STATE
MASSACHUSETTS GUN LAWS
Massachusetts has some of the strongest gun laws in the country and leads the nation in investing in community violence intervention strategies.
Scorecard Grade
In 2024, Massachusetts had the second lowest gun death rate among the states. In an average year, 267 people die from gun violence in the state. That means someone dies from gun violence every 33 hours. Fifty-six percent of those deaths are gun suicides, and 41% are gun homicides. In Massachusetts, the rate of gun deaths increased 26% from 2015 to 2024, compared to a 15% increase nationwide.
EXPLORE MASSACHUSETTS’S GUN LAWS
OWNER RESPONSIBILITIES
CHILD & CONSUMER SAFETY
What Massachusetts Does Well
- Gun owner licensing
- Universal background checks
- Extreme risk protection orders
- Domestic violence gun laws
- Large capacity magazine ban
- Strong concealed carry law
- Certain open carry regulations
- Safe storage laws
- Community violence intervention funding
- Record-keeping of gun sales
- Ghost gun laws
- Assault weapon restrictions
What massachusetts Is Missing
- Victims’ access to justice law
- Stronger firearm restrictions for harassment prevention court orders
- Minimum age restrictions
- Stronger gun trafficking laws and bulk firearm purchase restrictions
- Comprehensive firearm relinquishment law
SPOTLIGHT
GUN VIOLENCE STATISTICS
Explore facts, figures, and original analysis compiled by our experts. To end our gun violence crisis, we need to better understand where, how, and why violence occurs.
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JOIN THE FIGHT
Nearly 47,000 Americans lose their lives to gun violence every year. In communities, courts, and ballot boxes nationwide, GIFFORDS fights to save lives from gun violence. Will you join us?