Seeking licensing delay information

[Darksideblues42]

People bitch and bitch and bitch...now that an org is trying to get enough data to do something crickets......
Wish I could help but I have no issues with my towns process or timeline, they don't play games and support our rights.

Does the law still state that the licensing authority has 40 days from the date an application is submitted to approve or deny the application for an FID or LTC?

Current law (as we understand it):

1. Turn in Complete Application (Can be Online Portal or Paper Application)
2. Licensing folks either accept payment on the spot (Paper) or ask for payment ASAP (Online)
3. Clock Starts ticking when they have a "Complete" application (Either online or Paper)
4. Within 7 days of turning in the complete application, the licensing authority is required under MGL to submit a copy of the application AND the applicant's fingerprints to the state police
5. Within 40 days of application, they are required to approve or deny the license, unless the State Police have notified that they are unable to complete the background checks
   1. After 40 days of no answer, the applicant can file a case in court to challenge the lack of answer, treating it like a denial.

General Laws Part I Title XX Chapter 140 Section 131

(e) Within seven days of the receipt of a completed application for a license to carry or possess firearms, or renewal of same, the licensing authority shall forward one copy of the application and one copy of the applicant's fingerprints to the colonel of state police, who shall within 30 days advise the licensing authority, in writing, of any disqualifying criminal record of the applicant arising from within or without the commonwealth and whether there is reason to believe that the applicant is disqualified for any of the foregoing reasons from possessing a license to carry or possess firearms. In searching for any disqualifying history of the applicant, the colonel shall utilize, or cause to be utilized, files maintained by the department of probation and statewide and nationwide criminal justice, warrant and protection order information systems and files including, but not limited to, the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. The colonel shall inquire of the commissioner of the department of mental health relative to whether the applicant is disqualified from being so licensed. If the information available to the colonel does not indicate that the possession of a firearm or large capacity firearm by the applicant would be in violation of state or federal law, he shall certify such fact, in writing, to the licensing authority within said 30 day period.

 

[2/1Marine]

Current law (as we understand it):

1. Turn in Complete Application (Can be Online Portal or Paper Application)
2. Licensing folks either accept payment on the spot (Paper) or ask for payment ASAP (Online)
3. Clock Starts ticking when they have a "Complete" application (Either online or Paper)
4. Within 7 days of turning in the complete application, the licensing authority is required under MGL to submit a copy of the application AND the applicant's fingerprints to the state police
5. Within 40 days of application, they are required to approve or deny the license, unless the State Police have notified that they are unable to complete the background checks
   1. After 40 days of no answer, the applicant can file a case in court to challenge the lack of answer, treating it like a denial.

General Laws Part I Title XX Chapter 140 Section 131

(e) Within seven days of the receipt of a completed application for a license to carry or possess firearms, or renewal of same, the licensing authority shall forward one copy of the application and one copy of the applicant's fingerprints to the colonel of state police, who shall within 30 days advise the licensing authority, in writing, of any disqualifying criminal record of the applicant arising from within or without the commonwealth and whether there is reason to believe that the applicant is disqualified for any of the foregoing reasons from possessing a license to carry or possess firearms. In searching for any disqualifying history of the applicant, the colonel shall utilize, or cause to be utilized, files maintained by the department of probation and statewide and nationwide criminal justice, warrant and protection order information systems and files including, but not limited to, the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. The colonel shall inquire of the commissioner of the department of mental health relative to whether the applicant is disqualified from being so licensed. If the information available to the colonel does not indicate that the possession of a firearm or large capacity firearm by the applicant would be in violation of state or federal law, he shall certify such fact, in writing, to the licensing authority within said 30 day period.

thank you! That is what I was tracking!

 

[Darksideblues42]

thank you! That is what I was tracking!

No problem at all.

We are up to 30 replies so far!

 

[Skull1313]

Where do you reply? I missed all the black Friday deals because of this town and state. Just a simple renewal. I've had my ltc for 28 years. Nothing has changed except my address twice and that hasn't in the last 3 renewals.

 

[HARRYM]

As we all know during COVID the delays were 6/7 months, some went on over a year. Some towns shut down the line for firearm licensing.

 

[MAD Geary]

I have a friend that lives in Attleboro. He applied over the summer. He was told they have not even looked at his application and they are at least 4 months behind.

 

[Darksideblues42]

Where do you reply? I missed all the black Friday deals because of this town and state. Just a simple renewal. I've had my ltc for 28 years. Nothing has changed except my address twice and that hasn't in the last 3 renewals.

Use the link below please.

LTC / FID Timelines

 

[Comm2A]

Hello Folks,

We are up to 35 responses.

Can you please get the word out to folks at your clubs and your shooting communities so we can get our hands on this data?

Thank you!

We at Comm2A need to gather data and potential plaintiffs to start the legal wheels turning against town/city police departments and state agencies that engage in illegal FID/LTC application/renewal delay tactics.

