• It can accept a feeding device that attaches outside of the pistol grip
• A second, or protruding grip that can be held by the non-trigger hand
• A threaded barrel
• A shroud covering a barrel, excluding slides

Assault-style shotguns

A shotgun is considered an assault-style shotgun if it is a semiautomatic shotgun and has more than one of the following features:

• A folding or telescopic stock
• A thumbhole stock or pistol grip
• A protruding grip for the non-trigger hand
• The capacity to accept a detachable feeding device

Assault-style firearm exemptions

The following types of firearms are exempt from the definition of "assault-style firearms":

• Firearms sold, owned, and registered prior to July 20, 2016
• Bolt, pump, lever or slide action firearms
• Permanently inoperable firearms
• Antique, relic, or theatrical prop or other firearms that cannot be readily modified into an assault-style firearm
• Semiautomatic shotguns that cannot hold more than 5 rounds of ammo, whether through a fixed or detachable feeding device.

Grandfathered assault-style firearms

The ban on the ownership, possession, sale, or transfer of assault-style firearms does not apply to any assault-style firearm that was "lawfully possessed" on August 1, 2024 by an owner who had an LTC or license to sell. Any firearm that was "lawfully possessed" on August 1, 2024 is "grandfathered", but they must still abide by the registration and serialization requirements.

Citations

Machine Guns

Massachusetts requires a person to obtain a machine gun license in order to possess a machine gun. Machine gun licenses are only issued to the following two types of applicants:

• A Municipal Police Training Committee (MPTC) certified firearms instructor "for the sole purpose of firearm instruction to police personnel".
• A bona fide collector of firearms (via FFL 03, Curios & Relics license).

The machine gun license does not allow the carrying of machine guns and it does not allow the possession of automatic devices or automatic parts.