Author: I don’t just answer questions, I give classes too, go to home page for details. The only published Firearms Instructor in Ma.
My #GUN SENSE book, Rated #1 at AMAZON in the Shooting section!! $15
I am getting more and more feedback from people around Massachusetts that have taken my State Basic Firearm Safety course, or took it somewhere else but could not get any answer(s) from where they took it, asking me about what they should say when the police chief of their town will not accept “Any Lawful Purpose” as good enough a reason for issuing the gun permit. He will issue them a restricted license for ‘target and hunting’ only, but later, they are told, if they can prove some good “reason‘ to be issued an unrestricted license with a letter explaining ‘why’ you think you need an unrestricted LTC the chief will consider it, but of course that can/will cost you another $100!
NOTE: ( My ‘Reason Letter’ is further down the page near the bottom in Bold type, you cant miss it ). Please read the whole page……
To read this chapter in full, and any other articles in the Gun Sense series, it is available as an Ebook $10, and a Paperback $15 at Amazon under:
Gun Sense Massachusetts Gun Law Information and Common Sense Firearm Safety By Mark R. Shean Sr.
Gun safety for anyone anywhere.
Took a year of work to publish and a lifetime of experience, check out my one and so-far only book! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T8ZSJS3
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Thank you again Mark!!! This is a great help to those who may have an issue getting there classA license to carry. It is horrible that law abiding citizens have to jump through hoops for their guns but the criminals go to the street corner. I dont understand why it is so hard for govenment officials to see no matter how much they try to restrict guns the criminals who do not follow the laws will always have them!! The letter you have put in your post should help most people, and God help us all if it doesnt. I know I will protect myself and my family regardless of the consequince and I hope that the majority of the population would do the same. You would think that law enforcement would appreciate that us law abiding citizens are willing to stand up for our rights to live and that of others- it makes their job easier. I have rescently started reading the book Armed Response by David Kenik and it has a lot of useful and interesting information. On page 163 the book quotes that Citizens shoot and kill at least twice as many criminals as police do every year. Only 2% of civilian shootings involved an innocent person mistakenly identified as a criminal. The error rate for the police however is 11%, more than five times as high. So I ask any intellegent human being to come up with a good reason that cant be argued, as to why a law abiding citizen shouldnt be able to carry. The numbers show that more lives are saved and that more criminals are stopped…what is the problem. I will continue to argue with and inform the ignorant that it is a benifit to all that the good guys have the guns!!!! As always thank you for your information and I will continue to speak about the right to bear arms and the right to defend your life and others. With much respect always, Nelly
Looks like your getting famous Mark. I am so happy to see others commenting on your post. You give us good information in a matter of fact way. Your writing is very real which makes it unique. England “heard you” that is awesome. I know how much you have influenced me in your post and how much I have learned and been made aware of, I am happy to see that others are getting and accepting your messages. Again thank you for posting.
Much respect, Nelly
Thanks Nelly, your the best commentor Ive got, very blunt and truthful, I like that. As far as England goes, my site must be a real shocker to them where guns are banned! 🙂 Mark
Hi I applied for my ltc here in fall river Massachusetts and received a letter back from my chief wanting me to explain my juvenile record from 15 years ago..I was looking for some ideas on how to word my letters..
As long as you describe what happened and the court outcome at that time truthfully that is all he should want.
Hi
My name is Ederson I live in Lowell MA I am trying to update my license I want some advice from you. My licence is restricted I can only have it at home and at the range its says sporting on the restriction. I called Lowell Police to see if i can change it they told me to call them back in two weeks I guess they ran out of applications or something. My question to you is, what piece of information you think I am going to need to provide to them? I do not own a business I feel like as a citizen I have the right to carry.
Ederson, Please read #39 and #19 Gun Sense fully. You are correct, you do have a right to carry but you need to educate yourself against the ‘games’ some police chiefs play on law abiding citizens for no good reason what-so-ever……also read # 41 G.S., Mark
For MA non-resident applications there is also a “reason” question (#13) as follows:
“Provide (bolded,italics)detailed(/italics,bolded) reasons for requesting the issuance of a license. Be specific, as failure to do so will result in the return of your application.”
