501 CMR 19.00: Registration of Firearms

Authority

G.L. c. 140, § 121B

Issuing Authority: Executive Office of Public Safety and Security
Regulatory Authority: G.L. c. 140, § 121B
MA REG. #1557, Dated 9/26/2025

Purpose and Scope (§ 19.01)

Sets forth electronic registration requirements for firearms through the MIRCS Firearms Licensing Portal operated by DCJIS.

Applies to all firearms possessed, manufactured, or assembled in the Commonwealth, and all firearm transactions (purchases, sales, rentals, leases, loans, other transfers, loss/theft), except those exempted by § 121B(b) and (d) and § 19.09.

Does not address serialization (see 501 CMR 20.00).

Definitions (§ 19.02)

Key definitions track the 2024 Act's expanded terminology:

• Firearm: Stun gun, pistol, revolver, rifle, shotgun, sawed-off shotgun, large capacity firearm, assault-style firearm, and machine gun; includes frame, receiver, and unfinished frame/receiver. Excludes antique and permanently inoperable firearms.
• Frame: Part of pistol/revolver providing housing for the component designed to hold back the hammer/striker/bolt. ATF serial number creates rebuttable presumption.
• Receiver: Part of rifle/shotgun providing housing for the primary component designed to block/seal the breech. ATF serial number creates rebuttable presumption.
• Unfinished Frame or Receiver: Forging, casting, printing, extrusion, machined body that (a) has reached a stage where it may readily be completed to function as a frame/receiver, or (b) is marketed/sold to become a frame/receiver. Excludes antique firearm components.
• Privately Made Firearm: Firearm manufactured/assembled by an unlicensed individual. Excludes firearms made by § 122 licensees in the course of business.
• Valid Serial Number: Number placed by a federal licensee, under state law, under 26 U.S.C. § 5842, or issued by ATF/DCJIS.

Registration Requirements (§ 19.03)

To register, the user must submit:
1. Name, address, phone, email
2. License/card/permit type and number (or § 129C exemption documentation)
3. License expiration date
4. Date firearm was acquired (if known)
5. Type of firearm
6. Name/address of source (if known)
7. Whether the firearm was privately made

Registrant must acknowledge under penalties of perjury that they are properly licensed/permitted/exempted and not prohibited from possessing a firearm.

Time of Registration (§ 19.04)

Reporting Transactions (§ 19.05)

All firearm transactions (purchases, sales, rentals, leases, loans, transfers) must be reported by all parties via the MIRCS portal within 7 days.

Exception: No report required for a loan to a duly licensed/exempted person for less than 7 days.

Loss or Theft (§ 19.06)

Must be reported via MIRCS portal within 7 days of learning of the loss/theft. Report must include: description, make, model, serial number, caliber, and whether large capacity.

DCJIS notifies the licensing authority in the owner's city/town and the issuing authority.

MIRCS Portal (§§ 19.07-19.08)

All registration must be done via the MIRCS portal (mircsportal.chs.state.ma.us/mircs-portal). Requires internet access and a MIRCS system account.

Exemptions (§ 19.09)

Registration does not apply to:

• Firearms delivered to law enforcement for destruction
• Firearms possessed by common carriers during regular transport
• Firearms possessed by nonresidents lawfully traveling through MA (stored per §§ 131C, 131L, and 18 U.S.C. § 926A)
• US government property
• Firearms produced by federally licensed manufacturers not for sale in MA
• Loans to licensed/exempted persons for less than 7 days
• Non-large capacity, non-semiautomatic rifles/shotguns possessed by nonresidents under § 129C
• Firearms possessed by nonresidents under § 131F license
• Firearms possessed during training under § 131P
• Firearms transferred to/from a licensed gunsmith for repair/service (if otherwise legal)
• Firearms possessed by a returning MA resident (absent 180+ consecutive days) with respect to firearms in possession prior to return
• Firearms possessed under § 129C(e), (f), and (g), if previously registered
• "Any firearm transaction previously recorded in MIRCS or any legacy systems utilized by DCJIS." (verbatim, verified 2026-09-15)

Violations (§ 19.10)

• Failure to register: criminal penalties per § 121B(e)
• Failure to report transaction/loss/theft: criminal penalties per § 121B(e)
• Any § 121B violation: subject to suspension or permanent revocation of license/card/permit