The Bay State has long been a leader in gun safety—and is one of the only states to bar gun purchases by people with outstanding warrants and one of a few to require secure storage for any firearm not in the owner’s immediate control. Indeed, it has taken a holistic approach to gun violence prevention, with dedicated investments in community violence intervention programs and the creation of an Office of Gun Violence Prevention. In 2024, Massachusetts passed a comprehensive bill to update and strengthen its laws, including regulating ghost guns and raising the age to purchase semiautomatic firearms.