Chapter 135 (H.4885): Non-residents

The following should not be taken as legal advice.

But here are a few things you should know. As usual, these interpretations are fluid and ongoing.

Non-Resident Licensing:

• Antique Firearms - Creates a separate definition for “Antique Firearm”. Clarifies where a license is required to possess antiques/muzzle loaders. Any that use a modern primer or other ammunition component is considered a modern firearm and requires a license to possess.
• Strikes out “alien that resides outside the commonwealth” and replaces it with: a citizen or national of the United States or a person who maintains legal permanent residency.
• No longer exempt from licensing requirements for possessing handguns and any semi-automatic firearms for any purpose including competition.

Non- Resident Hunting:

• Must register their firearms with the Commonwealth prior to entering the state.
• Bans the possession of semi-automatic firearms (including rifles and shotguns).
• Bans any non-resident under 18 from hunting in Massachusetts.
• Non-residents, even those with a temporary license to carry, cannot purchase ammunition or ammunition part in the Commonwealth. (This has been the case since 1998, but was reaffirmed in Chapter 135.)
• Any muzzle loader that uses a modern primer or other component will be considered a modern firearm, thus a license is required.
• There is some language in line #1306 of the bill about hunting licenses: “The colonel of the state police shall determine those states with substantially similar requirements to those of the commonwealth for a firearm identification card under section 129C and a hunting license under section 11 of chapter 131 and shall annually publish a list of those states.”

Registration/Serialization:

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• Must register their guns prior to entering the state for any purpose other than travel.
• Must meet all of the new “serialization” standards.
• All firearms, frames and receivers shall have a serial number. Excludes pre-1968.
• Serial numbers must be placed in a manner not susceptible of being readily obliterated, altered or removed.
• Firearms, frames and receivers made from non-metallic materials shall be accomplished by using a metal plate permanently embedded in the material of the frame or receiver. 

Storage and Transportation:

• Must meet new storage/transportation standards upon entering in the state, other than for traveling through under certain conditions.
• Semi-automatics now fall in the Assault Style Firearm category only for storage/transportation.

Training:

• Non-residents would likely have to travel to Massachusetts to take a course as it is unlikely to be taught anywhere else.
• It appears that if they currently hold a non-resident license prior to August 1, 2024 they are grandfathered for renewals only.
• The colonel of state police, in consultation with the municipal police training committee, shall create a new training curriculum. Must include at minimum:

o  Injury prevention.

o  Suicide prevention.

o  Disengagement tactics.

o  Live fire.

o  Completion of a written exam.

o  Anything else they deem necessary.

• The colonel shall create a written examination and establish minimum requirements to pass.             
• It appears that the state will send the certificate to successful students.
• Licensing authority must confirm with the state that a certificate has been issued prior to processing a license application.