Massachusetts § 131T - Extreme risk protection orders; failure to surrender any firearms or ammunition within 24 hours

§ 131T. Extreme risk protection orders; failure to surrender any firearms or ammunition within 24 hours

Section 131T. (a)(1) Upon the filing of a petition pursuant to section 131R, the court may issue an emergency extreme risk protection order without notice to the respondent and prior to the hearing required pursuant to subsection (a) of section 131S if the court finds reasonable cause to conclude that the respondent poses a risk of causing bodily injury to the respondent's self or others by being in possession of a license to carry firearms or a firearm identification card or having in the respondent's control, ownership or possession a firearm or ammunition. Upon issuance of an emergency extreme risk protection order pursuant to this section, the clerk magistrate of the court shall notify the respondent pursuant to subsection (e) of section 131S. An order issued under this subsection shall expire 10 days after its issuance unless a hearing is scheduled pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of said section 131S or at the conclusion of a hearing held pursuant to said subsection (a) or (b) of said section 131S unless a permanent order is issued by the court pursuant to paragraph (2) of subsection (c) of said section 131S.

(2) Upon receipt of service of an extreme risk protection order pursuant to this section, the respondent shall immediately surrender the respondent's license to carry firearms or firearm identification card and all firearms or ammunition to the local licensing authority serving the order as provided in subsection (f) of section 131S.

(b)(1) If the court has probable cause to believe that the respondent has access to a firearm or ammunition, on their person or in an identified place, and the respondent fails to surrender any firearms or ammunition within 24 hours of being served pursuant to subsection (e) of section 131S, the court shall issue a warrant identifying the property, naming or describing the person or place to be searched, and commanding the appropriate law enforcement agency to search the person of the respondent and any identified place and seize any firearm or ammunition found to which the respondent would have access.

(2) The law enforcement agency shall conduct its search and manage any seized property pursuant to paragraph (3) of subsection (d) of section 131S.

(c) When the court is closed for business, a justice of the court may grant an emergency extreme risk protection order if the court finds reasonable cause to conclude that the respondent poses a risk of causing bodily injury to the respondent's self or others by being in possession of a license to carry firearms or firearm identification card or by having in the respondent's control, ownership or possession of a firearm or ammunition, and shall issue a warrant pursuant to subsection (b) upon probable cause that the respondent has access to a firearm or ammunition, on their person or in an identified place, and the respondent fails to surrender any firearms or ammunition within 24 hours of being served pursuant to subsection (e) of section 131S. In the discretion of the justice, such relief may be granted and communicated by telephone to the licensing authority of the municipality where the respondent resides, which shall record such order or warrant on a form of order or warrant promulgated for such use by the chief justice of the trial court and shall deliver a copy of such order or warrant on the next court business day to the clerk-magistrate of the court. If relief has been granted without the filing of a petition pursuant to section 131R, the potential petitioner shall appear in court on the next available court business day to file a petition. An order or warrant issued under this subsection shall expire at the conclusion of the next court business day after issuance unless said potential petitioner has filed a petition with the court pursuant to section 131R and the court has issued an emergency extreme risk protection order pursuant to subsection (a).