Mass Firearms
School
100 Kuniholm Drive ~ Holliston, MA
01746
office@massfirearmsschool.com
(800)
308-6212
MASS BASIC
FIREARMS SAFETY CLASS
During your class your instructor will cover
firearms safety and information concerning applicable state and federal
firearms laws.
Please review the following frequently asked
questions concerning Massachusetts firearms law:
Q. I am a resident of
Massachusetts. How do I obtain a firearms license?
A. A license to carry (LTC) issued
pursuant to G.L. c. 140, §131 or a firearms identification card (FID) issued
pursuant to G.L. c. 140, §129B may be obtained from the police department where
you reside or have a place of business (your licensing authority). Applications
for a LTC or FID are available under "Firearms Forms and
Applications".
A LTC Class A entitles the holder to possess a
large capacity firearm (pistol or revolver), rifle or shotgun. (See G.L. c. 140, §121 for the definition of large capacity).
A LTC Class B entitles the holder to possess a non-large capacity firearm or
large capacity rifle or shotgun. A FID entitles the holder to possess non-large
capacity rifles and shotguns.
There is a $100 application fee for a LTC or FID.
As part of the application process, an applicant must submit fingerprints for a
comprehensive background check and, if a new applicant, provide proof of
completion of a basic firearm safety course pursuant to G.L. c. 140, §131P.
Q: Is a license required to
possess an air gun (i.e. bb or pellet guns, so-called air rifles or air
pistols, paint ball guns) or ammunition therefore (i.e. bb's, pellets, CO2
cartridges, paint balls)?
A: An FID Card is not required to
possess an air gun in Massachusetts. Air guns are regulated by M.G.L. c.
269, §12B which limits their use by minors who are not accompanied by an
adult, holding a sporting or hunting license, or holding a permit from the
chief of police. Massachusetts law also prohibits anyone from discharging air
rifles from across streets, alleys, public ways or railroads or railway right
of ways. It should also be noted that an FID Card or an LTC are not required to
purchase an air gun or ammunition. As such, the state FA10 form should not be
used to record the sale of such air guns.
Q: Can a nonresident obtain a
permit to carry a weapon in Massachusetts?
A: MGL
c. 140 § 131F allows the Colonel of the State Police or his designee to
issue a temporary LTC to nonresidents or persons not falling within the
jurisdiction of a local licensing authority. Currently, the Firearms Record
Bureau (FRB) has been designated to issue permits to nonresidents. The phone
number of the FRB is (617) 660-4780.
Q: Do I need an FID Card or an
LTC Firearms to possess a gun in my home?
A: Yes. At a minimum you need an
FID Card for non-large capacity rifles and shotguns. For handguns you need
either an LTC, or an FID Card combined with a Permit to Purchase firearms for
the particular handgun in question.
Q: Where do I apply for a License
to Carry (LTC) or a Firearms Identification (FID) Card?
A: Generally, application is made
to the local police department where the applicant resides or has a place of
business. For more specific information on FIDs refer to M.G.L.
c. 140, §129B, or for LTCs refer to M.G.L.
c 140 § 131(d) .
Q: How can I obtain the status of
my pending LTC or FID card application?
A: You can now retrieve the status
of the firearms license application you've submitted to your local police
department through the DCJIS by calling (617) 660-4722 during the normal
business hours of Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The following information is required:
Name
Date of birth
Active LTC, FID card, or machine gun license number
Driver's license number (for identity verification)
Q: I am changing my address. Who
do I notify?
A: Under M.G.L.
c. 140, §129B(10), and M.G.L.
c. 140. § 131(I) , a holder of an FID Card or an LTC must notify, in
writing, the licensing authority that issued the Card or License, the chief of
police into whose jurisdiction the Card or License holder moves, and the
Commissioner of the DCJIS. The notice must be made by certified mail within 30
days of its occurrence.
Q: How many guns a year can a
person sell without being a dealer?
A: Under M.G.L.
c. 140, §128A, a properly licensed resident who is not a dealer may sell up
to four guns in any one calendar year through a private transfer of ownership.
Q: Should a special form be used
when selling guns through a private sale?
A: The state form required for
private sales is an FA10 Form. The FA10 replaced what was known as the
"Blue Card" previously used for private sales. This transaction can
be completed electronically using the Massachusetts
Firearms Registration and Transfer System. Alternatively, a paper FA10 form
can be obtained from any police department. The seller must fill out the form
and forward it to the Firearms Record Bureau (FRB) within seven days of the
transaction.
