|
Below are notes from
two Four Seasons
customers who share their experience on the process
they went through to obtain a Mass. Permit
to Carry Class A..."All Lawful Purposes" in the City of Boston.
I received my license in the mail
today. Here are the notes I took along the way. I'd welcome any advice or edits.
I'll expect to pass this on to a few co-workers in a few days.
In theory, the information below is as detailed as it needs to be in order to
enable someone who has never touched a gun to get a gun license in the city of
Boston.
Listed are the steps, price for each step, and estimated minimum time required
to complete each step.
Notes completed 8/11/05.
My case:
Time to complete all steps and get license: 89 days
(of the 89 days listed above, 54 days were spent just waiting for the
application to be processed)
Total cost to fulfill all requirements (does not include the costs of buying a
gun): $422
Summary of required steps:
-take approved pistol safety class
-become a member of a gun club
-apply for license
-pass Moon Island range test
Detailed steps:
1 - Review application for Class A license, $0, 0 days
There are three types of licenses available (listed in order of increasing
usefulness): FID, Class B and Class A. FID and Class B are nearly worthless; do
not bother with them.
You want a Class A.
The application can be found at:
http://www.mass.gov/chsb/pdfs/frb/frb_fid_lic_app.pdf
NOTE: This application paperwork is not accepted by the City of Boston. It is no
better or worse than Boston's requirements, but Boston requires its own
paperwork. If you see no problems on the state application, then you won't have
any problems with Boston's version. Boston's application is not available online
and must be picked up in person. See Step 9 below (Prior to applying in person
in Boston, you should review question-section of the state application. You will
be asked every question on the state application.)
2 - Decide to get CLASS A gun license and maybe a gun, $0, 0 days
Call local gun club to find out the scheduling of the next open NRA Certified
Basic Pistol Safety Class.
Recommended: Boston Gun and Rifle Association has classes every week. Phone: 617
436 8846 Website:
www.bostongunclub.net Cost: $150/class.
This class is highly recommended only because of its convenience: it is
accessible by T and it is offered ALL the time. Almost every other range
offering classes tends to offer classes at a frequency of once a month or less.
Because the application process is so long, the absolute best thing you can do
for yourself is to start today. And, the easiest way to start today is to sign
up today. The BGRA's prices aren't terrible, but some other places go as low as
$75. You'll need access to a car to get to a cheaper class;
www.goal.org can help you find one that's not too far away.
3 - Sign up for class at BGRA, $150, 1 day
BGRA - need to bring filled out application, found on website (www.bostongunclub.net).
To be prudent, try to sign up a week or so before the class. However, they often
have openings in the next scheduled class. Check or cash [edit: they now take
credit cards as well (or debit with a visa/mc logo)].
The BGRA is located at Fields Corner, on a side-street just after going under
the subway bridge (when heading south on Dorchester Ave from Boston). Hard to
find. Call the BGRA and ask for directions from whomever you talk to. You have
to press a buzzer to be allowed in.
4 - Start basic pistol safety class, $0, 3 days
Held at BGRA
5 - Graduate basic pistol safety class, $0, 7 days
Don't lose the graduation papers. This is a good point to confirm that you want
to spend the rest of the time and money necessary to get a license.
6 - Join a gun club, $150, 1 day
Many clubs have more extensive facilities than the BGRA. The BGRA has a benefit
of location and a friendly atmosphere, but if you have a car and don't mind a
short drive, there are better facilities outside of the Boston city limits (BGRA
is a pistol range only).
www.goal.org has a list of ranges in the surrounding counties. At the BGRA,
take $25 off if you sign up within a month of taking the class.
7* - Target shooting tutorial. Prep for Moon Island test, $22, 4 days
Assuming you're taking this from Bob at BGRA. You will get his card upon
finishing the class. The hour or so tutorial is not expensive, but possibly not
worth the money if you think you're good enough already or you know someone who
will let you train on their .38 revolver.
The Moon Island test is described in all its gory detail below. Presumably best
day for both you and the trainer will be several days after graduation.
8 - Get club membership letter, $0, 4 days (about a week from step 6)
The time between applying (step 6) and getting notice of membership, should be
less than 2 weeks.
9 - Fill out Class A license and apply, $100, 1 day
Note: to apply in Boston you must pick up an application in person from the
licensing dept. Call the BPD (617 343 4425 - license dept., 617 343 4200 - main
number) to verify the hours that they are open. You may have to schedule a few
hours off from work to go pick up application, and--if you are actually applying
on a different day--a few hours to apply.
Don't bother applying for anything but a CLASS A license (you will be issued
either an unrestricted or a restricted Class A license). The only Bostonians who
get unrestricted class A licenses are crime victims, business owners who make
cash deposits, or people connected politically. When asking for a CLASS A
license, expect first question from police to be "what do you want that for?"
