Lawful Firearm Purchase - Plain Language Summary

                                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                  

MASSACHUSETTS

 Purchasing

No matter what geographic state in the U.S. that you choose to process a firearm purchase, a  
Federal Firearm License Dealer [FFL] will have you fill in information on the BATFE form 4473.
You must pass a FBI National Instant Background Check [NICS] to be approved for firearm purchase.

A completed form 4473 is used to process the NICS check that authorizes the dealer to proceed with the sale, delay the sale or to deny the sale.

In some states form 4473 is all that is required to purchase a firearm. Massachusetts FFLs are required to process a Massachusetts Instant Record Check System [MIRCS] background check in addition to the NICS. All Massachusetts firearm license holders are issued a unique Pin number to process gun purchases. Dealers are further required to provide firearm purchasing customers with either an approved trigger or cable lock with each gun purchased.

Presently, there are no restrictions on how many guns you can purchase. ALWAYS keep a copy of the purchase documents in a safe place for future reference.

Transfer

The term Transfer is primarily used when referencing non-dealer firearm sales or gifts between private citizens. Massachusetts law limits the number of firearms that a private citizen can transfer to no more than 4 per year. The recipient [transferee] has no limit to how many firearms he may receive via transfer.

Transfers are processed on the electronic form E-FA10 that can be found on the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security website under the forms folder. The form title is Personal Sale or Transfer. The E-FA10 process does verify whether either party’s information matches the data in MIRCS. If a firearm license number is invalid or there exist any other inconsistency of information keyed in on the form, you will be unable to continue to the next page until the errors are corrected.

Whether you are the transferor or transferee, ALWAYS keep a copy of the transfer documents in a safe place for future reference.

Straw Purchase

What it is - When a lawful individual purchases a firearm for a person who is prohibited from firearm purchase and possession. NEVER get talked into doing this. Don't Lie For The Other Guy!

What it isn't - When a lawful individual purchases a firearm for a person who can lawfully possess a firearm. Example: A parent who makes a lawful firearm purchase as a gift for a son or daughter who possesses a FID or LTC.

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