Massachusetts Constitutional Carry

The Short Answer

Massachusetts does not have constitutional carry (permitless concealed carry). Every person who carries a handgun in Massachusetts must hold a valid License to Carry (LTC) issued under M.G.L. c. 140, Section 131 (residents) or M.G.L. c. 140, Section 131F (non-residents). Unlicensed carry is prosecuted under M.G.L. c. 269, Section 10(a) and carries substantial penalties.

Constitutional carry, also known as permitless carry or Vermont carry, refers to the policy of allowing eligible adults to carry a concealed firearm without a state-issued license. As of early 2026, 29 states have enacted some form of constitutional carry. Massachusetts is not one of them and shows no near-term sign of moving to the constitutional carry framework.

Why Massachusetts Has No Constitutional Carry

Massachusetts is among the most heavily regulated firearms jurisdictions in the United States. The state's firearm-licensing framework has been in place for decades and was substantially expanded by Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024 ("An Act Modernizing Firearm Laws"). Chapter 135's direction was toward more comprehensive licensing, training, and sensitive-place restrictions - the opposite of the constitutional carry direction.

The political composition of the Massachusetts General Court (the state legislature) does not support constitutional carry legislation. No serious constitutional carry bill has been filed in recent sessions, and no bill of that type has advanced through committee.

The Operative Licensing Requirement

To lawfully carry a handgun in Massachusetts:

There is no "in your home" or "in your vehicle" exception that allows unlicensed handgun possession. M.G.L. c. 269, Section 10(h) separately criminalizes unlicensed firearm possession at home or business; the LTC or FID is required for possession in either location.

Categorical Penalties for Unlicensed Carry

The c. 269, Section 10 offenses applicable to unlicensed carry are substantial:

• M.G.L. c. 269, Section 10(a) - unlicensed carry of a firearm outside home or business. The pre-Chapter-135 framework imposed a mandatory minimum sentence of 18 months in the house of correction. Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024 reworked the penalty structure but the offense remains a serious criminal exposure.
• M.G.L. c. 269, Section 10(n) - unlicensed carry of a loaded firearm outside home or business. Enhanced penalty over the base 10(a) offense.
• M.G.L. c. 269, Section 10(h) - unlicensed possession at home or business. Separate offense.

A conviction under any of these subsections is a serious criminal record and triggers federal firearm-disability under 18 U.S.C. 922(g) (felony or qualifying misdemeanor) on top of the state consequences.

The LTC as the Permitless-Carry Alternative

For an eligible Massachusetts resident, the LTC is the permitless-carry alternative. Once issued, the LTC authorizes carry of a handgun without the holder having to seek further authorization for each carry instance. The friction is at the front-end licensing stage, not at the per-instance level.

The LTC qualifying steps:

1. Be at least 21 years old.
2. Complete the Basic Firearms Safety Course under M.G.L. c. 140, Section 131P (Chapter 135 of 2024 added a mandatory live-fire component).
3. Apply to the local chief of police (or, for non-residents, to the Colonel of State Police).
4. Pass the state and federal background check.
5. Be deemed suitable under c. 140, Section 131 (post-Bruen framework removed "good reason" but retained suitability).
6. Pay the $100 state fee.
7. Receive the LTC valid for six years.

This is more friction than a constitutional carry state, but is the only lawful path in Massachusetts.

What "Constitutional Carry" Would Mean in Massachusetts

If Massachusetts were to enact constitutional carry, the change would:

• Allow eligible adults to carry concealed without an LTC.
• Likely retain federal prohibitor categories (felon, domestic violence, etc.) via federal law.
• Likely retain state sensitive-place restrictions.
• Substantially reduce the role of the local police chief in the firearm-licensing process.

No such change is pending or likely in Massachusetts as of early 2026.

Constitutional Litigation - Post-Bruen Status

New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, 597 U.S. 1 (2022), held that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to carry a handgun in public for self-defense. The decision invalidated New York's may-issue framework that conditioned licensure on a need-based showing, and the same logic applied to Massachusetts's pre-Chapter-135 "good reason" requirement.

Bruen did NOT hold that all permit requirements are unconstitutional. The decision left intact:

• Shall-issue licensing schemes (where the state must issue a license to any qualified applicant).
• Background checks for prohibited persons.
• Sensitive-place restrictions consistent with historical tradition.
• Reasonable licensing fees and training requirements.

Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024 was Massachusetts's substantive response to Bruen. It replaced "good reason" with "suitability" - retaining a discretionary element but framing it within enumerated criteria and de novo District Court appeal. Whether Chapter 135's various provisions survive ongoing federal litigation in Granata v. Healey and related cases remains to be determined.

Even if Chapter 135 were largely invalidated, the result would likely be a Massachusetts shift to shall-issue licensing, NOT a shift to constitutional carry. The Second Amendment doctrine post-Bruen does not require states to forgo licensing entirely.

Reciprocity Implications

Massachusetts's lack of constitutional carry combines with its zero-reciprocity posture (see RECIPROCITY section) to make the state uniquely unfriendly to non-resident carriers:

• Constitutional carry permit holders from other states are not authorized to carry in Massachusetts.
• A non-resident must obtain a Massachusetts Non-Resident LTC under c. 140, Section 131F to lawfully carry.
• The federal LEOSA (18 U.S.C. 926B-C) is the only meaningful exception for qualified law enforcement.

Federal Interaction

Federal law does not require states to recognize constitutional carry from sister states. 18 U.S.C. 926A (FOPA) provides interstate transport protection for an unloaded firearm in a locked container with ammunition separately stored. FOPA does not authorize carry while in Massachusetts; only Massachusetts state law governs carry.

Practical Takeaway

For any person, resident or non-resident, intending to carry a handgun in Massachusetts:

• Get a Massachusetts LTC (or Massachusetts Non-Resident LTC). No other state's permit and no constitutional carry framework applies.
• Plan ahead. The LTC process takes 60-90 days; the non-resident process is similar. There is no same-day path.
• Comply with all post-issuance requirements - storage, training renewal, sensitive-place restrictions, impairment prohibition.
• Monitor pending legislation and litigation for changes to the framework, but do not assume any change is imminent.

Key Statutory References

Summary Table