501 CMR 7.02
Definitions
As used in 501 CMR 7.00:
Approved Firearm means a firearm make and model that passed the testing requirements of
M.G.L. c. 140, § 123 and was subsequently approved by the Secretary. Included are those
firearms listed on the current Approved Firearms Roster and those firearms approved by the
Secretary of Public Safety that will be included on the next published Approved Firearms Roster.
Approved Firearms Roster means a list of firearms approved by the Secretary which meet or
exceed the testing criteria as outlined in M.G.L. c. 140, § 123 clauses Eighteenth, Nineteenth,
Twentieth and Twenty-first, and which list is established, maintained and published by the
Secretary pursuant to M.G.L. c. 140, § 131¾.
Approved Independent Testing Laboratory means a testing laboratory that the Secretary has
determined is capable of accurately testing firearms in accordance with M.G.L. c. 140, § 123.
Capable of Accepting a Large Capacity Feeding Device means any firearm, rifle or shotgun in
which a large capacity feeding device, as defined by M.G.L. c. 140, § 121, is capable of being
used without alteration of the weapon; provided, however, that said feeding device is fully or
partially inserted into the weapon or attached thereto, or is under the direct control of a person
who also has direct control of a weapon capable of accepting said feeding device.
Certified by Attributes means the process used by an independent testing laboratory to determine
if a particular model firearm is the functional design equivalent of another model already tested.
Firearm has the same meaning as “firearm” as defined in M.G.L. c. 140, § 121.
Formal Target Shooting Competition means those target competitions which are sponsored,
coordinated or sanctioned by a national organization which regulates the type of firearm or
modifications that may be used.
(MA REG. # 1309, Dated 3-25-16)
Formal Target Shooting Firearm means those firearms that have been approved by the Secretary
as solely designed and sold for formal target shooting competition, pursuant to M.G.L. c. 140,
§ 123.
Formal Target Shooting Firearms Roster means a list of firearms approved by the Secretary,
which are solely designed and sold for formal target shooting competition as provided by
M.G.L. c. 140, § 123, and which list is established, maintained and published pursuant to
M.G.L. c. 140, § 123.
Functional Design Equivalent means a firearm whose dimensions and material, as well as
linkage and functioning of the magazine well, cylinder, barrel, chamber or any components of
the firing mechanism do not differ from a firearm which satisfactorily completed the Testing
Requirements. A firearm may be deemed the Functional Design Equivalent of a firearm which
differs only in caliber if the larger caliber firearm has satisfactorily completed the Testing
Requirements.
GCAB means the Gun Control Advisory Board as provided in M.G.L. c. 140, § 131½, whose
members are appointed by the Governor to advise the Secretary on matters relating to the
implementation of M.G.L. c. 140, §§ 121 through 131P.
Individual Firearm means a specific firearm identifiable by make, model and serial number, and
does not refer to an entire make or model line.
Large Capacity Feeding Device has the same meaning as “large capacity feeding” device as
defined in M.G.L. c. 140, § 121.
Large Capacity Roster means a list of large capacity firearms, rifles, and shotguns as defined by
M.G.L. c. 140, § 121, and which list is established, maintained and published by the Secretary
pursuant to M.G.L. c. 140, § 131¾.
Large Capacity Weapon has the same meaning as “large capacity weapon” as defined in
M.G.L. c. 140, § 121.
Length of Barrel or Barrel Length have the same meaning as “length of barrel” or “barrel length”
as defined in M.G.L. c. 140, § 121.
Licensee means a firearms dealer licensed in Massachusetts under M.G.L. c. 140, § 122, and
does not refer to a gunsmith also licensed under M.G.L. c. 140, § 122.
Licensed Gunsmith means a person acting as gunsmith as defined in M.G.L. c. 140, § 121, and
who is licensed to conduct gunsmith activity pursuant to M.G.L. c. 140, § 122.
Make of Firearm means the company that manufactured said firearm.
Model of Firearm means the alpha or numeric designation or name given by the manufacturer
to a particular line of firearms. Within the model line, firearms may be assigned different alpha
or numeric designations or names and still be considered to be the same model provided they are
the functional design equivalent.
Readily Modifiable to Accept a Large Capacity Feeding Device means any firearm, rifle or
shotgun immediately capable of being altered so as to accept a large capacity feeding device as
defined in M.G.L. c. 140, § 121; provided, however, that said feeding device is fully or partially
inserted into the weapon or attached thereto, or is under the direct control of a person who also
has direct control of a weapon capable of accepting said feeding device.
Secretary means the Secretary of Public Safety and Security.
Testing Requirements means the testing requirements as defined in M.G.L. c. 140, § 123 clauses
Eighteenth, Nineteenth, Twentieth and Twenty-first. For clause Eighteen, such requirements
shall include a certified statement from the manufacturer regarding the melting point, tensile
strength, or density of the metal used in manufacturing the firearm, or the successful completion
of the firing tests. Only firearms with a "length of barrel", as defined by M.G.L. c. 140, § 121,
of less than three inches are required to complete the testing in M.G.L. c. 140, § 123, clause
Twenty-first. For all other firearms, the term "testing requirements” shall refer only to clauses
Eighteenth, Nineteenth, and Twentieth.
Weapon has the same meaning as “weapon” as defined in M.G.L. c. 140, § 121.