Massachusetts has no statute that specifically prohibits open carry of a handgun by a person holding a valid License to Carry (LTC) under M.G.L. c....
Reviewed by Will Luker, Founder of CCW Hub. USCCA Training Counselor, USCCA Certified Instructor, NRA Certified Instructor, Law Enforcement.
Massachusetts has no statute that specifically prohibits open carry of a handgun by a person holding a valid License to Carry (LTC) under M.G.L. c. 140, Section 131. As a strict statutory matter, an unrestricted LTC authorizes both concealed and open carry of a handgun.
In practice, open carry in Massachusetts is rare, legally risky, and operationally unwise. The combination of strict licensing requirements, the licensing authority's continuous suitability discretion, the c. 269, Section 14 disturbing-the-peace exposure, and the post-Chapter-135 expanded sensitive-place list makes open carry a poor practical choice for nearly all LTC holders. Most Massachusetts firearms instructors recommend concealed carry as the default.
M.G.L. c. 140, Section 131 authorizes the LTC holder to "carry firearms" subject to the conditions imposed on the license. The statute does not distinguish between concealed and open methods of carry. Whatever the LTC authorizes, it authorizes in either form.
The restrictions written on the face of a particular LTC may limit the manner of carry. A "target & hunting only" restriction limits both concealed and open carry to those activities. An "unrestricted" LTC authorizes general public carry in either form.
A visibly armed person walking through a public space in Massachusetts is a statistical rarity. Civilian observers may file a complaint or call 911 reporting a "man with a gun." The responding police investigation may lead to:
The Section 14 risk is not theoretical. Massachusetts case law has sustained disturbing-the-peace prosecutions where conduct caused alarm even where the underlying conduct (open carry by an LTC holder) was otherwise lawful.
Suitability under c. 140, Section 131 is a continuous standard. A licensing authority may suspend or revoke an LTC if the holder's conduct gives the chief reason to find the holder no longer suitable. Open carry that produces civilian alarm, police responses, or licensee-authority reports may be cited in a suitability review.
A visibly armed person produces a tactically charged police encounter even when the carry is lawful. Officers approach with weapons drawn or pre-deployed; the LTC holder must produce identification while remaining still; misunderstandings can escalate to tragedy. The risk-reward analysis for an LTC holder strongly favors concealed carry.
Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024 substantially expanded the list of sensitive places where firearm carry is prohibited (schools, courthouses, government buildings, polling places, hospitals, public transit, parades, parks, alcohol-serving establishments, houses of worship). An open carrier walking through a public area is more likely to inadvertently enter a sensitive place than a concealed carrier whose firearm is not visible to others, and the open carrier becomes the visible test case for enforcement of the sensitive-place rule.
The most common LTC restrictions written by Massachusetts licensing authorities effectively rule out open carry:
Only an unrestricted LTC authorizes general open carry. A restricted LTC holder open-carrying outside the restriction is exposed to revocation and prosecution under c. 269, Section 10 for carry outside license authority.
Even with an unrestricted LTC, certain carry contexts are categorically prohibited - and open carry in those contexts compounds the violation:
A Massachusetts LTC holder hunting with a long gun in a Wildlife Management Area or on private land with permission is openly displaying the firearm in the ordinary course of the activity. The MassWildlife regulations under M.G.L. c. 131 govern hunting firearm carry; the c. 140, Section 131 open-carry analysis applies on top.
Similarly, at a permitted firing range, openly displaying the firearm is normal range conduct. The c. 140, Section 131 framework permits this.
The open-carry analysis described above applies to public carry in non-recreational, non-range contexts.
Massachusetts case law has not produced a bright-line definition of "concealed." The practical standard:
LTC holders who carry concealed should pay attention to clothing fit and printing. Brief, accidental exposure of a holstered firearm during normal activity (reaching up, bending over) is not generally a basis for prosecution but may produce a citizen-complaint response.
The same analysis applies to long guns: an LTC holder may openly carry a rifle or shotgun in public subject to license restrictions and the c. 269, Section 14 / suitability risk. Open carry of a long gun in a non-hunting, non-recreational context will produce a police response.
Massachusetts's posture differs from many other states:
Massachusetts sits in the third category functionally even though no specific statute prohibits open carry. The combination of licensing, suitability, and incidental-offense exposure produces a de facto prohibition for most LTC holders.
For nearly every LTC holder in Massachusetts, the practical recommendation is:
| Statute | Subject |
|---|---|
| M.G.L. c. 140, Section 121 | Firearm definitions |
| M.G.L. c. 140, Section 131 | LTC (authorizes carry without specifying method) |
| M.G.L. c. 140, Section 131F | Non-Resident LTC |
| M.G.L. c. 269, Section 10 | Carry offenses |
| M.G.L. c. 269, Section 10(j) | Firearms at school |
| M.G.L. c. 269, Section 12D | School grounds carry |
| M.G.L. c. 269, Section 14 | Disturbing the peace |
| 18 U.S.C. 922(q) | Gun Free School Zones Act |
| Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024 | 2024 reform act |
This page covers one part of our Massachusetts concealed carry guide.
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