Massachusetts Gun Owners Action League sells a good booklet that covers Federal and MA laws and Regulations in plain english. https://www.goal.org/Store
(MA.GOV) A compilation of laws, regulations, cases, and web sources on weapons law
USCCA MA Reciprocity and Gun Law Summary
Federal law, 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(3), makes it a felony for any
person who is not a federal licensee to transport into or receive in the
state where he or she resides any firearm purchased or otherwise
obtained outside that State. Another federal law, 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(5),
generally prohibits the private sale or any delivery of a firearm to a
person the transferor knows or has reasonable cause to believe does not
reside in the same state as the transferor.
There are numerous exceptions in the law to the above summary.
For more detail refer to:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/922
May 19, 1986 – FOPA – Firearms Owner Protection Act
(2014) Chapter 284 – AN ACT RELATIVE TO THE REDUCTION OF GUN VIOLENCE
Restriction on Post office carry
39 CFR 232.1, — prohibit guns in post offices. In pertinent part, it states:
(l) Weapons and explosives. No person while on postal property may carry firearms, other dangerous or deadly weapons, or explosives, either openly or concealed, or store the same on postal property, except for official purposes.
Restriction on Federal facilities carry
18 U.S.C. § 930 – Possession of firearms and dangerous weapons in Federal facilities : https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/930
Restriction on Veterans Administration property carry
38 CFR 1.218 – Security and law enforcement at VA facilities
(13)Weapons and explosives. No person while on property shall carry firearms, other dangerous or deadly weapons, or explosives, either openly or concealed, except for official purposes.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/38/1.218
Firearms in National Parks
The law governing possession of firearms inside a national park changed on February 22, 2010. On February 22nd, 2010 Congress approved a new law allowing loaded firearms in national parks. It was a provision inside of the Credit Card Accountability and Responsibility and Disclose Act of 2009 – (Section 512).
Visitors may possess firearms within a national park unit provided they comply with federal, state, and local laws. Federal law prohibits firearms in certain park facilities and buildings.
“Assault weapons ban”
The Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act, commonly called the federal Assault Weapons Ban (AWB and AWB 1994), was enacted in September 1994. The ban, including a ban on high-capacity magazines, became defunct (expired) in September 2004 per a 10-year sunset provision
MA
MGL Section 131M: Assault weapon or large capacity feeding device not lawfully possessed on September 13, 1994; sale, transfer or possession; punishment
Section 131M. No person shall sell, offer for sale, transfer or possess an assault weapon or a large capacity feeding device that was not otherwise lawfully possessed on September 13, 1994…..
https://www.mass.gov/enforcing-the-massachusetts-assault-weapons-ban
Massachusetts enacted a similar (i.e. Federal 1994) ban at the state level that included no sunset provision, so that law remains in effect today.
New Enforcement of Assault Weapon “copycats”
AG Healey stated that the updated guidelines would not be applied to any weapons bought or sold prior to 20 July 2016
Massachusetts Gun Transaction portal (use for private sale, transfer, inheritance, or loss/theft )
Another good MA law resource: https://handgunlaw.us/states/massachusetts.pdf
July 1. 2022 – Joint Advisory Regarding the Massachusetts Firearms Licensing System After the Supreme Court’s Decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen:
Significant Second Amendment (2A) Supreme Court decision summaries
June 2008
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ET AL. v. HELLER
https://www.scotusblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/07-2901.pdf
June 2010
McDONALD et al. v. CITY OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, et al.
https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/561/742/
June 2022
NEW YORK STATE RIFLE & PISTOL ASSOCIATION, INC., ET AL. v. BRUEN, SUPERINTENDENT OF NEW YORK STATE POLICE,
https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/20-843_7j80.pdf