Firearms Licensing Information

License to Carry Firearms (LTC)
As a result of the 1998 amendments to M.G.L. c140 S131, there are now two classes of license to carry firearms.

Class A LTC
A holder of a Class A LTC is entitled to purchase, possess, rent, use, borrow, lease and carry all types of lawful firearms, rifles and shotguns, including Large Capacity weapons and feeding devices and ammunition, for all lawful purposes. Only persons with a Class A LTC will be lawfully entitled to carry such weapon on his or her person in public. Further restrictions on said license may be imposed by the licensing authority.
A violation of any restriction imposed by the licensing authority shall be cause for the suspension or revocation of the license and shall subject the licensee to a $1,000 to $10,000 fine, but the provisions of M.G.L. c269 s10, shall not apply to the violation.

Class B LTC
The holder of a Class B LTC is entitled to purchase, possess, rent, use, borrow, lease, and carry non-large capacity firearms and revolvers (with rotating cylinders of less than 10 rounds), as well as any rifle or shotgun, including large capacity rifles and shotguns. Persons issued a Class B LTC are not permitted to carry a loaded concealed weapon in public. Further restrictions on said license may be imposed by the licensing authority.
As with Class A restrictions, a violation of a Class B restriction shall be cause for the suspension or revocation of the license and shall subject the licensee to a $1,000 to $10,000 fine, but the provisions of M.G.L. c269 s10, shall not apply to the violation.

Firearms Identification Card (FID)
An FID Card authorizes the possession and carrying of non-large capacity rifles and shotguns. An FID Card may, at the request of the applicant, be limited to the possession of mace and other incapacitating sprays. Whereas FID Cards had previously been issued for life, they now have a 4 year term.

No person under the age of 15 may be issued an FID Card. No person who is 15 but less than 18 years of age may obtain an FID Card without parental permission.

Carrying Restrictions
A person must have a Class A LTC in order to carry or possess a loaded firearm in a concealed manner in a public place or way.

It is unlawful to carry a loaded firearm under a Class A LTC in a vehicle unless the firearm is under the licensee's direct control.

It is unlawful to carry a firearm under a Class B LTC in a vehicle unless it is unloaded and contained in the locked trunk or locked in a secure container.

It is unlawful to possess a large capacity rifle or shotgun under a Class A or Class B LTC in a vehicle unless it is unloaded and contained in the locked trunk or locked in a secure container.

It is unlawful for a licensed person to carry a loaded rifle or shotgun on a public way unless engaged in hunting and in possession of a hunting license.

It is unlawful for a licensed person to carry an unloaded rifle or shotgun on a public was unless engaged in hunting or in possession of a hunting license, or unless the rifle or shotgun is enclosed in a case.

It is unlawful to carry a loaded weapon while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Distinction Between FID Cards and License to Carry
There are a number of distinctions between an FID cards and Licenses to Carry firearms. First, there are different standards a chief applies in determining whether to issue each of these licenses. With regard to an FID card, a chief may refuse to issue the card only if the person is statutorily disqualified from obtaining it. With regard to a license to carry, whether Class A or Class B, a chief is not required to issue the license - - even if the person is otherwise qualified - - if he concludes that the applicant is not a suitable person or does not have a proper purpose for obtaining one.

Second, the number of statutory disqualification standards are different. Third, there is a difference with respect to what rights are granted under these licensing provisions:

An FID card allows the licensee to possess only non-large capacity rifles and shotguns, as well as mace and other incapacitating chemical sprays. Firearms and large capacity rifles and shotguns may be possessed only under supervision at an appropriately licensed shooting club or range. Large capacity rifles and shotguns may not be possessed in a vehicle unless it is unloaded and locked in the trunk or other secure container.
A Class A License to Carry allows the licensee to purchase, carry and possess large capacity and non-large capacity firearms, rifles and shotguns. A Class A licensee may not carry a loaded firearm in a vehicle unless under his direct control.
Mass General Law c140 s131C .

Definitions - Large Capacity Weapon, Feeding Device
By incorporating the Federal Ban, the legislation included certain definitions from Federal law such as "Assault Weapon." Since the new law goes further, it provides additional definitions for the following terms: "Large Capacity Weapon" is defines as any semiautomatic weapon equipped with a fixed "Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device," or is capable of accepting, or is readily modifiable to accept a "Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device." A Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device shall mean any belt, drum or magazine that holds more than 10 rounds of ammunition, but shall not include an attached tubular device capable of operating only with .22 caliber ammunition. (See 18 U.S.C. s.921).

Thus, a Large Capacity Weapon could be any rifle or handgun that accepts a clip or magazine of more than 10 rounds, or shotguns capable of accepting more than 5 rounds, which would encompass all assault weapons, as well as most semiautomatic weapons of all shapes and sizes, regardless of the presence of the other bizarre features that qualify a weapon as an "assault weapon" under 18 U.S.C. s. 921 (e.g. bayonet mount, grenade launcher, flash suppresser, etc.).

In addition, the legislation provides for a definition of "violent crime" for purposes of the issuance or denial of licenses or Permits to Purchase, and enhanced penalties when appropriate.

Rationale: The true danger in these weapons is the ability they create for one person to fire multiple rounds in a brief time span, not the high-tech, scary appearance or the generic name of the weapon. Thus, it is more appropriate from the public safety standpoint to target all Large capacity Weapons as opposed to a limited class of "Assault Weapons."