How to Get a Firearm License in Massachusetts

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Everything you need to know about applying for a gun permit
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If you are a resident of Massachusetts, you are required by the state to have a gun license in order to own or carry a firearm. Although the type of gun license you possess may vary depending on whether you want to keep a firearm at your home or carry the firearm with you, the application procedure is the same. Before you can get a gun license, you must take a firearms safety course approved by the state of Massachusetts. You must then complete the "Firearms Identification (FID) Card Or License To Carry Firearms (LTC) Application" and turn it in to a police department in your local area.

Part 1
Part 1 of 4:

Getting Trained for a Gun License

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  1. In order to apply for a gun license, you will need to complete a firearms safety course. You can find one in several ways:
    • Visit the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, at www.mass.gov/eopss.
      • Follow the link to "Firearms Registration and Laws” in the top right corner of the page.
      • Select “Approved Basic Firearms Safety Courses" to access a complete list of courses approved by the state of Massachusetts.
    • Call the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security at 617-727-7775 to speak with someone about enrolling in one of the approved courses.
    • Contact the police department for the city or town where you reside, and ask them about upcoming courses in your area. For example, the City of Worcester lists courses directly on its website.
  2. The purpose for taking the course is to become educated on Massachusetts firearms laws, in addition to learning how to safely handle a firearm. Some courses are offered by local police departments, and some courses are offered by private companies. The basic firearm safety course will include the following:
    • shooting practice and training
    • understanding the parts of the firearm
    • understanding ammunition
    • safe storage and security of firearms
    • review of Massachusetts firearms laws (some private companies may offer broader classes that could satisfy applying for a license in other states as well)
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  3. After you successfully complete the firearms safety course, you will receive a Firearms Safety Certificate. You will need to submit a copy of this certificate when you apply for a Massachusetts gun license.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 4:

Obtaining and Preparing the Application

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  1. Your request for a gun license begins by completing the “Massachusetts Resident LTC/FID/Machine Gun Application” form. You can get a copy of the form from one of three possible sources:
    • If you have Internet access, you can print an application directly at home from the website of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security. [1]
    • If you do not have Internet access, you can call the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security at 617-727-7775 to request an application by mail.
    • Alternatively, visit your local police station and request a copy of the application form.
    • Additional forms that you might need, such as an application as a non-resident, an application as a resident alien, or a Firearms Licensing Review Board Petition, may be found at the website of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Firearms Forms and Applications page. [2]
  2. You will need to complete the form carefully, either by typing or printing clearly and legibly all the answers. It is important that you read the instructions before completing the form. If you have any questions while completing the application, you should contact your local police department. [3]
  3. If this is your first application, indicate that you are a new applicant by placing a check mark next to "New Applicant" at the top of the form. If this is for a renewal license, you will check “Renewal” and provide your most recent license number. [4]
  4. For example, if you just want the license to purchase a firearm and keep it at home, then you need what is called an FID. Place a check mark next to "Firearms Identification Card.” If you are requesting permission to carry a firearm, you need the LTC license. You should select “License to Carry.” [5]
  5. You will be required to enter your name, address, the date and place of your birth, the names of your parents, your physical traits, occupation and employer information, and either your Social Security Number or drivers license number. [6]
  6. You will be asked for information regarding your citizenship, past convictions or felonies, whether you have ever suffered from mental illness, drug, or alcohol addiction, if you have ever been involved in domestic violence, and if there are any outstanding warrants for your arrest. [7]
    • If you answered "yes" to any of the inquiries on the questionnaire, you will be required to provide details about the circumstances surrounding each inquiry.
  7. In some cities or towns, you may also be required to submit a written letter of recommendation from these people. Check with the local police about this requirement. [8]
  8. The police need to monitor the number of applications they approve and the reasons for them. You need to be truthful in this step and not look for an answer that you believe the police want to hear. If you believe you need it for personal security, then say so. If you can provide more reasons (recent shootings in your area, etc.), that may help your explanation. [9]
  9. Sign and date the appropriate fields at the bottom of the gun licensing application. Your application will be incomplete without your signature and probably will be returned to you without being processed. [10]
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Part 3
Part 3 of 4:

Submitting the Application and Other Requirements

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  1. The state law sets the basic requirements for gun license applications, but the final decision is made by the local chief of police for each city or town in Massachusetts. Each police department has some leeway in the documentation that they require with each application.
    • For example, some towns require a copy of your birth certificate, but other towns will accept different forms of identification.
    • Some towns may require written recommendations from your two reference people; other towns would only require their names and contact information.
  2. In any city or town, for a new license, you will need to submit proof that you have completed a firearms safety training course. Have a copy with you when you submit your application.
  3. The license application fee is generally $100. Check with your individual city or town to verify the amount and the form of payment that is accepted.
    • For example, the City of Everett only accepts payment by money order. The City of Worcester will accept payment by cash, check or money order. For other cities or towns in Massachusetts, contact the police department directly.
    • The City of Billerica has instructions on its website that you are to get a Receipt for Payment form from the Police Station, take that form to the City Treasurer to pay the $100 fee and get the receipt verified, and then take the verified receipt back to the Police Station to submit with the application. [11]
  4. You should call the police department or check its website to see if there are certain times that they accept applications.
    • For example, the City of Worcester requires applicants to make appointments in advance, which are only scheduled on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays.
    • The City of Everett has a link on its website to schedule an appointment to submit your application.
    • The City of Billerica website instructs applicants to contact the clerk for information about applying, but no specific appointment information is included. [12]
    • If you need help locating the nearest police department, call the Massachusetts State Police at 508-820-2300 to find an office that will process your application.
  5. Some departments will require your fingerprints along with the application. After you submit your application, along with the accompanying materials, the police will run a background check both within Massachusetts and in any other states where you have lived, using the information provided on the gun licensing application. The police department will then inform you of the method and time frame in which you will receive your gun license.
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Part 4
Part 4 of 4:

Understanding the License Qualifications

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  1. All lawful residents of Massachusetts, regardless of official citizenship, are eligible to get a license to possess or carry a firearm in Massachusetts. There are some ways for a non-resident of Massachusetts to obtain a temporary gun license for a specific purpose. If this applies to you, then contact the police department for the city or town where you will be visiting.
  2. Your record does not need to be absolutely clean, but there are limitations. The state law is very clear that no gun license may be issued in Massachusetts to anyone who has been convicted of any of the crimes described below. If any of these apply to you, you should read the full text of the law carefully and consult with an attorney: [13]
    • a felony
    • a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment of more than two years
    • a violent crime
    • certain crimes related to gun or ammunition possession, distribution or sale
    • certain crimes related to the use of controlled substances
    • misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence
  3. Nobody may hold a gun license in Massachusetts who has been committed to a hospital for mental illness, alcohol or substance abuse, or who has had a guardian appointed on the basis of mental incapacity, or who has been found to have an alcohol or substance use disorder. There are some exceptions, if the applicant is able to produce a doctor’s findings attesting that the condition no longer applies at the time of the application. If any of these descriptions apply to you, you should read the full text of the law carefully and consult with an attorney. [14]
  4. An applicant for a license to carry a firearm (LTC) in Massachusetts must be at least 21 years old at the time of filing the application. An applicant for a firearms identification card (FID) must be at least 15 years old, with parental permission. An applicant who is at least 18 years old can apply for an FID without parental consent. [15]
  5. The state law says that the license may be denied for anyone who is deemed “unsuitable to be issued” a license. The determination of whether you are “suitable” is up to the chief of police for the city or town in which you live and apply for the license. This determination is based on “reliable and credible information” that the applicant has engaged or may engage in behavior that would cause a risk or danger to society. [16]
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      Warnings

      • Your application for a gun license is a document that you are signing under oath. It is important that you complete it fully and honestly. If you provide any intentionally false information, you will not only be denied a license, but you also risk being prosecuted for perjury.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-a-firearms-license
      2. ↑ https://www.mass.gov/firearms-services
      3. ↑ https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-a-firearms-license
      4. ↑ https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-a-firearms-license
      5. ↑ https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-a-firearms-license
      6. ↑ https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-a-firearms-license
      7. ↑ https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-a-firearms-license
      8. ↑ https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-a-firearms-license
      9. ↑ https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-a-firearms-license
      1. ↑ https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-a-firearms-license
      2. ↑ https://police.billericaps.com/index.php/firearms-licensing/
      3. ↑ https://police.billericaps.com/index.php/firearms-licensing/
      4. ↑ https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXX/Chapter140/Section131
      5. ↑ https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXX/Chapter140/Section131
      6. ↑ https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXX/Chapter140/Section131
      7. ↑ https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXX/Chapter140/Section131

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To own or carry a firearm in Massachusetts, you’ll need a gun license. Before you can apply for your gun license, you’ll need to complete a state-approved gun safety course. Once you’ve received your safety course certificate, get a gun license application form from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s website or your local police station. Choose whether you only want to keep a firearm at home or if you want permission to carry it. You’ll also need to include 2 personal references who aren’t related to you and pay the fee, which is usually about 100 dollars. Then, take your completed form to your police station. Keep in mind that you won’t qualify for a gun license if you’ve been convicted of a felony, violent or gun-related crime, domestic violence, or if you’ve been imprisoned for a misdemeanor or committed to hospital for mental illness or substance abuse. For more tips from our Legal co-author, including how to find a local firearms safety course, read on!

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        Jun 24, 2019

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