How to Obtain a Gun License in the State of Massachusetts

Massachusetts has strict laws on gun permits.

Massachusetts residents must complete a firearms course and file an application with their local police chief to get a gun license. The state has different types of gun permits, licenses to carry and firearms identification cards. The police chief can place restrictions on permits or refuse to issue a license to carry permit. There are two categories of license to carry permits, Class A and B. To carry a concealed handgun in Massachusetts, a resident needs an unrestricted Class A license to carry permit.

Instructions

1. Visit the local police department's website or stop by the police station to get information about the department's policies for permit applications and an application form. Some police departments accept walk-in applications and some ask applicants to make an appointment. You can also get an application from the state website.

2. Sign up for an approved firearms course with a certified instructor. These courses vary in length and cost. You can arrange for private instruction or attend a class. You need a certificate showing that you completed a firearms course to file an application for a new gun permit.

3. Complete the application. The Massachusetts gun permit application requires detailed personal information, including information on criminal records, mental illness and any treatment for alcohol or drug abuse. You also need to list references and state your reasons for applying for a permit. It's against Massachusetts law to knowingly make a false statement on the application. Penalties include fines and up to two years in a county jail.

4. Take your application form and a copy of your firearms course certificate to the police station. Pay the $100 application fee and allow police to fingerprint and photograph you.

5. Wait for police to complete a background check and for the police chief to notify you of his decision. The chief will issue a permit or a decision to deny a permit in writing. Police chiefs have discretion over issuing a license to carry or placing restrictions on a license. The police chief has less discretion over whether to issue an firearms identification card if the applicant meets the state requirements.

Tips & Warnings

• Before you apply for a license to carry permit, check on your police chief's policies about gun permits by asking local residents who have permits, speaking to members of a local gun club or searching online for information. That will give you an idea of what to expect. It's more difficult to get a license to carry permit from some Massachusetts police chiefs than others.

• You must be at least 21 years old to apply for a license to carry permit in Massachusetts. Teenagers can apply for a firearms identification card at the age of 15 if a parent or guardian signs a permission form, or at the age of 18 without permission from a parent or guardian.

References

• Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety: Firearms Records Bureau
• 186th General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts: Chapter 140, Section 131