Section 129B. A firearm identification card shall be issued and possessed subject to the following conditions and restrictions:
(a) Any lawful resident 18 years of age or older residing within the jurisdiction of the licensing authority or residing in an area of exclusive federal jurisdiction located within a city or town may submit to the licensing authority an application for a firearm identification card, or renewal of the same, which the licensing authority shall issue pursuant to section 121F if it appears that the applicant is neither a prohibited person nor determined to be unsuitable to be issued a card as set forth in said section; provided, however, that a person aged 15 years or older, but less than 18 years of age, may submit an application for a firearm identification card and shall be issued the same only if the applicant meets the requirements of said section 121F and submits with the application a certificate of a parent or guardian granting the applicant permission to apply for the card. A person 14 years of age may submit an application for a firearm identification card but the applicant shall not be issued the card until the applicant reaches 15 years of age and at that time meets the standards and requirements under this subsection.
(b) No card shall be issued under this section unless the applicant submits with their application a basic firearms safety certificate or other certificate meeting the requirements of section 131P.
(c) A firearm identification card shall entitle a holder thereof to purchase, transfer, possess and carry rifles and shotguns that are not large capacity or semi-automatic, and the ammunition therefore. A firearm identification card shall not entitle a holder thereof to transfer, possess or carry any other firearm including any large capacity firearm, any large capacity or semiautomatic rifle or any large capacity or semiautomatic shotgun except under the direct supervision of a holder of a license to carry firearms at an incorporated shooting club or a licensed shooting range. Except as otherwise provided herein, a firearm identification card shall not be valid for the use, possession, ownership, transfer, purchase, sale, lease, rental or transportation of any large capacity firearm.
(d) A firearm identification card shall be valid, unless revoked or suspended, for a period of not more than 6 years from the date of issuance and shall expire on the anniversary of the card holder's date of birth occurring not less than 5 years nor more than 6 years from the date of issue. A card issued on February 29 shall expire on March 1.
(e) The holder of a firearm identification card shall report any change of address via the electronic firearm registration system administered by the commissioner of the department of criminal justice services. Such notification shall be made on the portal within 30 days of its occurrence. Failure to so notify shall be cause for revocation or suspension of such card.
(f) The secretary of the executive office of public safety, or a designee, may promulgate regulations to carry out the purposes of this section.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 67
cases (13 in the last 5 years), 1978–2025 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Powell, 946 N.E.2d 114 (Mass. 2011).
Commonwealth v. Powell, 946 N.E.2d 114 (Mass. 2011). · cites it 4דG. L. c. 140, § 129B (1). An FID card allows the holder to own or possess a firearm within the holder’s residence or place of business, but not to carry it to or in any other place.”
Powell v. Tompkins, 783 F.3d 332 (1st Cir. 2015). · cites it 5דSee Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, §§ 129B, 129C; Hightower, 693 F.”
Hightower v. City of Boston, 693 F.3d 61 (1st Cir. 2012). · cites it 4דSee Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, §§ 129B, 131. All three are issued by the relevant “licensing authority,” which is defined as “the chief of police or the board or officer having control of the police in a city or town, or persons authorized by them.”
Commonwealth v. Cassidy, 96 N.E.3d 691 (Mass. 2018). · cites it 3דSee G. L. c. 140, §§ 129B, 131 ; G. L. c. 269, § 10 ( a ).”
Commonwealth v. Parzick, 835 N.E.2d 1171 (Mass. App. Ct. 2005). · cites it 9דThe defendant had been denied renewal, though he was not so informed, and being “disqualified” is the only basis upon which an application for renewal may be denied under G. L. c. 140, § 129B(1). Therefore, the defendant was not entitled to a renewed FID card and no receipt for…”
Jarvis v. Vill. Gun Shop, Inc., 805 F.3d 1 (1st Cir. 2015). · cites it 3דSee Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, §§ 129B, 129C; Com.”
Powell v. Tompkins, 926 F. Supp. 2d 367 (D. Mass. 2013). · cites it 3דSee Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, §§ 129B, 131. Relevant for the purposes of this inquiry are the provisions of these two statutes that place age-based restrictions on the issuance of FID cards and licenses to carry.”
Gun Owners' Action League, Inc. v. Swift, 284 F.3d 198 (1st Cir. 2002). · cites it 2דMass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, § 129B. The chief of police must issue the license unless a listed reason disqualifies the applicant.”
