The Law Office of Matthew W. Peterson

The federal safe harbor covers you only while you are actually moving a gun from one place where you may lawfully have it to another place where you may lawfully have it. Transporting guns across state lines is protected under this rule when the firearm is unloaded and neither the gun nor the ammunition is […]

You are facing several charges from a single incident because prosecutors often split one event into multiple overlapping crimes — a practice known as charge stacking. It is legal, it is common, and it is mostly a pressure tactic. The good news: a long list of charges at the start does not mean a long […]

No. On October 20, 2026, the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) upheld the Massachusetts rule that bars anyone under 21 from getting a license to carry (LTC), rejecting a Second Amendment challenge in Commonwealth v. Thomson. The vote was 5–2. The decision keeps the license to carry under 21 rule in force in every Massachusetts court, […]

Being charged with assault and battery on a police officer in Massachusetts is a very serious matter — one that can carry felony-level consequences, mandatory jail time, and lasting effects on your life. If you or someone you love is facing this charge, understanding what the law actually says is the first step toward building […]

Stalking charges in Massachusetts are among the most serious criminal accusations a person can face in the Commonwealth. Under Massachusetts General Laws chapter 265, section 43, stalking is classified as a felony, and a conviction carries the possibility of substantial state prison time, mandatory minimum sentences under certain circumstances, and a permanent felony record that...