As a non-resident, the protection of home “reason” does not not apply. Will a carefully, respectfully worded letter that’s purely about self-defense suffice? Also, because this is the out of state application, it does not go to a police chief but rather straight to the Firearms Records Bureau in Chelsea where I assume a rep from the MA State Police reviews it.
Roderick, You may want to reconsider getting the non resident license, it is only good for one year and costs $100 each year. It takes a minimum of 4 months to be approved each year meaning that in essence you only can use it for 8 months out of the year, to me that is not worth the headache. I do not know fully why you want it but if it is just to go shooting with friends in Ma. you can be a guest and shoot under their license when you visit. I am not sure why/who told you that home protection does not apply? You can ‘tweak’ my example letter how ever you want, it is a template.
I have a question. I have been calling the licensing officer in my town. Hull. I have been calling for a month, even stopped in police station. They took my name and # as always, I have not received one phone call back. They will not accept applications until you speak with this officer first. Is this legal?
Hi Leah, It may not be illegal but it is unethical. I would say now that you have to bypass the police, (who have decided to completely ignore you) and contact by email and follow it up by certified mail to your selectmen and your state reps. Ask them why you are being ignored and by extension, I am sure, many others are also. Send the emails to all of their email addresses at the same time so they can all see everyone else who got it and cc: it to ‘attorney’… so that everyone getting your email now knows you mean business and they will not be able to ignore you this time Leah. I am willing to bet money that you will be contacted very soon by the police to bring in your application! Make sure that you read #39, 22, 33, Gun Sense on my site. We sometimes must ‘create’ our own luck. 🙂
Unfortunately, I live in Newton and I understand the city has a history of giving restricted LTCs to first time applicants. On the other hand, I also own a house in Dartmouth, MA which has a “better” reputation for providing unrestricted LTCs. Can I apply for my license in Dartmouth where I am a part-time resident?
Sorry John, it has to be in the town were you live the majority of the time. If you have a business in another town you can apply through that town. Read #39 Gun Sense all the way through if you want to legally counter an illegal restriction from your chief.
Hi Mark
I am going to be getting my LTC certificate 9/3/2016 and I was wondering do I send my certified letter right after I get it? Also when does the $100.00 charge come into play? Is it after they tell you whether or not you get the license that the payment will be due?
Hello Cristine, Please read #39 Gun Sense and that should answer you as to what to expect. What town are you in?
Hello Mark. I am getting ready to submit paperwork for my Ma ltc. I have a misdemeanor conviction that carried a 6 month suspended sentence 35 years ago. I have read that should not disqualify me to get my license? That is my only conviction for anything. Is that correct ? I live in bridgewater and have been told they restrict all first time applicants.
Hi Phil, please read #39 Gun Sense, it should be a help to you, and do not accept a restriction, #39 will guide you on how to do that. Mark
Hello,
I recently purchased a new home in a new town. We are undergoing some renovation and have not moved in yet but I recieve mail there and are planning to be living there full time in a few weeks. shortly after I purchased the home I received a post card informing me to renew my LTC due to long processing times. Without thinking twice I went to the police station in the new town and submitted the application. I got a letter saying I was denied for innacurate information because I did not reside in that town. Im guessimg because we had not fully moved yet is where I made my error. I have no prior arrests and have not had so much as a speeding ticket in the last 10 years. Looking through the appeal petition document it mentions nothing about this type of situation only appeals about suitability amd prior convictions. This wad an honest mistake what should I do, can I appral this?
Please read #14 Gun Sense.
Mark, thanks for the information in your site. Invaluable. I found this information in a Google search in September 2016.
Reason Letter comments:
Your ‘reason letter’ and discussion assisted me to write my own letter to the Superintendent of Police. I live in the City of Lowell and was granted an unrestricted LTC Class A large capacity. I took the time to obtain the requested training, obtained letters of recommendation and wrote my reason letter. Your site was extremely helpful to me in navigating these new waters that led to a successful outcome and granting of the license. Many thanks ! Ron
Your welcome Ron, I appreciate your email, many people come to my site daily with nary a word, glad that my site was a help to you. The information in here is the standard information that I give in all my classes since 2000. Most take classes elsewhere then come to me for answers they did not get elsewhere. Mark
Hi Mark,
I live in Boston and I just got a restricted LTC. I wrote them a letter asking them to lift the restrictions and of course they refuse to. They’re pretty much telling me that if I don’t like it, to go appeal their decision in district court. I was trying to avoid that, since it sounds time consuming and expensive. But I’m out of options. Any advice?
