How to Get a Firearm License in Massachusetts

This article was co-authored by Clinton M. Sandvick, JD, PhD. Clinton M. Sandvick worked as a civil litigator in California for over 7 years. He received his JD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998 and his PhD in American History from the University of Oregon in 2013.

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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.

Getting Trained for a Gun License

• 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.

  

  • 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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  Complete the firearms safety course and collect your certificate. 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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  Obtaining and Preparing the Application

  

  • 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] X Trustworthy Source State of Massachusetts Official website for the State of Massachusetts Go to source
  • 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] X Trustworthy Source State of Massachusetts Official website for the State of Massachusetts Go to source

  

  Fill out the gun license application clearly and carefully. 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] X Trustworthy Source State of Massachusetts Official website for the State of Massachusetts Go to source

  

  Mark whether this is your first application or a renewal. 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] X Trustworthy Source State of Massachusetts Official website for the State of Massachusetts Go to source

  

  Indicate the type of gun license you are applying for. 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] X Trustworthy Source State of Massachusetts Official website for the State of Massachusetts Go to source

  

  Provide your personal information in the fields provided. 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] X Trustworthy Source State of Massachusetts Official website for the State of Massachusetts Go to source

  

  • 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.

  

  Provide the names and contact information for two personal references, not related to you. 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] X Trustworthy Source State of Massachusetts Official website for the State of Massachusetts Go to source

  

  Explain why you are applying for a gun license. 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] X Trustworthy Source State of Massachusetts Official website for the State of Massachusetts Go to source

  

  Complete your application. 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] X Trustworthy Source State of Massachusetts Official website for the State of Massachusetts Go to source

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  Submitting the Application and Other Requirements

  

  • 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.

  

  Make a copy of your Firearms Safety Certificate. 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.

  

  • 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] X Research source

  

  • 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] X Research source
  • 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.

  

  Follow any additional instructions the Police Department requires. 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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  Understanding the License Qualifications

  

  Be a resident of Massachusetts. 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.

  

  • 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

  

  Be free of mental disability or other health limitations. 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] X Research source

  

  Be of the appropriate age for the license you are seeking. 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] X Research source

  

  Be “suitable” to carry a gun license. 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] X Research source

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  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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  1. ↑https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-a-firearms-license
  2. ↑http://www.mass.gov/eopss/firearms-reg-and-laws/frb/firearms-forms-and-applications.html
  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

  Co-authored by:

  This article was co-authored by Clinton M. Sandvick, JD, PhD. Clinton M. Sandvick worked as a civil litigator in California for over 7 years. He received his JD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998 and his PhD in American History from the University of Oregon in 2013. This article has been viewed 272,713 times.

  18 votes - 80% Co-authors: 9 Updated: August 24, 2024 Views: 272,713 Categories: Guns and Shooting

  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!