Basic Firearms Instructor - New Legislation Notification (via email)

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from: Firearms Licensing (POL) <Firearms.Licensing@pol.state.ma.us>
date: Jul 31, 2024, 12:27 PM

Good Afternoon,

As you are aware, on July 25, 2024, Governor Healey signed into law An Act Modernizing Firearms Laws (https://www.mass.gov/doc/h4885-an-a...chaptered-scanned-copy-attached-here/download). Part of this new law has made changes to the Basic Firearms Instructor Certification Program to include but not limited to:

  1. The State Police’s development of a universal written examination to be utilized by all instructors.
  2. All Basic Firearms Safety (BFS) Courses must include the following components:
    1. (A) the safe use, handling and storage of firearms;
    2. (B) methods for securing and childproofing firearms;
    3. (C) the applicable laws relating to the possession, transportation and storage of firearms;
    4. (D) knowledge of operation, potential dangers and basic competency in the ownership and use of firearms;
    5. (E) injury and suicide prevention and harm reduction education;
    6. (F) applicable laws relating to the use of force;
    7. (G) disengagement tactics; and
    8. (H) live firearms training.
  3. Copies of a new BFS student certificate shall now be forwarded to DCJIS.
  4. Any individual in possession of a License to Carry Firearms or Firearms Identification Card prior to August 1, 2024, does not have to re-take a BFS course for renewal purposes.
  5. A Hunter Safety Course will only be a sufficient substitute for a BFS course for FID applications.

This law goes into effect 90 days from the date of signing – or October 23, 2024.

Currently the Department of State Police is working expeditiously with the Municipal Police Training Commission, the Firearms Records Bureau and the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to develop guidance and regulations to comply with the new requirements in advance of the October 23, 2024 deadline.

Unfortunately, any classes taught after August 1, 2024, that do not adhere to the updated curriculum will not be sufficient for the issuance of an LTC. This will need to be disclosed to potential students.

Over the next few weeks we anticipate more correspondence with you, as an instructor, to provide additional information, survey’s, guidelines for accepting new course curriculum, and any changes to this newly signed law.

This would be a good time to submit any overdue student verification forms.

I appreciate your cooperation and patience as we maneuver together through this new legislation.

Sincerely,
Kristin

Kristin M. Ryan
Firearms Licensing
Massachusetts State Police
470 Worcester Road
Framingham, MA 01702
508-820-2299
Firearms.licensing@pol.state.ma.us


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dupe

 
Dawn breaks over Marblehead! Thanks for posting this, dup or not. The first official notice on paper. Hurt some feelings earlier by implying that we might be better off STFU and waiting for the official notices. Now they're starting to come out. These may be of some use to the cause down the road, even if for most of us right now, they just confirm the situation sucks. We'll see how it works out.
 
Thanks, checked but didn't see it. Mods feel free to archive/lock. (Can I do that with my own thread?)

I'm actually not that worried about having a separate thread about this; I think of this as a "good dupe." I just wanted to let you know people have already chimed in about it elsewhere.
 
Anyone see the new email they just sent out? If you get a LTC after 8/1 you’ll need to take the new course upon renewing your LTC.
 

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