Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, § 128B (2026)

Unauthorized purchase of firearms; registration; penalties

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 128B. Any resident of the commonwealth who purchases or obtains a firearm from any source within or without the commonwealth, other than from a licensee under section one 122 or a person authorized to sell firearms under section 128A, and any nonresident of the commonwealth who purchases or obtains a firearm from any source within or without the commonwealth, other than such a licensee or person, and receives such firearm within the commonwealth, shall register such firearm and report such information required under sections 121B and 121C. Whoever violates any provision of this section shall for the first offense be punished by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 and for any subsequent offense by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 10 years.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 4 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1980–2021 · leading case: Ruggiero v. Police Comm'r of Boston, 464 N.E.2d 104 (Mass. App. Ct. 1984).

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Ruggiero v. Police Comm'r of Boston, 464 N.E.2d 104 (Mass. App. Ct. 1984). “140, § 128); (f) criminal penalties for unauthorized purchase of firearms (G. L. c. 140, § 128B); (g) issuance of firearm identification cards (G.”

Commonwealth v. Garrett, 473 Mass. 257 (Mass. 2015). “140, § 125 (forfeiture or suspension of license if license holder convicted of felony); G. L. c. 140, § 128B (unauthorized sale of firearms).”

Commonwealth v. Hughes, 404 N.E.2d 1239 (Mass. 1980). “This was apparently under G. L. c. 140, § 128B; and we note that pursuant to § 129C such a registrant must report to the division any sale, gift, or other transfer of possession of the weapon; failure to do so is criminally punishable (G.”

United States v. Karani, 984 F.3d 163 (1st Cir. 2021). “Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, § 128B. - 7 - purchased by Karani less than a year earlier and was transferred to another individual, Joseph DePasquale, just two days after its purchase.”

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