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Firearm Purchase Conditions (Repealed 2024)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 This section was entirely repealed by Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024^[2], Section 59, effective October 2, 2024.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 under its former classifications. An LTC authorized a handgun purchase directly. A buyer without an LTC needed a Section 131A permit to purchase, and an FID by itself did not authorize a handgun purchase. Bona fide federally licensed collectors could purchase qualifying curios and relics.

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This straw-purchase penalty was repealed together with the rest of Section 131E by Chapter 135, Section 59, and was not carried forward as a distinct straw-purchase penalty in the restructured state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.