Massachusetts License to Carry (LTC)

Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 140, Section 131^[1] establishes the framework for issuing Licenses to Carry (LTC) firearms. This section was significantly amended by Chapter 180 of the Acts of 1998^[2] and most recently overhauled by Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024^[3].

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for an LTC, an applicant must:

Be 21 years of age or older
Be a resident of the city or town where the application is filed, or have a place of business within that jurisdiction
Have completed a Massachusetts-approved firearms safety course (which may now include a live-fire training component under Ch. 135)
Not be a prohibited person under state or federal law
Not have been committed to a hospital or institution for mental illness, alcohol, or substance abuse
Not be subject to an active restraining order, harassment prevention order, or extreme risk protection order
Not have been convicted of a felony or certain misdemeanors

Application Process

Applications are submitted to the licensing authority of the applicant's city or town of residence. The licensing authority is typically the chief of police in cities and towns, or the board of selectmen in certain municipalities. Under Chapter 135, the state is transitioning from the MIRCS portal to the Unified Gun Portal through MyMassGov for application processing. The applicant must submit a completed application, proof of safety course completion, and the $100 state fee.

Licensing Authority Discretion and the Suitability Standard

Massachusetts operates under a "shall-issue" framework with a suitability carve-out. The licensing authority shall issue an LTC to any applicant who meets the statutory requirements. However, the licensing authority retains the power to deny a license based on a determination that the applicant is unsuitable, considering factors such as reliable and credible information that the applicant poses a risk to public safety. Chapter 135 preserved and refined this suitability standard.

Licensing Review Board

The Firearm Licensing Review Board, created under Section 130B^[4] by Chapter 150 of the Acts of 2004, provides an administrative review pathway for applicants who are denied a license or have their license revoked, in addition to the existing judicial appeal under Section 131(f). The board has been amended by subsequent legislation including Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024.

License Scope

The LTC permits the holder to purchase, rent, lease, borrow, possess, and carry all lawful firearms, rifles, shotguns (including semiautomatic and large-capacity models), and ammunition. The old Class A / Class B distinction was eliminated by Chapter 284 of the Acts of 2014, which discontinued Class B licenses. Chapter 135 removed remaining class references. All LTCs are now a single class. The license expires on the licensee's birthday occurring not less than 5 years nor more than 6 years after the date of issue, and must be renewed prior to expiration to maintain lawful possession.

An LTC does not authorize the purchase, transfer, or acquisition of firearms classified as assault-style firearms under Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024, or handguns not appearing on the EOPSS Approved Firearms Roster. The LTC's broad possession and carry authority applies to lawfully owned firearms only. Acquiring a firearm prohibited under state law is unlawful regardless of the holder's license status.

Pending Constitutional Challenge: Commonwealth v. Thomson

Section 131(d), which requires applicants to be 21 years of age or older to obtain an LTC, is the subject of an active constitutional challenge before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.

In Commonwealth v. Mikai P. Thomson, the SJC heard oral arguments on March 2, 2026. The defendant was 20 years old when police found a handgun in his vehicle during a 2021 traffic stop in Boston. His attorney argued that the Second Amendment contains no age restriction and that the prohibition on 18-to-20-year-olds obtaining an LTC is unconstitutional.^[5]

During oral argument, the SJC questioned whether Thomson had legal standing to bring the challenge. The Commonwealth argued that because Thomson never applied for a license and was therefore never denied one based on his age, he may lack standing to mount a facial or as-applied challenge. The SJC framed two issues: (1) whether Section 131(d)(iv) is unconstitutional as applied to individuals aged 18 to 20, and (2) whether Thomson may raise that challenge given that he never sought a license.

Gun-rights advocates and the Committee for Public Counsel Services filed briefs supporting Thomson's position. No decision has been issued as of May 2026. If the SJC rules against Thomson on the merits, the case could be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.^[6]

Practical note: The 21-year minimum remains in full effect pending the SJC's decision. Individuals under 21 may not obtain an LTC regardless of the pending litigation.

MGL Chapter 140, Section 131:
License to Carry Firearms