MGL Chapter 140, Section 131E:
Firearm Purchase Conditions (Repealed 2024)

Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 140, Section 131E^[1] governed conditions under which Massachusetts residents could purchase firearms from dealers or private sellers. This section was entirely repealed by Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024^[2], Section 59, effective October 2, 2024. Section 131E did not govern license suspension or revocation. That authority now sits in Section 121F(u), with judicial appeal under Section 121F(v).

Pre-Repeal Substance

Section 131E required presentment of a valid FID, LTC, or proof of exempt status for rifle and shotgun purchases (age 18 or older for standard, 21 or older for large capacity). For handgun purchases, it required an LTC or FID plus a permit to purchase under Section 131A (age 21 or older). Bona fide collectors with federal licenses could purchase curio and relic firearms.

Pre-Repeal Straw Purchase Penalty

Under former Section 131E(b), a person using an LTC or FID to purchase a firearm for the unlawful use of another, or for resale to or giving to an unlicensed person, faced:

Fine of $1,000 to $50,000

Imprisonment of 2.5 to 10 years in state prison, or both

Mandatory immediate license revocation

2-year bar on re-licensing

This straw-purchase penalty was repealed together with the rest of Section 131E by Chapter 135, Section 59, and was not carried forward as a distinct straw-purchase penalty in the restructured state law, so it is not currently in force unless the 2026 referendum restores Section 131E. Straw purchasing remains a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. Section 932.

Where the Substance Went

The content of Section 131E was redistributed across multiple sections:

• Section 121F: New centralized licensing process, eligibility, denied procedures, and fees
• Section 128A: Private transfers (significantly expanded)
• Sections 129B and 131: Updated purchase conditions
• Section 121B: Electronic registration for all transactions

Referendum Status

The repeal is subject to the November 2026 referendum. A successful repeal vote would restore Section 131E in full.