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Legal Information: Massachusetts

Restraining Orders

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Laws current as of January 8, 2025

What protections can I get in an extreme risk protection order?

In an extreme risk protection order, the judge can order that the respondent to give up:

  • all firearms and ammunition; and
  • his/her license to carry firearms and firearm identification card.1

As soon as the respondent is served with the order, s/he would immediately have to surrender all of the above items to the local licensing authority that is serving the order. If the respondent does not surrender the firearms within 24 hours, the judge will issue a warrant for law enforcement to take (seize) any firearm or ammunition that the respondent has access to.2

1 MA ST 140 § 131S(c)(2)
2 MA ST 140 § 131S(f), (d)(1)

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