General
Q. I am a resident of Massachusetts. How do I obtain a firearms license?
A. Firearms Licenses are issued by the police department where you reside. Find additional information about the licensing process on the Firearms Services site.
Q: Can a non-resident obtain a license to carry a firearms in Massachusetts?
A: Yes. The Firearms Records Bureau issues non-resident LTCs as the designee of the Colonel of the State Police. Find additional information about the licensing process on the Firearms Services site.
Q: Is a firearms license required to possess an air gun (i.e. bb or pellet guns, so-called air rifles or air pistols, paint ball guns) or applicable ammunition (i.e. bb's, pellets, CO2 cartridges, paint balls)?
A: No firearms license is required to possess an air gun in Massachusetts. However, air guns are regulated by M.G.L. c. 269, §12B which limits their use by minors.
Q: Do I need an FID Card or an LTC to possess a gun in my home?
A: Yes. At a minimum you need an FID Card for non-large capacity rifles and shotguns. For handguns or other large capacity weapons, you need an LTC.
Q: How can I obtain the status of my pending LTC or FID card application?
A: If you applied online via the MIRCS Unified Gun Portal, you can check your account for the status of your application.
If you are a Massachusetts resident, you should contact the police department where you applied. You can also call the DCJIS firearms license application hotline at (617) 660-4722 Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
If you are a non-resident, call the Firearms Records Bureau at (617) 660-4782.
Q: How can I retrieve my personal identification (PIN) number?
A: You can obtain your PIN via the MIRCS Unified Gun Portal or contact your local firearms licensing officer.
Q: Can I change my PIN?
A: No. PINs are unique to the firearms license and can not be changed. You will receive a new PIN when you renew your firearms license.
Q: How can I have a warrant removed from my name in NICS?
A: You must obtain the official warrant cancelling notice from the District Court and forward to the Firearms Records Bureau at FRB@mass.gov. Use subject line "NICS removal request" and include your full name and date of birth with a description of the issue and request.
Name/Address Change
Q: I am changing my address. Who do I notify?
A: You must change your address electronically within 30 days of your move in the MIRCS Unified Gun Portal.
Q: How do I change my name on my firearms license?
A: You may change your name in the MIRCS Unified Gun Portal.
Q: Will I receive a new license when I update my name or address?
A: No. New licenses are not printed for name or address changes.
Q: Can I change the photo on my license?
A: No. Firearms license photos can not be changed after the license has been issued.
Transfers and Registrations
Q: How many guns a year can I sell or transfer privately?
A: Under M.G.L. c. 140, §128A, a properly licensed resident who is not a dealer may sell up to four guns in any one calendar year through a private transfer of ownership.
Q: How do I report a private sale or transfer of a firearm?
A: Massachusetts law requires all residents to report any private sale or transfer of a firearm via the MIRCS Unified Gun Portal at or before the point of sale.
Q: How do I register a privately-made firearm?
A: You may register the firearm or report the transaction on the MIRCS Unified Gun Portal.
Q. How do I register a firearm that was not acquired through a private sale/transfer or Massachusetts dealer?
A: You may register the firearm or report the transaction on the MIRCS Unified Gun Portal.
Q: How do I register or transfer firearms that I inherited?
A: You may register the firearm or report the transaction on the MIRCS Unified Gun Portal.
Q: Do I need to register a firearm that I bought from a gun dealer in Massachusetts?
A: No. The gun dealer will report the transaction.
Q: How do I report a lost or stolen firearm?
A: Massachusetts law requires all residents to report any lost or stolen firearms to your local licensing authority and to DCJIS via the MIRCS Unified Gun Portal within 7 days of the loss/theft.
Q. When do I have to start using the MIRCS Unified Gun Portal to register and serialize my firearms?
A: October 28, 2026
Q: Do I need to register my firearm purchase in the Portal if I am buying from a dealer?
A: No. The transaction will be recorded by the gun dealer.
Q: If I previously registered a firearm, do I need to re-register the gun?
A: No. Transactions previously recorded do not need to be recorded again.
Transporting Firearms
Q: Does Massachusetts recognize firearms licenses from other state?
A: No. Massachusetts does not have reciprocity with any other states.
Possession of Firearms
Q: Can I possess a stun gun in Massachusetts?
A: Yes. However you must have a current LTC (FID card holders may not purchase or possess stun guns).
Q: Can I possess an assault weapon in Massachusetts?
A: Please refer to the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Assault Weapon Ban enforcement page.
Q: Can I possess a large capacity feeding device in Massachusetts?
A: Yes, provided the device was manufactured prior to September 13, 1994. A large capacity feeding device in Massachusetts is capable of accepting, or can be readily converted to accept, more than 10 rounds of ammunition or more than five shotgun shells.
Q: Can I possess an antique or replica firearm in Massachusetts without a license?
A: Yes, provided it is not designed or redesigned to use conventional ammunition.