Tips From A Cop: How To Get Your Massachusetts License To Carry

THE MASSACHUSETTS LICENSE TO CARRY PROCESS EXPLAINED

Leave it to our Commonwealth to make the Massachusetts License to Carry process a complicated and confusing mess. The vast majority of the rest of the free world United States has far less restrictive laws and processes in place to ensure the protection of their citizens’ constitutional rights but it is what it is when it comes to Massachusetts.

My intent here is to explain to you the Massachusetts License to Carry process in simple, easy to understand, devoid of bovine excrement terms that will help you along the path of becoming a gun owner in Massachusetts.

The beauty of this post is you are getting information directly from me… a full time police officer. My partners and I have been in the gun safety course game for over six years now and being active law enforcement, we understand the ins and outs of Massachusetts Gun Laws like the backs of our hands.

So… without further ado… here is my breakdown on how to get your license to carry in Massachusetts:

THE BASIC PROCESS

The down and dirty version of how to get your license to carry is as follows:

• Decide that you want to exercise your second amendment rights for (insert personal reason here)
• Select a Basic Firearms Safety Course from the instructor of your choice
• Attend class, receive certificate
• Apply at your local police department
• Stand by to stand by for your background to clear
• Receive your permit
• Proceed to get your ‘Merica on

CHOOSING A BASIC FIREARMS SAFETY COURSE

There are over twenty different options to choose from when considering your Basic Firearms Safety Course… some of which will help you get your license to carry, and others will only allow you to apply for your firearms identification card. Depending on where you live, you also may be required by your town or city to attend a live fire training session before they will approve your application

As of now those towns are: Lowell, Weymouth, Quincy (Know of any others? Let us know in the comments.

At the very least you will learn the following:

• Firearms Safety Rules
• Safe Gun Handling Techniques
• Firearms Parts and their Function
• Ammunition and its components
• Massachusetts Gun Laws surrounding transportation and storage
• Loading and Unloading of Firearms
• Fundamentals of Shooting
• And actual shooting*

*Depends on your instructor and the class you are taking. We shoot REAL guns in all of our classes… NOT simulators

The classes that we offer are either LTC-007 or LTC-017 depending on who is teaching the class as we have instructors who are certified by the MA State Police for either.

After your class you will receive a basic firearms safety course certificate that will show that you have met all of the state requirements for your license to carry. It will look something like this:

THE MASSACHUSETTS LICENSE TO CARRY APPLICATION PROCESS

Once your class is complete you can now head down to your local police department and apply for your license to carry! Call your local police department and see what they need you to do to set up an appointment with your licensing officer. Show up, bring a check or money order for $100, apply, and stand by to stand by. In a few weeks to a few months (it depends on how busy the PD is) you will be contacted and you can go pick up your license to carry.

[mailmunch-form id=”532740″]

WHAT ABOUT THE FID CARD?

If you want one? sure. Just keep in mind it will certainly restrict you to only non-large capacity rifles and shotguns. Even if you do not intend on carrying a firearm, don’t hold yourself back. Besides… you will need the LTC to purchase any handguns.

Just get the license to carry. It costs the same as the FID card.

OVER 21 YEARS OLD: Apply for the License to Carry, Class A

AGES 15-20: You will be stuck with a FID card, but can upgrade to a License to Carry at age 21.

WHAT ABOUT DISQUALIFIERS?

Things that will prevent you from getting your license to carry in Massachusetts:

• You’re a convicted felon
• You have been convicted of any misdemeanor domestic violence charges
• Being the subject of a restraining order in ANY state
• Having been deemed to be “mentally defective” (i.e. you spend some involuntary time in a psychiatric ward and have mental health issues)
• You were discharged from the military under other than honorable conditions (OTH, Bad Conduct Discharge, Dishonorably Discharged, etc)
• There is an arrest warrant for you in any state (I have actually seen folks with warrants show up for a gun license appointment… don’t be that guy/gal)
• You are considered to be a “non-suitable person” by your local police department…. in other words you done messed up a few too many times and are on the radar.

SUMMING IT ALL UP

I hope that it is pretty clear already as to what you need to do but here’s a quick recap:

• Take the Class
• Apply For the License
• Freedom On.

It really is pretty straightforward but like all of the simple things in life… we humans tend to make things complicated. This is also true with the Massachusetts License to Carry process… but we should be good to go now.

Do you have any questions on getting your Massachusetts License to Carry? Leave us a comment below and we will answer them! To get in touch with us for any outstanding questions, please don’t hesitate to call 855-276-5730 or fill out a contact form on our website!