Mass. Gen. Laws » Part I Title XX Chapter 140
Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, § 131A (2026)

Permits to purchase, rent or lease firearms, or to purchase ammunition; fee; penalties

✓ current as of July 2026
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Section 131A. A licensing authority under section one hundred and thirty-one, upon the application of a person qualified to be granted a license thereunder by such authority, may grant to such a person, other than a minor, a permit to purchase, rent or lease a firearm if it appears that such purchase, rental or lease is for a proper purpose, and may revoke such permit at will. The colonel of the state police or a person authorized by him, upon the application of a person licensed under section one hundred and thirty-one F, may grant to such licensee, other than a minor, a permit to purchase, rent or lease a firearm, or to purchase ammunition therefor, if it appears that such purchase, rental or lease is for a proper purpose, and may revoke such permit at will. Such permits shall be issued on forms furnished by the commissioner of the department of criminal justice information services shall be valid for not more than ten days after issue, and a copy of every such permit so issued shall within one week thereafter be sent to the said executive director. The licensing authority may impose such restrictions relative to the caliber and capacity of the firearm to be purchased, rented or leased as he deems proper. Whoever knowingly issues a permit in violation of this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than five hundred nor more than one thousand dollars and by imprisonment for not less than six months nor more than two years in a jail or house of correction.

The fee for the permits shall be $100, which shall be payable to the licensing authority and shall not be prorated or refunded in case of revocation or denial. The licensing authority shall retain $25 of the fee; $50 of the fee shall be deposited into the general fund of the commonwealth; and $25 of the fee shall be deposited in the Firearms Fingerprint Identity Verification Trust Fund.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 5 cases, 1978–2017 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Seay, 383 N.E.2d 828 (Mass. 1978).
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Commonwealth v. Seay, 383 N.E.2d 828 (Mass. 1978). · cites it 2× “Any person who is neither an alien, a felon, nor a drug offender and who can demonstrate a "proper purpose” may obtain a license to purchase, rent, or lease a firearm under G. L. c. 140, § 131A. 4 Together with a firearm identification card this permit makes it legal for a…”
Ruggiero v. Police Comm'r of Boston, 464 N.E.2d 104 (Mass. App. Ct. 1984). “140, § 129B); (h) issuance of permits to purchase, rent or lease firearms (G. L. c. 140, § 131A); (i) limitations on ownership or possession of firearms by aliens (G.”
United States v. Caron, 941 F. Supp. 238 (D. Mass. 1996). “Heavily dependent upon the strictures propounded in section 131, section 131A provides, in relevant part, the following: A licensing authority under [§ 131], upon the application of a person qualified to be granted a license thereunder by such authority, may grant to such a…”
Morin v. Leahy, 862 F.3d 123 (1st Cir. 2017). “Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, § 131A. Although a person who purchases a firearm using a FID Card and a permit to purchase may not herself transport the firearm to her home, the law specifically provides that she may have it delivered to her home.”
Richmond v. Peraino, 128 F. Supp. 3d 415 (D. Mass. 2015). “” Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, § 131 (d)(ii); Doc.”
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