Possible answers: "for all lawful purposes", "sport/target", or
"business-related". You will need: Drivers License, copy of Birth Certificate, 2
Utility Bills, copy of Gun Course Certificate, copy of Letter of Membership from
gun club, and 2 references (name, address, phone #). (if you are applying for a
"business-related" license you will need more paperwork--they will give you a
list). Pick application in person: 1190 Tremont St., Roxbury, MA 8:30 - 3:30
Monday-Friday. You can show up with the required paperwork and apply
immediately, or you can take the application home and bring it back filled out
and with papers. Application processs: you will be fingerprinted with ink,
fingerscanned, and photographed (photograph will be shown on license). You will
be verbally asked all of the questions on the state application by an officer.
You will be asked to choose a range date for test and given a permission slip
for the range date. DO NOT LOSE PERMISSION SLIP. Cash, not check or credit. ATM
machine on site.**
10* - Take Moon Island test, $0, 3 days
Bring the permission slip given to you in step 9. Moon Island test can be
scheduled for any weekday, either at 7am or 4pm. Presumably, you could take it
the next day. Estimate the shortest time to be 3 days from the day you apply for
a license.
11 - Receive Class A license, $0, 42 days
The officer said that this would take 5-6 weeks, (but probably less) to get
license. I don't know if they started processing the day after I filled out the
forms or the day after the range test. The officer's statement, while
encouraging, seems to contradict the actual facts. In conversation with other
license applicants, and my own experience, it seems that the licensing process
takes a Minimum of 6 weeks and could take more than 100 days. On anecdotal
evidence, it seems to take anywhere from 2 to 6 months for the Boston police
department to actually issue a license.
12 - Buy gun, the sky's the limit, 1 day
www.northeastshooters.com has a forum giving feedback on gun shops.
In order to buy a gun, you just need to walk into the store with a license and
money (and your state-issued PIN, and don't lose the finger that was
fingerscanned in step 9...). It's blessedly simple at this point (except that
your choice of guns is restricted by THE LIST (and the Atty. General's
DOUBLE-SECRET LIST), but that's not worth discussing here). In addition to the
price of the gun, you probably should also budget for: eye protection ($10), ear
protection ($25), gun-cleaning kit ($10), (and ammo & targets...), most guns
come with a gun lock, but if the one you want doesn't you will have to buy one
of those as well.
Total Time and Cost: $422.00, 66 days
(of the estimated minimum Time above, 42 days are just waiting for the
application to be processed)
MINIMUM COST FOR LICENSE: Cost of a pistol safety course + Cost of a club
membership + $100. If you pick the class and the club by price, you might be
able to get cost down to about $325
MINIMUM TIME FOR LICENSE: If you don't live in Boston, you could shave off 3
more days by not doing step 10, and the turnaround time for a license might be
less than 5-6 weeks.
*These are steps only required of City-Of-Boston residents. (They may also be
required of residents of a few cities surrounding Boston, like Cambridge,
Brookline and/or Quincy. I don't know.)
**More on trying to get an unrestricted license rather than a sport/target
license. I tried "for all lawful purposes" and was told that I wasn't allowed to
get a license "for all lawful purposes". The officer changed my application to
"sport/target". You can also try writing in "All lawful purposes - see attached
letter". You should definitely have a thorough letter attached stating your need
for a license to carry. In Boston, "need" is generally considered to be: a
criminal in your neighborhood has attacked you or pulled a gun on you. So,
"need" is pretty hard to prove to the BPD. Paint a bleak picture of your
situation... If you really want an unrestricted class A, it might be worth
talking to the lawyers at
www.attorneycohen.com or
www.massgunlaw.com for advice and assistance. I don't know their rates.
===========================
The Moon Island Range Test:
===========================
(Don't panic. The test isn't hard. I'm just trying to give as detailed an
explanation as possible so there's no fear of the unknown.)
Summary:
You're given a 6 shot police .357 revolver and 30 rounds of .38 special
ammunition.
Fire 12 shots, on target, one-handed, double-action, at 7 yards.
Then, fire 18 shots, on target, two-handed, single-or-double-action (read:
single-action) at 15 yards.
Passing:
You are being tested for accuracy and gun-handling safety.
The safety part is easy. Don't point the gun at anyone, keep your finger off the
trigger when not firing, don't drop the gun, remember what you were taught in
class.
To pass the accuracy part, you basically need to get all shots in the black area
of the target.
Actual rules for accuracy scoring:
Each shot can score 0 (white part of paper, or missing the target entirely), 8
(outer black ring), 9 (middle black ring) or 10 points (center black ring and
bulls eye).
With 30 shots there are 300 maximum available points.
You must score a minimum of 210 points to pass. (i.e., you can miss 3, and get
all 8s with the rest, and still pass).
The target is a large, black, squarish oval against a white background. The
outside edge of the 8 ring is 12" wide and 18" tall. At the BGRA it is known as
the "Boston" target; I don't know if that is the proper name for it. Every range
should have it and should know what you're talking about if you ask for one.
Where is it?
Moon Island Range, out past Squantum. The directions they give you are accurate
and easy to follow, but the map on which they are printed is a joke.
Drive through Quincy, through Squantum, and at the "Authorized personel only"
gate, tell the policeman that you are going for the test.
Drive on the causeway to Moon Island, take the right fork.
You will see abandoned locks on the left side of the road, the range is
immediately after them on the left.
Park at the end of the locks on the left-hand side of the road.
