Resources

Boston / Brookline Residents

Below are the General Laws of Massachusetts laws, Part I, Chapter 140, with regard to: out-of-state residents who move into Massachusetts with guns, and also the law pertaining to citizens of Massachusetts who inherit guns. When the term, "firearm," is used in Massachusetts Laws, it always refers to a handgun.

QUICK SUMMARY:

If you have just moved in from out-of-state with guns (including ammunition), you have 60 days to either get licensed or legally dispose of the guns and any ammunition. You must store all your guns and ammunition legally.

If you have inherited guns, you have 180 days to ether get licensed or legally dispose of the guns and any ammunition. You must store all your guns and ammunition legally.

Guns Stored or Kept by Owner

C. 140 Sec. 131L (a)
It shall be unlawful to store or keep any firearm, rifle or shotgun, including, but not limited to, large capacity guns, or machine gun in any place unless such gun is secured in a locked container or equipped with a tamper-resistant mechanical lock or other safety device, properly engaged so as to render such gun inoperable by any person other than the owner or other lawfully authorized user. For purposes of this section, such gun shall not be deemed stored if carried by or under the control of the owner (i.e. who must be properly licensed) or other lawfully authorized (i.e. properly licensed) user. [My words have been added in ( ).]

I am not a lawyer. The summary above is for reference only. Consult one of the firearms lawyers listed in the links section.
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GENERAL LAWS OF MASSACHUSETTS
PART I.
ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT
TITLE XX.
PUBLIC SAFETY AND GOOD ORDER

CHAPTER 140. LICENSES

SALE OF FIREARMS

Chapter 140: Section 129C Application of sec. 129B; ownership or possession of firearms or ammunition; transfers; report to executive director; exemptions; exhibiting license to carry, etc. on demand

Section 129C. No person, other than a licensed dealer or one who has been issued a license to carry a pistol or revolver or an exempt person as hereinafter described, shall own or possess any firearm, rifle, shotgun or ammunition unless he has been issued a firearm identification card by the licensing authority pursuant to the provisions of section one hundred and twenty-nine B.

No person shall sell, give away, loan or otherwise transfer a rifle or shotgun or ammunition other than (a) by operation of law, or (b) to an exempt person as hereinafter described, or (c) to a licensed dealer, or (d) to a person who displays his firearm identification card, or license to carry a pistol or revolver.

A seller shall, within seven days, report all such transfers to the executive director of the criminal history systems board according to the provisions set forth in section one hundred and twenty-eight A, and in the case of loss, theft or recovery of any firearm, rifle, shotgun or machine gun, a similar report shall be made forthwith to both the executive director of the criminal history systems board and the licensing authority in the city or town where the owner resides. Failure to so report shall be cause for suspension or permanent revocation of such person's firearm identification card or license to carry firearms, or both, and shall be punished by a fine of not less than $200 nor more than $1,000 for a first offense and by a fine of not less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000 for a second offense.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to the following exempted persons and uses:

NEW RESIDENTS

(j) Any new resident moving into the commonwealth, any resident of the commonwealth returning after having been absent from the commonwealth for not less than 180 consecutive days or any resident of the commonwealth upon being released from active service with any of the armed services of the United States with respect to any firearm, rifle or shotgun and any ammunition therefor then in his possession, for sixty (60) days after such release, return or entry into the commonwealth;

INHERITED GUNS

(n) The transfer of a firearm, rifle or shotgun upon the death of an owner to his heir or legatee shall be subject to the provisions of this section, provided that said heir or legatee shall within one hundred and eighty (180) days of such transfer, obtain a firearm identification card or a license to carry firearms if not otherwise an exempt person who is qualified to receive such or apply to the licensing authority for such further limited period as may be necessary for the disposition of such firearm, rifle or shotgun;