Large Capacity Ammunition Magazines
Massachusetts prohibits the sale, offering for sale, transfer or possession of a large capacity feeding device (as defined under
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, § 121) unless such device was lawfully possessed on September 13, 1994.
Ch. 140, § 131M.
Under Massachusetts law, a "large capacity feeding device" is defined as: "(i) a fixed or detachable magazine, box, drum, feed strip or similar device capable of accepting, or that can be readily converted to accept, more than ten rounds of ammunition or more than five shotgun shells; or (ii) a large capacity ammunition feeding device as defined in the federal Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act,
18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(31) as appearing in such section on September 13, 1994."
Ch. 140, § 121. This does not include "an attached tubular device designed to accept, and capable of operating only with, .22 caliber ammunition." Id.
The Massachusetts Secretary of Public Safety ("Secretary") is required to compile and publish a roster of firearms and feeding devices that he or she determines meet the definitions of those terms under
ch. 140, § 121.
Ch. 140, § 131.75. The Secretary may amend the roster upon his or her own initiative, upon the initiative of the Gun Control Advisory Board, or upon the petition of any person seeking to place a weapon on or remove a weapon from the roster.
Ch. 140, §§ 131.5,
131.75. Weapons and feeding devices not included on the roster may still be considered large capacity firearms or feeding devices if they fit the definitions contained in
ch. 140, §121.