Consolidated advice from various people:
In addition to any other practice, try to get some range time less than a week
before the test. Double-action revolver triggers are heavy.
The Moon Island range is an outdoor range.
You must bring the piece of paper given to you by the Boston PD when you
scheduled the test.
Be at least 5-10 minutes early. If you show up 1 minute after they start the
test, they will refuse to let you test and force you to reschedule.
Park in the correct area. If you park past the range, or park on the right side
of the road, they will yell at you. You won't fail because of that, or anything,
but avoid it.
You can request a gun with a larger/smaller grip if necessary, but you must
request it at the time you are given the gun (you can't get out to the firing
line and then ask to switch)
Make sure not to drop the gun when it's in the bucket and you're taking it to
and from the firing line (hold it with both hands).
For the one-handed part of the test, you might find that your arm gets tired. If
so, take three shots, bring your arm down and rest a second, take a full breath,
raise the gun, let half the air out, and take the next three shots.
There's no point in rushing, and the police aren't going to rush you.
If you don't pass, the range officer said he would let an applicant take the
test a second time, a week or so later, without additional paperwork & fees.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carl,
Sometime back I asked you about renewing an LTC in Boston and if
they issued "All Lawful Purposes" licenses. I've now been through the
process and thought
you might be interested in the details.
Boston does issue some All Lawful Purposes licenses, although they are
reluctant to issue them to other than business owners. They told me by
phone that Business owners are one of the few people to whom we will
issue ALP licenses. Most people wind up with a Class A LTC with the
restriction "For target use only" or words to that effect under
restrictions. Several officers told me privately that this only started
with Mayor Menino, and that the restriction as written is essentially
meaningless under the law.
Because I own a business and was renewing (my last license was issued in
another town), they didn't hassle me about an ALP license but wanted 15
bank deposit slips and the bank records to show they were real. When I
went to the BP HQ, they gave me the list of documents required:
- Proof of Citizenship - Birth Certificate, Passport or Naturalization papers
- 2 Home utility bills - to prove you live there - I used my car registration as one
- MA driver's license
- Letter from Employer or Gun Club if that is reason for issue
- Copy of Mass State Police training course certificate.
- Bank deposit slips (15) and bank statements to prove they are real
deposits. They do not have to be cash deposits because bank deposit
slips and statements do not record the nature of deposits - only the amount.
- Copy of Business Certificate or Corporate papers such as a "Letter of
Good Standing" from the Mass Dept. of Revenue
- $25 in cash
- Officers are available at the licensing department from 9-3 Monday to
Friday for interviews, photograph and fingerprinting.
After being fingerprinted they offered me a choice of times to take the
range test at Moon Island.
I was then given a range pass, which also described the course of fire as follows.
####
"Boston Police Department Range Pass
Applicants for a license to carry must have some prior experience with a
handgun. They will be expected to demonstrate the safe handling and
familiarity with a .38 caliber 4 inch barrel revolver. The range
personnel are examiners only and are NOT instructors of civilian applicants.
The applicant will fire a total of 30 rounds at a modified 25 yard
bullseye target with 10,9, and 8 rings [note: it's a small silhouette
target like a B-26]. Each round has a value of 10 points. A perfect
score would be 300. (30 hits inside the 10 ring). A hit inside the 9
ring is 9 points. a hit in the 8 ring is 8 points. Any hits outside the
8 ring are counted as zero. A minimum of 210 points (70% of 300 points)
is required to obtain a gun license. Any applicant may be disqualified
for not handling the firearm safely.
Applicants will fire the first 12 rounds from the seven yard line.
double action, with one hand hold. The remaining 18 rounds will be fired
from the 15 yard line, either single action or double action, and either
a one or two hand hold. The choice is made by the applicant.
The course of fire is not that difficult as, within reason, there is no
time limit placed on the applicant. The emphasis is on safety. The
revolver must be pointed downrange at all times. Failure to pass the
range test will result in being disqualified and firearm application to
be disapproved.
The range is outdoors and the applicant should dress for the weather
although gloves may not be worn while shooting. The range should be
contacted at 343-5355 if there are any questions if the weather is a
factor. DO NOT got to the range without being assigned a date and time
by the licensing unit.
WHEN YOU APPEAR AT THE RANGE YOU MUST BRING POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION AND
THIS PASS."
###
I've heard that the people at the range could be hostile, and try to
trick you into a safety violation. My experience was that they were very
friendly and weren't trying to trip up anyone, just run a safe range.
They don't know you so be observant, careful and serious. They are much
more relaxed about it if you are renewing a license than they are for
new issues. The test is very easy (basically you have to miss the paper
completely six times to fail) and almost no one fails it. Anyone who
knows the basics and has practiced at the range at all should have no
trouble, but some people do get very nervous.
They tell you whether you passed or failed and record pass or fail in a
book. I don't think they record your actual score but I'm not sure. They
retain the targets. They phone in the results to the HQ and suggest you
call them to follow up in two weeks.
They have 40 days by law, I suggest people start the process at least 60
days in advance of their expiration date.
NAME WITHHELD BY REQUEST
|
