The MA Attorney General recently clarified the legality of the Ruger
Mini-14 because they screwed up when it was declared "legal".
It's still subject to some confusion but her clarification
says that a ".22 cal rimfire" is legal but .223 cal (NATO) is not.
I don't think the Mini-14 is available as a .22 cal rimfire but
am not sure.
Apparently that hasn't yet made the link I put above.
As of December, last year, Bud's Gun Shop still thinks they're legal. Note page 2:
It's all up in the air now because the AG's office apparently doesn't
have a clue what they are talking about.
From GOAL (Gun Owners Action League):
The Gun Owners Action League, which has been organizing rallies in
protest of Healeys (MA AG ) actions in the past several weeks, holds
the new information only muddies the waters even more.
Upon viewing the page there are many new questions, which make this
untenable situation increasingly murky, reads a statement from the group.
GOAL points out that Healey states rifles in .22 caliber are acceptable
but there is no clarification as to if the statement includes both
rimfire and centerfire chamberings.
They are further puzzled by the exclusion of the Ruger Mini 14 or
substantially-similar model weapon saying that, virtually every
semi-automatic magazine fed rifle is substantially similar to the Mini 14.
Indeed, the Mini-14 uses a rotating bolt which was very similar to that
of the M1 Garand that is not considered an assault rifle by Healeys
office while the same type is also used on the Springfield M1A, which is.
This is disturbing considering that Healey has threatened gun owners
not in compliance with a ten-year felony charge for transferring items
that are legal to transfer according to Mass General Law, notes GOAL.