Massachusetts Newly Passed Gun Law to Appear on 2026 Midterm Ballot

In July 2024, MA passed a forward thinking, comprehensive firearms act (Firearms Modernization Act H#4885) to update and add to our firearms regulations in the state. The law also included measures and law revisions to protect the state from various challenges to our laws in the wake of the Bruen decision in NY regarding concealed carry.

The Civil Rights Coalition, composed of gun owners, gun retailers, gun manufacturers, and others, has challenged the bill, garnering 78,707 signatures which allow the challenge to the law to appear on the 2026 midterm ballot. A “yes” vote will keep the bill in place, while a “no” vote would reject it. This puts the new bill in the hands of the voters.

MA currently enjoys an A rating gun law status in the country and ranks 5th out of 50 states on gun law strength. Our homicide rate is one of the lowest in the country. This is a direct result of our ongoing commitment to have strong gun laws. The gun violence prevention groups in MA and beyond worked very hard over a few years to pass this firearm safety bill and are committed to defending it as we continue in this process.

Among other measures, the bill provides for the serialization and ban of ghost guns and 3D printed guns, modifies our definition of firearms to include enhancement devices for rapid fire and other deadly enhancements, requires training for applicants for a license to carry or for an FID card, establishes a violence prevention task force, and creates an emerging technologies commission to follow the rise of new technologies in firearms.

Other features of the bill are more frequent inspections of dealers, transformation of firearms rules, prohibition of firearm carry in federal and municipal buildings, schools and polling places, revision of the definition of an assault weapon, improved reporting and tracking systems for crime data, increased categories of petitioners that are able to apply under the red flag ERPO provisions to include school and mental health officials and others.

We will keep you posted of any changes as we move forward to the ballot referendum in 2026 as there may be changes: there are already lawsuits being filed in advance of the referendum. As previously stated, all the gun violence prevention groups who worked on this bill will defend it and we hope to have your support in 2026 to do so.

To see the full bill #4885, Click Here.