Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Commonwealth v. Dean F. Donnell, Jr.

March 11, 2025

Summary

The court held that the pre-amendment nonresident firearm licensing scheme violated the Second Amendment because it gave the licensing authority unfettered discretion to deny licenses to otherwise qualified applicants. The court also held that the unconstitutional discretionary provisions were not severable from the remainder of the licensing scheme, requiring dismissal of the charge. The District Court's dismissal was therefore affirmed.