I can wait for Maura's press release ending may issue. The letters of reference is the one element of the licensing scheme I want to see eliminated, but CA is keeping it, so it will be kept here. A lawsuit needs to be filed ASAP.
MA resident LTC is shall issue but with suitability, so effectively may issue. So Maura won't be saying anything about May issue unless she is refering to the non-res LTC which is May issue, but no suitability clause.
Wondering now if open carry will now be a thing in MA, since the main jist behind why no one did previously is that there was concern over the CoP considering you to be unsuitable at renewal, since OC is not illegal in MA.
It may change it a little but to be honest, a lot who want to open carry only want to do it for the shock value and it's "my right". They want to do it because it pisses of others. If you actually have a need to open carry, then the following does not apply to you. Being an a**h*** is being an a**h*** no matter how you do it. Doing something because you can and you know it will upset other is just being an a**h***. As far as self defence goes, CC provides the significant tactical advantage of the bad guy not knowing about it. If you're working on your fence on a hot summer day with no shirt on and your gun is visible, that's fine, the "open" is just a consequence of the situation. If you're walking in the mall with an AR on a single point sling, you're just being an a**h***.
while that seems to be the case on the face of it, does MA out of state permit requirements pass the smell test under the 14th A or equal protection under the law. Couldnt a lawyer state that just because their client lives out of state they should not have to jump through different hoops to get a non-res permit?
There are only a few difference in res and non-res in MA.
Non-res, May issue and restrictions.
Res, shall issue but suitability, and restrictions.
Other than that it's mostly the time/place to apply. The time/place thing will survive as long as its consistent. Restrictions and May issue on the non-res are gone. But will likely take a court case or two.
Res LTCs, restrictions are gone but will likely take a court case. Suitability, as MA defines it, will become part of a fight with the legislature. see below
The question is whether Federal courts will invalidate suitability
as being impermissibly subjective (and perhaps even impermissibly vague).
What SCOTUS said could be read as arbitrary suitability is not allowed. But MA makes the claim that it's use of suitability is not arbitrary, they must be able to clearly articulate a risk to public safety, At least that's the law, although we all know the MA courts will go along with the Chief says no matter what or how he says it. I'd expect the MA legislature to add more definition and try to replace the word suitability with something not actually in the SCOTUS ruling. Then when there is a challenge MA will just say the law isn't arbitrary, your fight is with the individual Chief. So you end up with lots of little cases applied to individuals, leaving the Chiefs the ability to deny "for reasons" unless you have the $$$ for the fight.