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December 05, 2025 Clouds | 25°F
The 194th General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Section 17: Armed robbery; punishment

[ Text of section effective until October 2, 2024. For text effective October 2, 2024, see below.]

  Section 17. Whoever, being armed with a dangerous weapon, assaults another and robs, steals or takes from his person money or other property which may be the subject of larceny shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for life or for any term of years; provided, however, that any person who commits any offence described herein while masked or disguised or while having his features artificially distorted shall, for the first offence be sentenced to imprisonment for not less than five years and for any subsequent offence for not less than ten years. Whoever commits any offense described herein while armed with a firearm, shotgun, rifle, machine gun or assault weapon shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not less than five years. Any person who commits a subsequent offense while armed with a firearm, shotgun, rifle, machine gun or assault weapon shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not less than 15 years.

Chapter 265: Section 17. Armed robbery; punishment

[ Text of section as amended by 2024, 135, Secs. 95 and 96 effective October 2, 2024. For text effective until October 2, 2024, see above.]

  Section 17. Whoever, being armed with a dangerous weapon, assaults another and robs, steals or takes from his person money or other property which may be the subject of larceny shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for life or for any term of years; provided, however, that any person who commits any offence described herein while masked or disguised or while having his features artificially distorted shall, for the first offence be sentenced to imprisonment for not less than five years and for any subsequent offence for not less than ten years. Whoever commits any offense described herein while armed with a firearm, as defined in section 121 of chapter 140, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not less than five years. Any person who commits a subsequent offense while armed with a firearm shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not less than 15 years.