Handing Over A Firearm
G.L. c. 140, § 128A — a license holder may sell to another, no more than 4 firearm transfers a calendar year
To another license holder. A person with a license to carry may sell or transfer firearms and ammunition, and a person with a firearm identification card may sell or transfer rifles and shotguns that are not large capacity or semiautomatic, to another license or card holder, but no more than 4 firearm transfers may occur per calendar year.
To a dealer. Sales to a licensed seller, a federally licensed dealer, or a public historical society, museum or collection have no annual limit.
Handguns and more. For a transfer of a firearm other than such a rifle or shotgun, the buyer must also hold a valid permit to purchase.
Heirs. An heir or devisee may sell inherited firearms to a dealer or a museum, or no more than 4 a calendar year to license or card holders.
Federal law adds its own rules on transfers, including to people who live in another state, which are not on this page. Whether a particular sale, loan or gift is lawful is a question for a licensed Massachusetts attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- G.L. c. 140, § 128A — Private sales and transfers of firearms
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Massachusetts attorney.