# Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 269, sec. 5: Armed forces obeying orders for suppressing riot and dispersing and arresting persons

> Massachusetts · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIV_TI_C269_S5

## Section

- **Citation:** Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 269, sec. 5
- **Heading:** Armed forces obeying orders for suppressing riot and dispersing and arresting persons
- **Jurisdiction:** Massachusetts
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** MA Code / Part IV / Title I / Chapter 269 / Section 5

## Text

Section 5. When an armed force, called out under chapter thirty-three to suppress a tumult or riot, or to disperse a body of men acting together by force and with intent to commit a felony, or to offer violence to persons or property, or with intent by force or violence to resist or oppose the execution of the laws of the commonwealth, arrives at the place of such unlawful, riotous or tumultuous assembly, its members shall obey such orders for suppressing the riot or tumult, and for dispersing and arresting all persons who are committing any of said offences, as they have received from the governor, or a judge of a court of record, or the sheriff of the county, and also such orders as they there receive from any two of the magistrates or officers before mentioned.

Section 5. When an armed force, called out under chapter thirty-three to suppress a tumult or riot, or to disperse a body of men acting together by force and with intent to commit a felony, or to offer violence to persons or property, or with intent by force or violence to resist or oppose the execution of the laws of the commonwealth, arrives at the place of such unlawful, riotous or tumultuous assembly, its members shall obey such orders for suppressing the riot or tumult, and for dispersing and arresting all persons who are committing any of said offences, as they have received from the governor, or a judge of a court of record, or the sheriff of the county, and also such orders as they there receive from any two of the magistrates or officers before mentioned.

## Nearby sections

- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 269, sec. 1 Dispensing and suppressing unlawful assembly; arresting persons](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIV_TI_C269_S1.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 269, sec. 2 Refusing or neglecting to depart or to assist in suppressing assembly or in arresting persons](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIV_TI_C269_S2.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 269, sec. 3 Neglect or refusal to exercise authority to suppress assembly](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIV_TI_C269_S3.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 269, sec. 4 Requiring aid; dispersing and suppressing assembly; seizure of persons](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIV_TI_C269_S4.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 269, sec. 5 Armed forces obeying orders for suppressing riot and dispersing and arresting persons](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIV_TI_C269_S5.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 269, sec. 6 Person killed or wounded as result of an assembly; guilt and responsibility](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIV_TI_C269_S6.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 269, sec. 7 Injury to building or vessel by persons unlawfully assembled](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIV_TI_C269_S7.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 269, sec. 8 Destruction of or damage to property by persons riotously assembled; liability of town](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIV_TI_C269_S8.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 269, sec. 10 Carrying dangerous weapons; possession of machine gun or sawed-off shotguns; possession of large capacity weapon or large capacity feeding device; punishment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIV_TI_C269_S10.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 269, sec. 10A Selling, giving or using silencers; confiscation and destruction](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIV_TI_C269_S10A.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 269, sec. 10C Tear gas; use in commission of crimes](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIV_TI_C269_S10C.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 269, sec. 10D Body armor; use in commission of crime](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIV_TI_C269_S10D.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 269, sec. 10E Firearms sales, distributions or transfers; penalties; eligibility for probation, parole, furlough or work release](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIV_TI_C269_S10E.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 269, sec. 10F Illegal sale, gifts or transfer of large capacity weapons or large capacity feeding devices; punishment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIV_TI_C269_S10F.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIV_TI_C269_S5. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.