SENATE DOCKET, NO. 717        FILED ON: 1/14/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Ryan C. Fattman

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act prohibiting the confiscation of lawfully owned firearms during a state of emergency.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 717        FILED ON: 1/14/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1513 OF 2023-2024.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act prohibiting the confiscation of lawfully owned firearms during a state of emergency.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Chapter 140 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 129D the following section:-

Section 129E. (a) No government official or any person acting on behalf of the commonwealth shall order the confiscation of, or otherwise cause the confiscation of, any lawfully owned firearm, rifle, shotgun, machinegun or ammunition.

(b) No law enforcement officer, person acting as a law enforcement officer, or other public official shall confiscate or attempt to confiscate or attempt to confiscate an lawfully carried or lawfully owned firearm, rifle, shotgun, machinegun or ammunition.

(c) Whoever violates the provisions of this section shall be subject to a civil fine of not less than $500 and not more than $5,000 for each firearm unlawfully confiscated or by imprisonment in a state prison for not more than two and one-half years. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the confiscation of a firearm, rifle, shotgun, machinegun or ammunition from any person who: (i) has been placed under arrest; (ii) is the subject of a protection order issued under chapter 209A; or (iii) has had their firearm identification card or license to carry revoked or suspended.