Massachusetts Gun & Firearm Laws: What You Should Know if Charged in Boston
- Steven Topazio wrote this August 26, 2025 at 8:48 pm
In Massachusetts, illegally possessing a firearm (whether loaded or unloaded, and whether it’s on your person or in your vehicle) is a serious offense under state law.
Penalties can include:
Mandatory minimum sentence of 2.5 years in state prison or 18 months in the house of correction, with no parole until 18 months are served.
Repeat offenses carry escalating penalties: 5 years for a second offense and 7 years for a third.
Illegal weapons such as machine guns or sawed-off shotguns carry penalties up to life in prison.
If convicted, the firearm is forfeited to the Commonwealth.
Key Elements Prosecutors Must Prove
To secure a conviction, the prosecution must prove:
Possession – that you had the firearm on your person or in your vehicle.
Definition – that the object meets the legal definition of a firearm.
Knowledge – that you knowingly possessed it.
Lack of proper license – that you did not have a valid License to Carry (LTC) or Firearms Identification (FID) card.
Licensing Requirements & Strict Liability
An FID card is required for non-large-capacity firearms like rifles and shotguns.
An LTC is needed for handguns, certain rifles/shotguns, and to carry concealed.
Even if you were unaware that a license was required, you may still face liability.
Additional Firearm-Related Offenses & Regulations
Carrying a handgun in public without a license carries a mandatory minimum of 18 months in jail or prison.
Carrying a loaded gun without a license may add up to 2.5 years to the sentence.
Possessing an unlicensed gun at home or work may lead to up to two years in prison.
Transporting firearms requires compliance: without an LTC, the firearm must be unloaded and locked in a container.
Possessing assault weapons, large-capacity firearms, or machine guns during a crime can result in penalties of 5 to 10 years, or even life imprisonment.
Why Working with TopazioLaw for your Firearm Defense in Boston Matters
Massachusetts gun laws are among the strictest in the country. Boston Attorney Steven J. Topazio can challenge defective evidence, assert defenses such as lack of knowledge, navigate licensing disputes, and help minimize or avoid long-term consequences such as losing the right to own firearms.
If you’ve been charged under Massachusetts’ firearm laws, you are facing serious penalties. Having an experienced firearm defense attorney in Boston is critical to protect your rights and pursue the best possible outcome.