Thanks!
Hi Ambar, I tell people in my class to ask first if a town/city will issue an unrestricted license, if thy say they issue it with a restriction like ‘Target and hunting’ or ‘Employment only’, have them give you a letter explaining why you are being denied the license that you want. Please read #39 Gun Sense. If you accepted a license already it is to late to appeal it and the police know this, that is why they give you a flip answer like ‘go appeal it’. They know the judge will ask you why you are appealing a license that you accepted?
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Hi need a little help I got denied my LTC is spfld ma letter stated commissioner found me unsuitable over a cwof of a&b the case was dismissed but was never submitted into the system so it showed it was still open. I took care of it and I wanted my 90 days to them re apply for my Ltc and I also brought in a copy of my motivation to dismiss paper for the cwof a&b. Can i get denied again?
I say you should not be but you need to wait and see.
Hi mark my ltc in Boston mass got denied b/c I was “arraigned on a felony criminal charge” . I was 14 years old at the time (I’m 30 now) and it was a after school fight where the allegations were that I punched and kicked the other party. Things were dismissed with CWOF. The denial letter also brings up allegations in police reports that pointed out “concerning behavior. Example : “Khori was agressive towards family members…..).can I be denied for that ? Do I have a chance ? Thanks in advance
When were you denied? Boston does not like following the laws even with people that are squeaky clean.
I’m drafting my appeal letter I was just wondering if I had a chance given the info I listed . Thank you
Yes, read Gun Sense #13
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Hey Mark,
Have a interesting situation and question for you. I am currently an active duty military member stationed in MA. I was convicted of a Federal Felony in 2003 before I joined the military which I was pardoned for by Obama last year. With this pardon my firearm rights have been restored. What are the chances of me getting a LTC from MA
Mark,
Thanks for all the great content. I am applying in watertown and from what I read it will be quite difficult. I have a letter of recommendation from a neighboring town sargeant along with all corresponding paperwork and a completely clean record. Any will this letter help or will it still be difficult to obtain?
Under those circumstances I would say that there should not be an issue. But you would still need to mention it on the application so that you would not be denied under a ‘lie by omission’.
Under the law, as of 2014, a police chief can no longer ‘invent’ reasons to deny people. He would need to go in front of a judge first to get permission to use a non statutory reason, and most judges would/should not grant that permission if they had any sort of a moral compass. I wrote a Reason Letter at #19 Gun Sense if that chief wants a ‘reason’….you can tweak it to fit you.
I’m tempted to say my ‘reason’ is that I am an American born and raised citizen and the Constitution guarantee’s my firearm RIGHTS under the Second Amendment. If I have no criminal record these politically appointed hack ‘chiefs’ have no reason to deny anyone. But what’s the point of having a badge if you can’t abuse your authority?
Hello,
I am writing to see if you could write a letter to businesses that have gone against myself and millions being I am a very long time member of NRA, as a mother,grandmother and retired Nurse I feel as if I’m personally being attacked because I choose to defend myself and my family, I am a law abiding citizen and conceal carry licensed citizen as well that am not happy with companies and liberals attacking me as if I’m a criminal, so I would love to send these companies as well as senators and governors a nice firm to the point letter,However I’m not good at writing them as well as your are upon this website.
Thank You
Hello Loretta, Thank you for the compliment. If you look through my blog you will start finding many examples of letters that I have already written that would serve you well if you would like to pick out sentences and ideas to write that letter. feel free. Mark
I just submitted my LTC application today with my towns Firearms officer in Rockland. I came to the realization later in the day that when I was living out of state in California 15 years ago I was given a ticket for a small amount marijuana. It was not treated as a big deal so if paid it from memory fairly quickly. I ran my background after the application process when I figured this out. I was not charged and was not convicted. It was simply treated as a citation. It was an honest omission and I’m wondering if I should go back into the station and tell them about it. Or if I should wait for the results and deal with it from there. Any advice would be appreciated.
Id wait, I don’t think, as you described it, that it would even show up. Is the Rockland PD still under investigation by the FBI?