Kindly use this Google form link below to complete a Comm2A survey to help us gather data covering how long the LTC/FID process took in your town. This information will be used to identify infringing cities and towns so we can hold them accountable and recognize those cities and towns doing it right:

LTC / FID Timelines

 

[milktree]

Hello Folks,

We are up to 35 responses.

Can you please get the word out to folks at your clubs and your shooting communities so we can get our hands on this data?

Thank you!

We at Comm2A need to gather data and potential plaintiffs to start the legal wheels turning against town/city police departments and state agencies that engage in illegal FID/LTC application/renewal delay tactics.

Kindly use this Google form link below to complete a Comm2A survey to help us gather data covering how long the LTC/FID process took in your town. This information will be used to identify infringing cities and towns so we can hold them accountable and recognize those cities and towns doing it right:

LTC / FID Timelines

I'm surprised at how few responses you've gotten. Roughly how many is enough to be useful?

How far back is useful information? i.e.: say you got your LTC in 2020, is that meaningful? (setting aside the likely problem that anyone who got an LTC in 2020 probably doesn't remember the details)

 

[Comm2A]

I'm surprised at how few responses you've gotten. Roughly how many is enough to be useful?

How far back is useful information? i.e.: say you got your LTC in 2020, is that meaningful? (setting aside the likely problem that anyone who got an LTC in 2020 probably doesn't remember the details)

Still useful.

We would like to get closer to 100 responses, that way we can have a better picture of which towns are breaking vs following the law.

 

[Rob Boudrie]

The new system gives us an additional attack surface - departments will have a much harder time playing the "sure, we told him to wait 6 months for an appoint, but we don't accept applications prior to the appointment and the application is considered submitted when they have their appointment". The new system establishes the time of application as that when the applicant completes and pays for their MIRCS licensing submission.

The process to prove ignoring the deadline is involved ($$$) - compelling the PD to prove it submitted the application to the MSP for a record check with 7 days; compelling the MSP to disclose if it completed the record check in time; discovery of the MSP response to the local PD; etc.

 

[RKG]

We at Comm2A need to gather data and potential plaintiffs to start the legal wheels turning against town/city police departments and state agencies that engage in illegal FID/LTC application/renewal delay tactics.

Kindly use this Google form link below to complete a Comm2A survey to help us gather data to identify infringing cities and towns to be held to accountable and recognize those cities and towns doing it right:

LTC / FID Timelines

I cannot give you exact dates, because I don’t have them all in my calendar. However, I can relate recent experience for both my wife and I renewing our LTCs in Arlington in 2024.

My wife came first. Stopped in to PD last August to get an “appointment.” (In Arlington, LTC stuff is handled by the two nice ladiest in the Records office on the second floor.) There was no one in the window – it may have been near lunch hour. The PS saw us, said that the lady was out on an errand, took Karen’s phone number, and said he would have her call.

We drove home, about two miles from PD. Walked in the door and Karen’s phone was ringing. It was one of the ladies from Records. She said come on down and she’d take of it right then. We did. No fee (both of us are “venerable") and new photo. (As I recall, new prints not needed.)

Karen received another phone call from same lady two weeks later. Renewed permit was at the PD, which we could pick up or she offered to mail it if we weren’t home.

Me was back in late May, 2024. Timeline was about the same.

By way of background: Arlington has always been good about this stuff. (I’ve had an LTC from Arlington since some time in the 1970s.) Long time Chief (Fred Ryan) took the position that he was not going to be playing games: so long as applicant was not a DQ, LTCs were issued as of right. Processing was always by the Records ladies; and the whole thing was managed by the whip of the Detective Bureau (Lt. Jay Moran).

Both Fred and Jay have since retired, but their successors are of exactly the same mentality.

This new automated stuff may be an improvement for folks in other Towns, some of which are quite undermanned. My fear it that is likely to slow things down in Arlington.

 

[Darksideblues42]

Up to 41 responses!

Let's keep the moment going.

 

[Agnotology]

Hello Folks,

We are up to 35 responses.

Can you please get the word out to folks at your clubs and your shooting communities so we can get our hands on this data?

Thank you!

We at Comm2A need to gather data and potential plaintiffs to start the legal wheels turning against town/city police departments and state agencies that engage in illegal FID/LTC application/renewal delay tactics.

Kindly use this Google form link below to complete a Comm2A survey to help us gather data covering how long the LTC/FID process took in your town. This information will be used to identify infringing cities and towns so we can hold them accountable and recognize those cities and towns doing it right:

LTC / FID Timelines

Is 2+ year old data still useful?

 

[Darksideblues42]

Is 2+ year old data still useful?

Not as useful as data less than 18 months old, but it can be useful to show a pattern or practice of the PD ignoring the law.

 

[Agnotology]

Not as useful as data less than 18 months old, but it can be useful to show a pattern or practice of the PD ignoring the law.

