MGL Chapter 140, Section 121B:
Electronic Firearms Registration

Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 140, Section 121B^[1], created by Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024^[2], mandates a comprehensive, real-time electronic firearms registration system operated by the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS). It requires registration of all firearms possessed, manufactured, or assembled in the Commonwealth.

Transition Deadline

Sections 157 and 158 of Chapter 135 set registration and serialization transition deadlines relative to when each system became publicly available. EOPSS Guidance #5, issued September 18, 2026, says individuals are not required to comply with the registration and serialization requirements in Sections 121B and 121C until October 28, 2026, under section 157 of Chapter 135.^[3] Firearms already registered through the transaction portal do not have to be registered again when the new system goes live. This transition date must be read alongside the statutory deadlines for purchases, imports, inheritance, and privately made firearms.

Key Requirements

Registration information must include the registrant's name, address, contact information, license, card or permit type, number and expiration date (or documentation of exemption under Section 129C), firearm type, acquisition date, source of acquisition, whether the firearm is privately made, and a sworn statement of lawful eligibility. Registration timelines vary by category:

• Standard acquisitions: At time of acquisition
• New residents and heirs: Within 60 days if imported by a new resident of the Commonwealth or acquired by an heir or devisee through distribution of an estate
• Firearms imported by licensed dealers, gunsmiths, distributors, and manufacturers: Within 7 days of import. Other acquisitions by these licensees require registration at the time of acquisition and transaction reporting within 7 days where applicable.
• Privately made firearms: Within 7 days of manufacture or assembly
• All transactions: All parties must report within 7 days, although EOPSS Guidance #5 says a buyer purchasing from a dealer does not need to enter the purchase in the portal because the dealer records the transaction. A loan to a duly licensed or exempted person for a period of less than 7 days does not have to be reported
• Loss or theft: Within 7 days to the licensing authority or the State Police where the firearm is registered, and to DCJIS, with automatic and immediate notification to the licensing authority where the owner resides and where the license, card or permit was issued

Penalties

• First offense: Fine up to $1,000
• Second offense: Fine up to $7,500 or imprisonment up to 6 months, or both
• Third or subsequent offense: Fine up to $10,000 or imprisonment of not less than 1 year nor more than 5 years, or both

Failure to report is also cause for suspension or permanent revocation of a person's license, card or permit.

Exceptions

• Firearms being delivered to law enforcement for the sole purpose of their destruction
• Firearms possessed by common carriers and their authorized employees and agents while performing the regular and ordinary transport of firearms as merchandise for customers licensed to permit such transport
• Firearms of nonresidents lawfully traveling through the Commonwealth (if stored per Sections 131C and 131L)
• Property of the United States government
• Firearms produced by federally licensed manufacturers not for sale in the Commonwealth

Related Provisions

Section 121C establishes the serialization requirements that feed into this registration system. Section 121E requires a public firearms data dashboard, and Section 121C requires the serial number request system to be integrated with this registration system and to ensure that all data on privately made firearms is available for data collection under Section 121E. Section 128A requires all private transfers to be processed through this system. Section 123 requires dealer loss and theft reporting through this system.

Referendum Status

Created by Chapter 135, this section would be repealed by a NO vote on Question 9, the November 2026 referendum on that law.

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