GOAL Pauses Federal Lawsuit Challenging New Training Requirements and Licensing Process
Filing Document
On December 20th, GOAL voluntarily dismissed its federal lawsuit challenging the State’s new Basic Firearm Safety training course requirements and other burdensome aspects of the unconstitutional licensing processes for Licenses to Carry and FID Cards. Almost as soon as GOAL filed this lawsuit explaining that citizens’ Second Amendment rights were under threat because of unavailability of any training courses that were compliant with the new law, the Massachusetts legislature suspended the new training requirements until April 2026, through a bill signed into law on September 16th.
The State Defendants admitted in the lawsuit that applicants will not be required to take the new BFS course until April 2026 and, until then, may continue to get LTCs and FID Cards using the pre-existing BFS courses. Because of those admissions, GOAL has opted to dismiss the lawsuit for now and to re-evaluate the unconstitutional licensing laws closer to April 2026.
In the meantime, GOAL is continuously monitoring local licensing authorities. GOAL will work to quickly remedy any problems or delays at the local level, including through lawsuits against local authorities if necessary.
Filing Document
On December 20th, GOAL voluntarily dismissed its federal lawsuit challenging the State’s new Basic Firearm Safety training course requirements and other burdensome aspects of the unconstitutional licensing processes for Licenses to Carry and FID Cards. Almost as soon as GOAL filed this lawsuit explaining that citizens’ Second Amendment rights were under threat because of unavailability of any training courses that were compliant with the new law, the Massachusetts legislature suspended the new training requirements until April 2026, through a bill signed into law on September 16th.
The State Defendants admitted in the lawsuit that applicants will not be required to take the new BFS course until April 2026 and, until then, may continue to get LTCs and FID Cards using the pre-existing BFS courses. Because of those admissions, GOAL has opted to dismiss the lawsuit for now and to re-evaluate the unconstitutional licensing laws closer to April 2026.
In the meantime, GOAL is continuously monitoring local licensing authorities. GOAL will work to quickly remedy any problems or delays at the local level, including through lawsuits against local authorities if necessary.