Mine took 21 days from application ("interview" at the same time, basically hey how's the kids? while getting fingerprinted) to get my LTC, although a prior holder of an FID. Given I'm on the other end of the state, this is probably the quickest it can get done. 2 years ago this month. Applied Dec 1st Approved Dec 16th Received December 22nd

I sent it in anyways.

 

[Darksideblues42]

47 responses. Especially looking for Worcester and Boston folks!

 

[Darksideblues42]

48 Responses now.

 

[Darksideblues42]

Just hit 50 responses today.
Attleboro
Avon
Bedford
Boston x 5
Cambridge
Charlton
Chelsea (Non-Res)
Dighton
Dover
Dudley x 2
Duxbury
Fall River
Gloucester
Granby
Harvard
Hatfield
Hopkinton
Lowell
Lunenburg
Mansfield x 3
Marlborough
Milford
Millis
New Marlborough x 2
North Brookfield
Northborough
Norwood
Plymouth
Randolph
Southbridge x2
Springfield
Stoneham
Sturbridge
Sudbury
Ware
Westminster
Weymouth
Worcester x 3

Some interesting data so far

Some Cities/Towns are processing renewals in less than 30 days, others are taking 5-8 months.
Some are processing new applications in 30-45 days (inclusive of holidays) others are taking 6-9 months.
(I can't chart these out right now, have to mesh a few data sets and account for the fact that not everyone writes dates the same way)

 

[Steve600]

Turned in my renewal application Oct 1, got a call early Dec to come pick it up. No hassles, no problems. Sunderland, MA

 

[Sunny]

Lincoln MA. Submitted renewal Oct 14. 2024. LTC ready on Jan 7, 2025....almost a full THREE months later. PD says the renewals on the state's system was causing the backlog.

 

[Darksideblues42]

Lincoln MA. Submitted renewal Oct 14. 2024. LTC ready on Jan 7, 2024....almost a full THREE months later. PD says the renewals on the state's system was causing the backlog.

That seems to be true.

 

[Mesatchornug]

That seems to be true.

View attachment 952885

It was saying that in October.

 

[Darksideblues42]

It was saying that in October.

I took that screen capture fresh yesterday.

Maybe someone forgot to update?

 

[Mesatchornug]

I took that screen capture fresh yesterday.

Maybe someone forgot to update?

I'm sure you did. I'm sure they didn't forget anything.

 

[HARRYM]

Lincoln MA. Submitted renewal Oct 14. 2024. LTC ready on Jan 7, 2024....almost a full THREE months later. PD says the renewals on the state's system was causing the backlog.

Dear License applier.

Thanks for your application. Please keep in mind however that you live in a Communist State that believes that the Constitution is an outdated document crafted by racist old white men. That being said please be sure will will ignore your application as long as we can. We are certainly aware that the State of MA has imported thousands of criminal illegals that threaten the safety of MA residents, and with our intentional delays, impede the citizens right of self defense. Honestly, that's the Citizens problem and not ours. At the moment we are simply using all available staff to assist the State in covering up the crimes the illegals are committing. We apologize but we simple do not have time to help law abiding citizens.

We thank you for your understanding.

Kind Regards,

Maura Healey

 

[BlueToad]

Renewal Timeline:

10/29: Applied Online

11/5: Application processed & sent to state. Received my receipt on 11/5 backdated to 10/29 (date applied)

Early December: Called and told my application was approved. Expect 4 weeks for printing.

12/30: License issue date on printed license.

1/3: Called for status and told “Approved, pending activation by the FRB.”

1/10: MIRCS portal still did not show new license. Application still “pending”

1/13: Called and told to come in and pick up my new license. It now shows as active in the portal and the application status as “approved”


My licensing officer says he does everything in a timely manner and most of the delay is with the FRB. He seems honest. I wonder if the state can skirt the 40-day rule by “approving”them on day 40 and taking as long as they want to print them and mail them to the local PD. They apparently send them in batches every week or two.

 

[Darksideblues42]

62 replies so far, interesting patterns.

Cities/towns saying the state is months and months behind printing LTCs yet some folks get renewal LTCs in hand in less than 40 days.

 

[42!]

62 replies so far, interesting patterns.

Cities/towns saying the state is months and months behind printing LTCs yet some folks get renewal LTCs in hand in less than 40 days.

That's a good point.
It's safe to assume that the process after approval/re-approval is identical. Sent it for printing, send it to the PD.
The differences for new/renewal would only have minor differences, but there are some differences. For a new one, entering the persons info into the system, running the full check and potentially clearing up anything confusing, then off to approval/printing. For a renew, the info is already in and the check only deals with what has happened since the last (less lively for there to be confusing info), then off to printing.

Should be easy to look at the records and see if the printing is taking longer or if the local is lying about where the delay is.

 

[Skull1313]

Where do you reply? I missed all the black Friday deals because of this town and state. Just a simple renewal. I've had my ltc for 28 years. Nothing has changed except my address twice and that hasn't in the last 3 renewals.

Still waiting, matter of fact. Was told today that it's been approved and now it's a month to process it.