State Legality Matrix / Suppressors / Massachusetts

Are Suppressors Legal in Massachusetts?

Statute-cited, last verified 2026-07-10

Banned

No. Selling, keeping for sale, giving, using, or possessing a silencer is prohibited.

Controlling law: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 269, § 10A

Litigation Status and Details

Exempts federally licensed manufacturers selling to law enforcement, the municipal police training committee, and sworn law enforcement officers on duty. Punishable by up to 5 years in state prison.

Federal baseline

Suppressors are federally legal to own under the NFA. As of January 1, 2026 the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (signed July 2025) zeroed the federal making and transfer tax on suppressors, formerly $200. Form 4 or Form 1, fingerprints, the NICS background check, and NFA registration are all still required; ATF eForm approvals currently run days to a couple of weeks.

Scope: Firearm suppressors (silencers) as defined by the NFA. Federal NFA compliance (Form 4 or Form 1, fingerprints, NICS, registration) is required everywhere they are legal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are suppressors legal in Massachusetts?

No. Selling, keeping for sale, giving, using, or possessing a silencer is prohibited. Controlling law: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 269, § 10A.

What law covers suppressors in Massachusetts?

The controlling law is Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 269, § 10A. Selling, keeping for sale, giving, using, or possessing a silencer is prohibited.

Are suppressors legal under federal law?

Suppressors are federally legal to own under the NFA. As of January 1, 2026 the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (signed July 2025) zeroed the federal making and transfer tax on suppressors, formerly $200. Form 4 or Form 1, fingerprints, the NICS background check, and NFA registration are all still required; ATF eForm approvals currently run days to a couple of weeks.

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