Skip to Content
December 04, 2025 Clouds | 18°F
The 194th General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  1. General Laws
  2. Part IV CRIMES, PUNISHMENTS AND PROCEEDINGS IN CRIMINAL CASES
  3. Title I CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS
  4. Chapter 269 CRIMES AGAINST PUBLIC PEACE
  5. Section 10K Breaking and entering building in which firearm retailer, wholesaler or manufacturer conducts business; unlawfully obtaining or distributing firearm, rifle, shotgun, machine gun or ammunition; punishment

Section 10K

Section 10K: Breaking and entering building in which firearm retailer, wholesaler or manufacturer conducts business; unlawfully obtaining or distributing firearm, rifle, shotgun, machine gun or ammunition; punishment

  Section 10K. (a) Whoever in the nighttime or the daytime breaks and enters any building in which a firearm retailer, wholesaler or manufacturer conducts business shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 10 years or by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 21/2 years or by a fine of not more than $10,000, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

[ Subsection (b) effective until October 2, 2024. For text effective October 2, 2024, see below.]

  (b) Whoever in the nighttime or the daytime breaks and enters any building in which a firearm retailer, wholesaler or manufacturer conducts business with the intent to unlawfully obtain a firearm, rifle, shotgun, machine gun or ammunition shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 10 years or by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 21/2 years or by a fine of not more than $10,000, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

[ Subsection (b) as amended by 2024, 135, Sec. 135 effective October 2, 2024. For text effective until October 2, 2024, see above.]

  (b) Whoever in the nighttime or the daytime breaks and enters any building in which a firearm retailer, wholesaler or manufacturer conducts business with the intent to unlawfully obtain a firearm or ammunition, as defined in section 121 of chapter 140 shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 10 years or by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 21/2 years or by a fine of not more than $10,000, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

[ Subsection (c) effective until October 2, 2024. For text effective October 2, 2024, see below.]

  (c) Whoever unlawfully obtains a firearm, rifle, shotgun, machine gun or ammunition by means of breaking and entering, in the nighttime or the daytime, any building in which a firearm retailer, wholesaler or manufacturer conducts business and who unlawfully distributes said firearm, rifle, shotgun, machine gun or ammunition shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 20 years or by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 21/2 years or by a fine of not more than $10,000, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

[ Subsection (c) as amended by 2024, 135, Sec. 135 effective October 2, 2024. For text effective until October 2, 2024, see above.]

  (c) Whoever unlawfully obtains a firearm or ammunition, as defined in section 121 of chapter 140 by means of breaking and entering, in the nighttime or the daytime, any building in which a firearm retailer, wholesaler or manufacturer conducts business and who unlawfully distributes said firearm or ammunition, as defined in section 121 of chapter 140 shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 20 years or by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 21/2 years or by a fine of not more than $10,000, or by both such fine and imprisonment.