Important Information for Residents Regarding the October 28, 2026 Firearms Registration Deadline
Massachusetts’ new firearm registration and serialization requirements become mandatory on October 28, 2026, under Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024, An Act Modernizing Firearm Laws.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do I need to re-register firearms I purchased from a licensed Massachusetts firearms dealer?
NO. Licensed Massachusetts firearms dealers are responsible for reporting firearm sales to the Commonwealth. If the dealer properly reported your purchase, you do not need to register that firearm again.
2. Do I need to re-register firearms I previously registered with Massachusetts?
NO. If you previously registered a firearm or properly reported its acquisition through the Commonwealth’s firearms transaction reporting system, you do not need to register it again solely because of the new requirements.
3. Does my MIRCS Unified Gun Portal show a list of all firearms registered to me?
NO. The MIRCS Unified Gun Portal does not provide a complete list of firearms you currently own or have previously registered with the Commonwealth.
Firearms previously purchased from licensed Massachusetts dealers or properly registered with the state will not automatically appear in your portal account. This does not mean those firearms are unregistered, and you do not need to re-register them simply because they are not displayed.
Residents who wish to obtain a list of firearms transactions recorded in their name can request a Firearms Ownership History from the Massachusetts Firearms Records Bureau.
For instructions, visit:
https://www.mass.gov/how-to/request-your-firearms-transaction-history
4. How can I verify whether a firearm was previously reported?
Residents can request their personal firearms transaction history directly from the Massachusetts Firearms Records Bureau (FRB).
The report contains firearms transactions recorded in the Commonwealth’s database. Instructions for obtaining this report are provided at the bottom of this FAQ.
5. Who may need to register firearms under the new requirements?
Residents should review the registration requirements if they possess firearms that have not previously been properly reported to the Commonwealth, including certain firearms:
- Purchased outside Massachusetts
- Obtained through private transfers
- Acquired through inheritance
- Privately manufactured or assembled
- Otherwise acquired without a transaction previously recorded with the Commonwealth
Previously reported firearms generally do not require duplicate registration.
6. Do I need to register an AR-15 lower receiver previously purchased from a licensed Massachusetts firearms dealer?
Generally, NO. If you purchased a lower receiver from a licensed Massachusetts firearms dealer and the dealer properly reported the transaction, you do not need to register that original transaction again.
IMPORTANT: If the lower receiver was subsequently assembled into a completed firearm, the completed firearm may have a separate registration requirement, even if the lower receiver was previously reported.
Residents should consult the Massachusetts Firearms Records Bureau regarding questions about completed firearms assembled from previously reported receivers.
7. I purchased a firearm from a dealer outside Massachusetts. Do I need to register it?
Possibly. Firearms purchased from out-of-state dealers and subsequently brought into Massachusetts may need to be registered with the Commonwealth.
Residents should not assume that a dealer outside Massachusetts reported the transaction to the Commonwealth.
If the firearm was previously properly reported to Massachusetts, duplicate registration is generally unnecessary.
8. I inherited a firearm. Does it need to be registered?
An inherited firearm may need to be registered if it has not previously been properly reported to the Commonwealth.
Special requirements and deadlines may apply to firearms acquired through an estate. Residents should also ensure they meet applicable firearms licensing and possession requirements.
9. Do firearms I have owned for many years need to be registered?
The length of time you have owned a firearm does not automatically exempt it from registration.
However, firearms previously properly reported or registered with the Commonwealth generally do not need to be registered again.
Residents should determine whether the firearm was previously reported rather than assuming that every older firearm must be newly registered.
10. Does my firearm need a new serial number?
NO, if it already has a valid serial number that satisfies Massachusetts requirements.
Certain firearms without qualifying serial numbers may need to be serialized.
Firearms manufactured before October 22, 1968, are generally exempt from the new serialization requirement. However, exemption from serialization does not necessarily mean exemption from registration.
Residents should review the Commonwealth’s serialization guidance for their particular firearm.
11. What if I manufactured or assembled a firearm myself?
Privately manufactured or assembled firearms may be subject to additional registration and serialization requirements.
Residents who built firearms from receivers, unfinished frames, or other components should review the Commonwealth’s requirements.
A previously reported component does not necessarily satisfy the registration requirement for a subsequently completed firearm.
12. Is October 28, 2026, the deadline to register every firearm I own?
NO. October 28, 2026, is the date the Commonwealth’s new registration and serialization requirements become mandatory.
This does not mean every firearm owner must re-register every firearm.
Firearms previously properly reported generally do not require duplicate registration. Residents possessing firearms that have not been properly reported should review their obligations under the new law.
13. Does having a License to Carry (LTC) or Firearms Identification (FID) Card mean my firearms are automatically registered?
NO. Firearms licensing and firearm registration are separate requirements.
Having a valid LTC or FID Card does not automatically establish that every firearm you own has been properly reported or registered.
14. What if I cannot access the MIRCS Unified Gun Portal or have difficulty registering a firearm?
Residents experiencing technical difficulties or uncertainty about registration should contact the Massachusetts Firearms Records Bureau.
The portal is administered by the Commonwealth, not the local Police Department.
Residents should retain copies of any completed registration confirmations.
15. Where can I register a firearm or obtain additional information?
Registration and serialization are administered through the Commonwealth’s MIRCS Unified Gun Portal.
Massachusetts Firearms Records Bureau
Phone: (617) 660-4782
Email: FRB@mass.gov
Official State Resources
Massachusetts Firearms FAQ:
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/firearms-license-and-transaction-frequently-asked-questions
Firearm Registration Information:
https://www.mass.gov/how-to/record-a-private-firearms-sale-or-registration
Request Firearms Serial Numbers:
https://www.mass.gov/how-to/request-firearms-serial-numbers
EOPSS Guidance #5:
https://www.mass.gov/doc/eopss-guidance-5-2024-firearms-act/download
How to Obtain a List of Firearms Transactions Recorded in Your Name
How can I find out which firearms Massachusetts has on record for me?
Residents may request a copy of their personal firearms transaction history directly from the Massachusetts Firearms Records Bureau.
This report includes firearms transactions reported to the Commonwealth’s database after 1985, including purchases, transfers, and registrations.
IMPORTANT: This report is a history of recorded transactions, not necessarily a complete inventory of firearms you currently own. It may include firearms you previously sold or transferred.
Visit the Commonwealth’s official website: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/request-your-firearms-transaction-history
- Download and complete the Personal Search Request Form.
- Select “Firearms Ownership History” to request a list of firearms transactions recorded in your name.
- Have your signature notarized by a notary public.
- Include a $20 bank check or money order, payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Personal checks are not accepted.
- Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope for the return of your records.
- Mail the completed request and required materials to:Massachusetts Firearms Records Bureau
Department of Criminal Justice Information Services
200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200
Chelsea, MA 02150
The Firearms Records Bureau will mail the results to you. Walk-in service is not available for these requests.
This FAQ is provided as a public service for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Residents are responsible for complying with applicable Massachusetts firearms laws and should consult the Massachusetts Firearms Records Bureau for questions regarding their individual circumstances.
Information updated October 8, 2026.