Application
Fees for License to Carry or Firearms Identification Cards
Effective
immediately, chapter 140, sections 122, 122B, 129B, 131, 131A, 131F and
131H have been amended to change the fee schedule for Massachusetts
firearms licenses. The $100.00 fee collected from the licenses are
generally allocated for $50.00 for the Commonwealth, $25.00 for the
licensing authority, and $25.00 for the Firearms Fingerprint Identity
Verification Trust Fund. Note that there is still no fee for applicants
over 70 years of age, and no fee for the renewal of a restricted FID
card (for possession of mace or pepper spray). The license fees are now
as follows:
- Dealers License
(including Gunsmiths): $100.00
- License to Sell
Ammunition: $100.00
- Firearms
Identification Card: $100.00
- Firearms
Identification Card - Restricted (Chemical Propellant Only): $25.00.
(No charge for
renewal applications for “Restricted” FID Cards)
- License to Carry Firearms: $100.00
(Includes license
to possess machine guns)
- License to Carry Firearms for Law Enforcement Officials or Local,
State, or Federal Government Entities Acting on Their Behalf: $ 25.00
- Permits to Purchase: $100.00
- Non-Resident and Non-Resident Alien: $100.00
- Resident Alien: $100.00
Detective John Grillo
- Licensing Officer
Gun
Laws
M.G.L. ch.
140, §§ 121-131P regulate weapons possession and licensing in the
Commonwealth. Choose one of the categories below link to link to
the relevant M.G.L.
License to Carry Firearms
Possession Information for Residents
Resident License to Carry (LTC) Firearms
To lawfully possess a handgun, you must have a valid
LTC. To read requirements and restrictions, see
M.G.L. c. 140, §131. You may get an application at
your local police department, or print
an application
 (18
KB). Contact your local police department for additional
information.
Resident Firearms Identification (FID) Cards
To lawfully possess a rifle, shotgun, ammunition, or
chemical propellant spray, you must possess a valid FID
card. To read requirements and restrictions, see
M.G.L. c. 140, §129B. You may get an application at
your local police department print
an application
(18
KB). Contact your local police department for additional
information.
Resident Aliens
Persons who are not citizens of the United States,
and are residents of Massachusetts may not possess large
capacity rifles, shotguns, handguns or non-large
capacity handguns. These persons may only possess
non-large capacity rifles, shotguns, ammunition, and
chemical propellant spray. (M.G.L.
c. 140 §§131F, and
131H). For information on how to apply for an alien
license to possess a rifle or shotgun, contact the
Firearms Record Bureau (FRB) at (617) 660-4780.
Non-Residents
Carrying Firearms with in the Commonwealth
Non-Resident Aliens
The FRB may issue a Class A or Class B temporary
license to carry firearms, or feeding devices, or
ammunition. These licenses may be issued only to aliens
who are not Massachusetts residents, for such purposes
as firearms competitions, and may be subject to other
terms and conditions (M.G.L.
c. 140 §131F). Please call the FRB at (617) 660-4780
for more information.
Non-Residents Carrying Firearms within the
Commonwealth
A United States citizen who is not a resident of the
Commonwealth may possess rifles, shotguns, and firearms
if certain situations apply. Please refer to the
following items for additional information:
If the situations described in the law do not apply,
the non-resident citizen must apply for a temporary
non-resident LTC. Please call the FRB at (617) 660-4780
for more information.
Large Capacity
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Law Enforcement Facts
There are
approximately 700,000 sworn law enforcement officers now serving
the United States.
Each year there are
approximately 38 million crimes committed in the United States, an
average of one crime every two seconds.
Crime fighting has
taken its toll. Since the first recorded police death in 1794,
there have been more than 14,000 law enforcement officers killed
in the line of duty.
A total of 1,613
law enforcement officers died in the line of duty during the last
ten years, an average of one death every 54 hours or 161 per year.
There were 116 police deaths in 1996, the lowest since 1959.
On average, more
than 65,000 law enforcement officers are assaulted each year and
some 23,000 are injured annually.
The deadliest year
in law enforcement history was 1974 when 268 officers were killed.
The deadliest decade was the 1970's when a total of 2,182 officers
died, or 218 each year. That figure has dropped dramatically in
the 1990's to 150 per year.
More officers have
been killed in January (1,355) and December (1,329) than during
any other months of the year.
During the last 10
years, more officers were killed on Fridays than any other day of
the week. The fewest number of fatalities occurred on Sundays.
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Licensing |
Address Change |
Purchasing and
Selling |
Safety Locks |
Transporting
Firearms |
Restraining Orders
- 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.
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- Can a nonresident obtain a permit to carry a weapon in
Massachusetts?
A: M.G.L.
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.
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- 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.
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- Should a valid holder of an LTC renew their FID Card based
upon notification from the Criminal History Systems Board that the FID
card is about to expire?
A: Not necessarily. An individual with an LTC is
not required to maintain an FID Card also, although an individual may
hold both. An LTC permits the holder to possess any weapon which would
be allowed with an FID Card, as well as additional weapons depending
on the Class of License.
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- 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
§131(d).
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- I am changing my address. Who do I notify?
A: Under
M.G.L. c. 140, §129B(10), and
§131(l), 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 Executive Director of the CHSB. The notice must be made
by certified mail within 30 days of its occurrence.
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- 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.
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- 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 is essentially the same form
used by dealers except that instructions are included with each
private sale form. This 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.
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- 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 FA10 form, which
can be obtained from any police department, is the simplest way to
make such a report.
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- 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).
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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).
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- 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.
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TO OPEN THE GUNLOCK
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS © 2008 East
Bridgewater Police Department
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