Wrongful Possession Of Arms In Massachusetts
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Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 269 Section 10(h)(1) makes it illegal to possess a firearm, rifle, or shotgun without a license or permit—even if you possess it merely in your home or place of business. You face a maximum sentence of 2 years imprisonment for violation of this provision.
Illegal Arms Silencers. Assault weapons. Large-capacity feeding devices. Firearms with removed or altered serial numbers.
Commission of a felony or misdemeanor with a sentence greater than two years. Commission of a violent crime. Violation of any firearms law punishable by imprisonment. Violation of any narcotics law.
Massachusetts' law, which was signed into law in 1998 by Republican former Governor Mitt Romney, was modeled after a now-expired federal assault weapons ban and prohibits owning or selling certain semiautomatic weapons, as well as magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition.
MGL c. 269, § 10 Carrying dangerous weapons; possession of machine gun or sawed-off shotguns; possession of large capacity weapon or large capacity feeding device; possession of ammunition; punishment, certain knives and blades.
Firearms Without Safety Features Any firearm sold in the state must meet safety standards, including trigger locks and tamper-proof devices. The state attorney general's office maintains a list of approved firearms, and guns that do not meet these safety requirements are illegal to sell in Massachusetts.
Penalties. The crime of carrying a firearm without a license is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for at least 2 ½ years or at least 18 months in the jail or house of correction.
For example, penalties may vary: Possession of an unlicensed gun in your home or business. Unlawful gun possession may be charged as a felony or a misdemeanor and carries a sentence of up to two years in prison.
Even when not loaded into a firearm, ammunition is subject to strict storage regulations: Stored in a Locked Container: Made of steel or similarly strong material. Separate from Firearms: Ammunition must be stored separately from any firearms.
