Guide To Gun Rights in your MA Town - 2020 + Edition

[raziel1911]

any idea if they still pull the "under 25 years old gets a restricted LTC" nonsense? They told me that when I first applied for my first LTC, and I said "well, good thing I turned 25 last week"

No idea, I wish I was 25 again!

 

[MuzzleDiscipline]

So just dropped off the renewal to Fall River PD. There is a new detective performing the duties. She is pleasant and efficient. The department policy is no appointments. Walkins only accepted on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8am to Noon first come first serve. They only issue unrestricted. It took about 5 minutes and I was done. She made it clear 6 months was normal to get processed and receive in the mail while she handed me a signed MIRCS receipt explaining this would allow me to carry until the new license arrived but not purchase. Hey she got most of it correct. When I was first issued 6 years ago(after about a 6month wait) a pleasant email to the city council member responsible for public safety services got me a direct response from the PD and my license in hand a few days later. This department is notoriously understaffed. @Len-2A Training was point on with his counsel and continues to be to this day.

 

[drgrant]

6 months... jesus christ

"We'll Try"

at least its not restricted and you have the receipt for bypass.

 

[In God We Trust]

6 months... jesus christ

"We'll Try"

at least its not restricted and you have the receipt for bypass.

Took over 4 months for me. I called, left a polite message and got called back 2 days later to come pick up the new one in Townsend. Not sure if they forgot about me or what.

 

[MuzzleDiscipline]

6 months... jesus christ

"We'll Try"

at least its not restricted and you have the receipt for bypass.

they really do "try". Man what motto to work under. A former licensing officer of FPD now owns the Shooting Supply in Westport.

 

[42!]

they really do "try". Man what motto to work under. A former licensing officer of FPD now owns the Shooting Supply in Westport.

Please tell me what the F town is before I comment.


ETA: I guess it's Fall River

 

[dda]

I just renewed in Arlington, MA. Carefully read the instructions on the PDF form I downloaded. Brought the filled out form to the police station on Feb 17, 2022. The form says to do that and then make an appointment for the interview. The nice records person said that all changed with COVID and did I have my check? I said I didn't but would bring it and the newly required proof of residency the next day, which I did.

I got the receipts in the mail about a week later, which was still before my expiration date so I was in good shape. They said it would be about 3 months. And so I waited...

I noticed they cashed my check a couple weeks ago and I got the "no restrictions" license in the mail today! Total time from drop-off to license: 6 weeks!

 

[scheming]

Medfield, Green.
Brother applied in 2016. Requires a letter to CoP, but standard application otherwise. Took 4 months to receive LTC, no restrictions.

 

[42!]

We really need to update the rating scale, calling a town green when they fail to meet the time limit and add extra requirements kind of makes them look "good" when they are still infringing on our rights. How about:
Red - , only issues restricted or not at all, extra requirements to apply and/or fails to meet deadline.
Red , only issues restricted or not at all.
Yellow - , will issue without restrictions but not consistently, additional requirements to apply and/or fails to meet deadline.
Yellow , will issue without restrictions but not consistently.
Green - , issues without restrictions always, additional requirements and/or fails to meet deadline.
Green , issues without restrictions, no additional requirements but fails to meet deadline.
Green + , issues without restrictions always, meets deadline

 

[AHM]

We really need to update the rating scale, calling a town green when they fail to meet the time limit and add extra requirements kind of makes them look "good" when they are still infringing on our rights. How about:
Red - , only issues restricted or not at all, extra requirements to apply and/or fails to meet deadline.
Red , only issues restricted or not at all.
Yellow - , will issue without restrictions but not consistently, additional requirements to apply and/or fails to meet deadline.
Yellow , will issue without restrictions but not consistently.
Green - , issues without restrictions always, additional requirements and/or fails to meet deadline.
Green , issues without restrictions, no additional requirements but fails to meet deadline.
Green + , issues without restrictions always, meets deadline

Meh, just pick more colors. Puce, mauve, taupe, and ecru.

 

[babygorilla]

Meh, just pick more colors. Puce, mauve, taupe, and ecru.

Or maybe a letter grading system. Someone with more time on their hands could create a spreadsheet and % grading system. Kind of like school.

 

[AHM]

Or maybe a letter grading system. Someone with more time on their hands could create a spreadsheet and % grading system. Kind of like school.

