Licensing of Gun Owners & Purchasers in Massachusetts

See our Licensing of Gun Owners or Purchasers policy summary for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

A 2014 law made changes to the state’s licensing of gun owners. After the licensing provisions of the law become effective on January 1, 2015, Massachusetts will have three types of licenses for gun purchasers and owners: the Firearm Identification Card (“FID”), the license to carry, and a permit to purchase, rent or lease.1 Each entitles the holder to different privileges, described below.

Types of Licenses A FID card enables the holder to purchase or possess only rifles and shotguns that are not considered “large capacity” weapons, and feeding devices for long guns that are not “large capacity” weapons.2 “Large capacity weapon” includes assault weapons and most firearms capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition or more than five shotgun shells (either directly, or via a large capacity feeding device).3

In order to purchase a handgun or handgun feeding device (or short-barreled shotgun or rifle), the person must obtain a FID card and a “permit to purchase, rent or lease.”4 A permit to purchase, rent or lease a handgun or short-barreled firearm is issued at the discretion of the licensing authority for “a proper purpose,” is valid for only 10 days, and can be revoked at any time.5 The licensing authority may restrict the caliber and capacity of the firearm that may be purchased, rented or leased with the license. The licensing authority must send a copy of each issued permit to the commissioner of the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services within one week.6 When a...