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Effective

MGL Chapter 140, Section 131P:
Basic Firearms Safety Certificate

LTCFIDChapter 135Referendum

Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 140, Section 131P [1] requires applicants for firearms licenses (LTC, FID, or nonresident temporary license) to complete an approved firearms safety course and obtain a Basic Firearms Safety Certificate before licensure.

Pre-Amendment Requirements

Any person applying who was not licensed on June 1, 1998, had to submit a certificate. Hunter education courses served as a substitute. Persons licensed on June 1, 1998 were grandfathered.

Chapter 135 Changes

Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024 [2], Section 74 (effective January 25, 2026) introduced major amendments:

  • Removed the "not licensed on June 1, 1998" qualifier
  • Hunter education is now only valid as a substitute for FID, not LTC
  • New grandfathering date of August 1, 2024
  • Expanded curriculum added injury and suicide prevention/harm reduction education, applicable laws on use of force, disengagement tactics, and live firearms training. The amended Section 131P, including the expanded curriculum, took effect on January 25, 2026. The live firearms training component is a statutory requirement. EOPSS Guidance #5 (September 18, 2026) says the State Police have approved numerous courses that satisfy the academic requirements of the new law and continue to review submitted courses.
  • The Colonel of State Police must create a standardized written examination with minimum passing requirements used in all firearm safety courses or programs mandated under Section 131P
  • The Colonel must consult with the Municipal Police Training Committee
  • An annually updated list of approved instructors must be posted on the State Police website

Demonstrated competency now explicitly includes "class participation, satisfactory completion of the written examination, and live firearms training."

Certificate Portal Workflow

EOPSS Guidance #5 says basic firearms safety instructors must enter class rosters and generate certificates through the Instructor Portal in the MIRCS Unified Gun Portal. The system went live on August 11, 2026, and students who pass can download their certificates from the portal.[3]

Harm Reduction Materials

A new subsection requires EOPSS, with DPH, to develop educational materials covering the prevalence of suicide by firearm, risks of injury and suicide with household firearms (including survival rates), best practices for reducing suicide risk, and available resources.

Penalties

  • Filing a false certificate: Fine of $1,000 to $5,000 or imprisonment up to 2 years, or both
  • Instructor knowingly issuing certificate to non-completing person: Fine of $5,000 to $10,000 or imprisonment up to 2 years, or both

Instructor Certification

Instructor certifications are valid for 10 years and are revocable. Initial fee: $50. Renewal fee: $10.

Related Provisions

Section 131P requires the certificate for applicants under Section 129B (FID), Section 131 (LTC) and Section 131F (nonresident licenses). Chapter 131, Section 14 governs hunter education as a substitute (now FID only). Section 131J establishes the stun gun exemption.

Referendum Status

Subject to the November 2026 referendum. The live-fire mandate, standardized exam, and harm reduction curriculum would be eliminated if Chapter 135 is repealed.

See also: MGL Chapter 140, Section 121B: Electronic Firearms Registration

See also: MGL Chapter 140, Section 121E: Public Firearms Data Dashboard

Verification

9 of 9 factual claims on this page were matched to their source text as of 2026-10-07.

Show the claims
Factual claims on this page and their verification status
ClaimTypeStatusSourceChecked
MGL Chapter 140, Section 131PSource text: # § 131P Basic firearms safety certificate; instructors; public service announcements [Text of section effective until January 25, 2026. For text effective JanSTATverified against sourceNone2026-10-07
Chapter 140, Section 131PSource text: # § 131P Basic firearms safety certificate; instructors; public service announcements [Text of section effective until January 25, 2026. For text effective JanSTATverified against sourceNone2026-10-07
Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024Source text: # St. 2024, c. 135: An Act Modernizing Firearm Laws ## SECTION 1. Section 172M of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, isSESSION_LAWverified against sourceNone2026-10-07
Chapter 131, Section 14Source text: # § 14 Hunter education programs; issuance of licenses to minors; target practice; confiscation of firearms Section 14. It shall be unlawful for any resident oSTATverified against sourceNone2026-10-07
MGL Chapter 140, Section 121BSource text: # § 121B Real time electronic firearms registration system; timing or registration; loss or theft of firearm; applicable firearms; failure to register; promulgaSTATverified against sourceNone2026-10-07
MGL Chapter 140, Section 121ESource text: # § 121E Publication of information relating to the use of firearms; information included; promulgation of rules and regulations Section 121E. (a) The departmeSTATverified against sourceNone2026-10-07
MGL Chapter 140, Section 130BSource text: # § 130B Firearm licensing review board; members; license applicants; hearings Section 130B. (a) There shall be a firearm licensing review board, established wSTATverified against sourceNone2026-10-07
MGL Chapter 140, Section 131Source text: # § 131 Licenses to carry firearms; conditions and restrictions; rules and regulations Section 131. The issuance and possession of a license to carry firearms STATverified against sourceNone2026-10-07
MGL Chapter 140, Section 129BSource text: # § 129B Firearm identification cards; conditions and restrictions Section 129B. A firearm identification card shall be issued and possessed subject to the folSTATverified against sourceNone2026-10-07

Sources

[1] Massachusetts Legislature. MGL Chapter 140, Section 131P

[2] Massachusetts Legislature. Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024

[3] EOPSS. Guidance 5, September 18, 2026

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