Ackchyually, one could do that systematically:

Spoiler

1. Construct a list of attributes, and make them table columns.
   • Attributes are always "positive" - phrased so "yes" or a bigger number is "better".
2. Sort the columns so left to right is from most important to least important.
   • Breaking ties between criteria is where subjectivity comes in.
3. Fill in a table row for each town.
4. Sort the rows so more valued towns precede lesser valued ones.
5. Squint at the rows and see if they clump into similar groups; the groups become colors or grades.

Before clumping into colors you get a (sparse) version of this:

 

[Mesatchornug]

Ackchyually, one could do that systematically:

Spoiler

1. Construct a list of attributes, and make them table columns.
   • Attributes are always "positive" - phrased so "yes" or a bigger number is "better".
2. Sort the columns so left to right is from most important to least important.
   • Breaking ties between criteria is where subjectivity comes in.
3. Fill in a table row for each town.
4. Sort the rows so more valued towns precede lesser valued ones.
5. Squint at the rows and see if they clump into similar groups; the groups become colors or grades.

Before clumping into colors you get a (sparse) version of this:

You've seen the Comm2A score cards, yes?

 

[AHM]

You've seen the Comm2A score cards, yes?

I actually think I have a few cached,
SINCE THEY MOVE THEM EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS AND HIDE THE OLD ONES.

 

[crispnipz]

We really need to update the rating scale, calling a town green when they fail to meet the time limit and add extra requirements kind of makes them look "good" when they are still infringing on our rights. How about:
Red - , only issues restricted or not at all, extra requirements to apply and/or fails to meet deadline.
Red , only issues restricted or not at all.
Yellow - , will issue without restrictions but not consistently, additional requirements to apply and/or fails to meet deadline.
Yellow , will issue without restrictions but not consistently.
Green - , issues without restrictions always, additional requirements and/or fails to meet deadline.
Green , issues without restrictions, no additional requirements but fails to meet deadline.
Green + , issues without restrictions always, meets deadline

I agree in principle of having a more detailed system. I think the base red/yellow/green was always intended solely to convey red always restricted/yellow sometimes restricted/green never restricted. Though that is IMO more important than the others for people new to the intersection of MA and guns. Like Woburn and Medford are both redder than the devil's dick as far as restrictions but Woburn takes it a step further with the quiz or whatever they give you. Or like, different criteria would be difficult to agree on, like towns that are green with restrictions but that won't issue MG cards.

IMO assign each town a table of these, so red/yellow/green but for each category. Something like:

Town/Category	Restrictions	Meets deadline	Additional requirements	MG cards
Boston	​	​	​	​
Medford	​	​	​	​

 

[Mesatchornug]

I agree in principle of having a more detailed system. I think the base red/yellow/green was always intended solely to convey red always restricted/yellow sometimes restricted/green never restricted. Though that is IMO more important than the others for people new to the intersection of MA and guns. Like Woburn and Medford are both redder than the devil's dick as far as restrictions but Woburn takes it a step further with the quiz or whatever they give you. Or like, different criteria would be difficult to agree on, like towns that are green with restrictions but that won't issue MG cards.

IMO assign each town a table of these, so red/yellow/green but for each category. Something like:

Town/Category	Restrictions	Meets deadline	Additional requirements	MG cards
Boston	​	​	​	​
Medford	​	​	​	​

Even then, you'll want a column for restrict forever vs removes (after a year, on renewal)

At some point, we have to admit that the color code is only a quick reference. Additional comments are there to provide needed clarity.

 

[Blackbeard83]

Just confirming that Wrentham is still a very Green+ town.

I dropped off 2 packets for my wife and I (new applicants) in the early morning of May 3rd. On May 10th, I got a call from Lt. Robillard confirming he received my wife and I's packets and asked about what time/day would work for us to come in and do finger prints. We were able to get there that day before he left to do them. While getting fingerprints done the wife asks "When will we be doing the interview?" He responds with saying "This is it!" and approves us both for unrestricted LTC!

Lt. Robillard was awesome to deal with super nice and friendly as well as the other officers we met at the station. He is definitely a Pro-2A person so he made it simple. Only needed a $100 check with the Mass Firearms Safety Course certificate included with the packet and that's it! He told us it will take a bit for the card to come in which I pretty much knew it will. But he said I can call him if they don't show in 60 days.

Big for the Wrentham PD!


Sam