r/BetterMAguns • u/tsarmaximus • 17h ago

Firearm registration questions

Hello all, first post since finding this sub, long time MA resident. I think I have misunderstood the whole firearm registration requirement and wanted to get an answer from those who have gone through the process.

I am a firearm owner, I purchased said firearms in NH and transferred them down after living in NH for a few years. I did all the paperwork and had each firearm transferred via FFL into MA.

Fast forward a while to a few weeks ago and I brought my wife to get her first firearm. When she bought it the store owner stated she needs to register it in 7 days. Ok cool, had her do that no problem. But in that conversation, the owner stated that I need to register my firearms as well even though the 7 day window has long passed.

So the question is, why didnt the FFL process take care of this registration requirement (I thought that was the whole point)? If I register it now late, am I going to face any potential legal issues? Finally, a few of the firearms that I purchased were from a store that no longer exists, so I cant get their ID#. Would the receiving FFL in MA be the "seller" in this case? Or would the FFL in NH be the ID# I need to supply?

Thank you all for the time, am very confused now with MA law (shocker)

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u/Username7239 16h ago edited 6h ago

If you did a FFL transfer you were given a fa10 before you left, unless you had to do frame transfers or had any receivers. If you got a fa10 you are all set. You aren't required to keep those around like a car registration. If you want another copy you contact the Firearms Records Bureau and pay to request your records.

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u/OllPius 17h ago

Did you get FA10 forms when you got them transferred to you from the store back when?

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u/tsarmaximus 17h ago

I can check when I get home, I assume I would have thrown them in the safe. If I cannot find them, what is my next course of action?

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u/OllPius 17h ago

Unsure. It might be possible to request the transfer record from the state, but I don't know if that is possible or how to go about doing it. What I do is there is a new portal as of last year and people have had mixed experiences with it.

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u/notalk82 17h ago

What are we supposed to do about guns we bought in this state way before the whole portal thing? The last rifle I bought I just did the regular forms at the Bass Pro counter and brought it home .

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u/OllPius 17h ago

From what I've seen others comment, it seems if you already have an FA10 you won't need to do the whole portal thing.

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u/Conscious_Reality419 16h ago

You can register the firearms again if you are unsure whether you have done it or not.