Massachusetts has some of the strictest gun laws in the country — and mandatory minimum sentences that judges cannot reduce. Attorney Mark J. Clifford fights weapons charges with aggressive suppression strategies and trial experience. Free case review 24/7.
Unlike most criminal charges where a judge has discretion over sentencing, many Massachusetts weapons offenses carry mandatory minimum sentences — meaning the judge must impose at least the minimum, even if they personally believe a lighter sentence is appropriate. This makes avoiding conviction the only real path to avoiding prison time, and it makes the quality of your defense attorney the single most critical factor in your case.
| Charge | Mandatory Min. | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Carrying without LTC (§10(a)) | 18 months | 5 years |
| Carrying loaded firearm (§10(n)) | 2.5 years (consecutive) | 5 years |
| Illegal possession of firearm (§10(h)) | 18 months | 5 years |
| High-capacity weapon (§10(m)) | 18 months | 10 years |
| Defaced serial number (§11C) | 1 year | 5 years |
| Armed robbery (§17) | 5 years | Life |
| Assault with dangerous weapon (§15B) | None | 5 years |
The vast majority of weapons charges arise from traffic stops, street stops, home searches, or arrests. Attorney Clifford immediately examines whether law enforcement had lawful authority to stop, detain, search, or arrest you. If the answer is no — if police violated your Fourth Amendment rights — the weapon evidence can be suppressed entirely, and without evidence, the case is dismissed.
Common suppression grounds include:
The firearm must be proven to be in your possession — actual or constructive. If the weapon was found in a shared vehicle, a shared home, or an area accessible to multiple people, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you knew about it and had control over it. This is not always provable, especially when others had equal access.
Attorney Clifford verifies that you did or did not hold a valid Massachusetts LTC or FID card at the time of the alleged offense, whether the license was improperly revoked, and whether the charge is factually accurate given your licensing status.
Following the Supreme Court's Bruen decision (2022), the landscape of firearms law is actively shifting. Attorney Clifford monitors constitutional challenges to Massachusetts firearms statutes and raises applicable Second Amendment arguments where the law supports them.
Mandatory minimums mean no second chances. Attorney Mark J. Clifford fights from the first hearing to avoid conviction. Free consultation — 24/7.
📞 (617) 501-0411 📅 Book Free Consultation18 months — and judges cannot go below this even if they want to. The only way to avoid it is to avoid conviction through suppression of evidence or a not-guilty verdict at trial.
No. Massachusetts does not honor out-of-state concealed carry permits. Even legal gun owners visiting from other states face criminal charges if they carry without a Massachusetts LTC.
Yes — primarily through suppression of the firearm evidence. If police found the weapon through an illegal stop, search, or entry, the evidence is suppressed and the case is dismissed. This is the central strategy Attorney Clifford pursues in every weapons case.
📚 Related: Firearms Charges Guide | DUI/OUI Defense | Drug Offense Defense