United States v. Yancey, 621 F.3d 681 (7th Cir. 2010). “, Public Safety, 5—133(b)(4), (5); Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, § 129B(1)(iv); Minn.”
Ruggiero v. Police Comm'r of Boston, 464 N.E.2d 104 (Mass. App. Ct. 1984). · cites it 2ד140, § 128B); (g) issuance of firearm identification cards (G. L. c. 140, § 129B); (h) issuance of permits to purchase, rent or lease firearms (G.”
Ramirez v. Commonwealth, 94 N.E.3d 809 (Mass. 2018). “140, § 129C, mandates that no person "shall own or possess any firearm, rifle, shotgun or ammunition unless he has been *818 issued a firearm identification card" (FID card) under G. L. c. 140, § 129B. And § 129B (1) provides that a person shall be issued an FID card "if it…”
Commonwealth v. Shaun Harrison., 100 Mass. App. Ct. 376 (Mass. App. Ct. 2021). · cites it 4ד" [393-395] A criminal defendant convicted of charges predicated on his possession of a rifle and shotgun and corresponding ammunition without a valid firearm identification (FID) card was not subject only to civil penalties under G. L. c. 140, § 129B (12), on the ground that he…”
Hightower v. City of Boston, 693 F.3d 61 (1st Cir. 2012). “See Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, §§ 129B, 131. All three are issued by the relevant “licensing authority,” which is defined as “the chief of police or the board or officer having control of the police in a city or town, or persons authorized by them.”
Powell v. Tompkins, 926 F. Supp. 2d 367 (D. Mass. 2013). “See Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, §§ 129B, 131. Relevant for the purposes of this inquiry are the provisions of these two statutes that place age-based restrictions on the issuance of FID cards and licenses to carry.”
Commonwealth v. Parzick, 835 N.E.2d 1171 (Mass. App. Ct. 2005). “The defendant had been denied renewal, though he was not so informed, and being “disqualified” is the only basis upon which an application for renewal may be denied under G. L. c. 140, § 129B(1). Therefore, the defendant was not entitled to a renewed FID card and no receipt for…”
Commonwealth v. Parzick, 835 N.E.2d 1171 (Mass. App. Ct. 2005). “The defendant had been denied renewal, though he was not so informed, and being “disqualified” is the only basis upon which an application for renewal may be denied under G. L. c. 140, § 129B(1). Therefore, the defendant was not entitled to a renewed FID card and no receipt for…”
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, § 129B(3) — 2 cases
Commonwealth v. Parzick, 835 N.E.2d 1171 (Mass. App. Ct. 2005). “The defendant had been denied renewal, though he was not so informed, and being “disqualified” is the only basis upon which an application for renewal may be denied under G. L. c. 140, § 129B(1). Therefore, the defendant was not entitled to a renewed FID card and no receipt for…”
Commonwealth v. Parzick, 835 N.E.2d 1171 (Mass. App. Ct. 2005). “The defendant had been denied renewal, though he was not so informed, and being “disqualified” is the only basis upon which an application for renewal may be denied under G. L. c. 140, § 129B(1). Therefore, the defendant was not entitled to a renewed FID card and no receipt for…”
Gun Owners' Action League, Inc. v. Swift, 284 F.3d 198 (1st Cir. 2002). “Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, § 129B. The chief of police must issue the license unless a listed reason disqualifies the applicant.”
Commonwealth v. Parzick, 835 N.E.2d 1171 (Mass. App. Ct. 2005). “The defendant had been denied renewal, though he was not so informed, and being “disqualified” is the only basis upon which an application for renewal may be denied under G. L. c. 140, § 129B(1). Therefore, the defendant was not entitled to a renewed FID card and no receipt for…”
Commonwealth v. Parzick, 835 N.E.2d 1171 (Mass. App. Ct. 2005). “The defendant had been denied renewal, though he was not so informed, and being “disqualified” is the only basis upon which an application for renewal may be denied under G. L. c. 140, § 129B(1). Therefore, the defendant was not entitled to a renewed FID card and no receipt for…”
Powell v. Tompkins, 926 F. Supp. 2d 367 (D. Mass. 2013). “See Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, §§ 129B, 131. Relevant for the purposes of this inquiry are the provisions of these two statutes that place age-based restrictions on the issuance of FID cards and licenses to carry.”
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