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Regulatory Updates

Massachusetts Approved Handgun Roster: August 2026 Update

Roster

The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security publishes the Massachusetts Approved Handgun Roster and related rosters on its official roster page.[1] The current Approved Handgun Roster located during the August 19, 2026 review is the August 2026 edition.[2]

What the Roster Controls

Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 140, Section 123 generally bars a licensed dealer from selling, renting, leasing, or transferring a handgun unless the model appears on the applicable approved roster or a statutory exception applies.[3] The testing and roster process is governed by 501 CMR 7.00.[4]

Separate Attorney General Rules

Roster placement does not by itself establish compliance with the Attorney General's handgun-sales regulations at 940 CMR 16.00. An FFL must check both the current roster and the separate consumer-protection requirements before a dealer transfer.

How to Verify a Model

  • Use the official EOPSS roster page, not an old downloaded copy.
  • Match the manufacturer, model, caliber, and any listed configuration exactly.
  • Check whether a statutory exception applies before treating an unlisted handgun as transferable.
  • Document the roster edition and the date checked in the transaction file.