Q: Do weapons purchased by
Massachusetts residents while in another state have to be reported in
Massachusetts?
A: M.G.L.
c. 140, §128B, residents who purchase from someone other than a
Massachusetts dealer, either within or outside the Commonwealth, must report
the purchase within seven days to the FRB. The transaction must be reported
using the Massachusetts
Firearms Registration and Transfer System or a paper FA10 form.
Q: Can a Massachusetts resident
sell a gun without being a licensed dealer?
A: Yes. Under M.G.L.
c. 140, §128A, a Massachusetts resident may sell a gun provided that he
lawfully possesses it with an appropriate FID Card or LTC, or is otherwise
exempt, and that the person buying the gun is also properly licensed with the
appropriate FID Card or LTC (depending on the type of gun being bought). The
transaction must be reported using the Massachusetts
Firearms Registration and Transfer System or a paper FA10 form.
Q: How can I retrieve my personal
identification (PIN) number?
A: You can retrieve the PIN number
for your active LTC, FID card, or machine gun license through the DCJIS by
calling (617) 660-4722 during the normal business hours of Monday through
Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The following information is required:
Name
Date of birth
Active LTC, FID card, or machine gun license number Driver's license number
(for identity verification)
Q: Should all weapons sold within
the Commonwealth be equipped with a safety lock?
A: M.G.L.
c. 140, §131K states that all sales of firearms and large capacity weapons
in Massachusetts MUST include a safety device approved by the colonel of state
police. This requirement applies to any seller including a wholesaler. The
seller is not required to install the device so long as the weapon is
accompanied by it. Failure to comply with this provision will constitute a
breach of warranty and an unfair trade practice. This section does not apply to
non-large capacity rifles and shotguns.
Q: If an individual buys a
handgun or large capacity rifle or shotgun from a dealer, can he supply his own
trigger lock to avoid paying for a new one from the dealer?
A: No. M.G.L.
c. 140, §131K states that a state approved safety device must be sold with
the weapon. This places the burden on the dealer to provide the safety device
and does not allow the dealer an option of letting the purchaser provide a
trigger lock.
Q: Are state-approved trigger
locks required any time a trigger lock is used?
A: No. State-approved trigger locks
are only required under the provisions of M.G.L.
c. 140, §131K which applies to dealers who provide them with handguns and large
capacity rifles and shotguns that they sell. State-approved trigger locks are
not required in any other section of chapter 140. However, most common trigger
locks that would be used to help the gun owner comply with section 131L
are likely to be state approved even though that approval is not required
Q: How do I transport a gun in my
vehicle?
A: A person with a Class
"A" LTC may transport a handgun loaded or unloaded on his person or
under his direct control in the vehicle. If the handgun is not under his direct
control, it must be unloaded and in a locked case, locked trunk or other secure
container.
A person with a Class "B" LTC must
transport handguns unloaded and in a locked case, locked trunk or other secure
container. All persons transporting large capacity rifles and shotguns must
transport them unloaded and in a locked case, locked trunk or other secure
container. Trigger locks do not meet the requirements of securing a weapon
during transport in motor vehicle.
For more specific information see M.G.L.
c. 140, §131C.
Q: Do I need to lock my non-large
capacity rifles and shotguns in a case while transporting them in a vehicle?
A: No. They must be transported
unloaded, but are not required to be in a locked case while transporting.
Q: Can I leave my gun in my car
if I need to go into the store on my way home from the range or from hunting?
A: If your handgun or large
capacity rifle or shotgun is transported in accordance with the provisions of M.G.L.
c. 140, §131C (i.e. unloaded and in a locked case, locked trunk or other
secure container) then the gun may be left unattended in the vehicle. Weapons
transported in this manner will automatically be considered "stored or
kept" in compliance with the safe storage requirements of §131L.
A person leaving a non-large capacity rifle or
shotgun in an unattended vehicle is required to lock the rifle or shotgun in a
case/container or in the trunk, or install a mechanical locking device on the
weapon (i.e. cable or trigger lock).
Q: Can an individual who is the
subject of a restraining order, seek to have the judge remove the surrender
portion of the restraining order with regards to weapons permits so that he/she
can possess a weapon?
A: Previously, the surrender order could be lifted by the judge, pursuant to M.G.L. c. 209A, §3C, and guns and permits could be returned even though the restraining order remained in effect. Under recent changes in M.G.L. c. 140, §§129B and 131 , the suspension and surrender of a defendant's FID Card or LTC must continue as long as the underlying restraining order is in effect.