Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 269, § 11C (2026)

Manufacture, assembly, import, sale or transfer ownership of an untraceable firearm; prima facie evidence; punishment; destruction

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 11C. Whoever, by themself or with another, knowingly manufactures, assembles, imports, sells or transfers ownership of an untraceable firearm, or knowingly participates in the manufacture, assembly, import, sale or transfer of an untraceable firearm or purchases or receives a firearm with knowledge that it is untraceable, shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than 12 months and not more than 21/2 years. Possession or control of a firearm that is untraceable shall be prima facie evidence that the person having such possession or control is guilty of a violation of this section; but such prima facie evidence may be rebutted by evidence that such person had no knowledge that the firearm was untraceable, or by evidence that they had no guilty knowledge thereof. Upon a conviction of a violation of this section said firearm shall be forwarded, by the authority of the written order of the court, to the colonel of the state police, who shall cause said firearm or to be destroyed.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 42 cases (11 in the last 5 years), 1977–2026 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Ware, 913 N.E.2d 869 (Mass. App. Ct. 2009).

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Commonwealth v. Ware, 913 N.E.2d 869 (Mass. App. Ct. 2009). · cites it 3× “275, § 2); receiving a firearm with the serial or identification number obliterated (Count 6) (G. L. c. 269, § 11C); and unlawful possession of a firearm while being an armed career criminal based on three predicate offenses (Count 7) (G.”

Commonwealth v. King, 508 N.E.2d 1382 (Mass. 1987). · cites it 2× “The defendant was also convicted on four counts of concealing a firearm with an obliterated serial number, G.L.c. 269, § 11C, but those convictions were placed on file, and are not on appeal.”

Commonwealth v. Almeida, 366 N.E.2d 756 (Mass. 1977). “269, 110, and another charging him with possession of a firearm with the serial number defaced under G. L. c. 269, § 11C. The defendant appealed to the Superior Court, and a District Court judge, sitting in that court under statutory assignment, heard and denied a motion to…”

Commonwealth v. Daniel, 985 N.E.2d 843 (Mass. 2013). “269, § 10 (a); receiving a firearm with a defaced serial number, G. L. c. 269, § 11C; unlawful possession of ammunition, G.”

Commonwealth v. Grant, 783 N.E.2d 455 (Mass. App. Ct. 2003). · cites it 3× “269, § 10(a), and defacing a firearm serial number, G. L. c. 269, § 11C. He contends that (1) his inculpatory admissions and the weapon should have been suppressed because the roadblock constituted an illegal seizure in violation of his rights under the Fourth Amendment to the…”

Commonwealth v. Young, 905 N.E.2d 90 (Mass. 2009). “269, § 10 (m); (3) unlawful possession of a firearm whose serial number had been removed, defaced, altered, obliterated, or mutilated in any manner, see G. L. c. 269, § 11C; (4) unlawful possession of ammunition without a firearm identification (FID) card, see G.”

Commonwealth v. Maloney, 855 N.E.2d 765 (Mass. 2006). “22C, § 39 (certificate of chemical analysis of narcotics is prima facie evidence of composition, quality, and weight); G. L. c. 269, § 11C (defendant’s possession of firearm with obliterated serial number is prima facie evidence that defendant obliterated it).”

Commonwealth v. Holley, 755 N.E.2d 811 (Mass. App. Ct. 2001). “269, § 10(a); receiving a firearm after its serial number had been removed or mutilated, G. L. c. 269, § 11C; unlawful possession of ammunition, G.”

Commonwealth v. Tapia, 978 N.E.2d 534 (Mass. 2012). “94C, § 32E (c), with each charge coupled with a corresponding school zone violation, G. L. c. 94C, § 32J.”

Massachusetts High. Dep't v. Am. Fed'n of State, Council 93, 648 N.E.2d 430 (Mass. 1995). “Criminal charges and termination of employment are unrelated. Each furthers different policies and imposes different penalties.”

Commonwealth v. Moore, 765 N.E.2d 268 (Mass. App. Ct. 2002). “269, § 10(a), and of one count of receiving a firearm with the serial number defaced, G. L. c. 269, § 11C. The jury found Jones guilty of carrying ammunition, G.”

Commonwealth v. Almeida, 409 N.E.2d 776 (Mass. 1980). “269, § 10, and the other charging him with the crime of possession of a firearm the serial number of which was defaced in violation of G. L. c. 269, § 11C. He appealed to the Superior Court.”

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