Whether you’re new to owning a firearm or have had a gun for home defense for years, getting a concealed carry permit may seem daunting. It doesn’t have to be. There are many reasons and ways to carry a concealed weapon, but the first step is knowing the laws. Applying for a CCW varies by state. Read about the process for getting a Massachusetts License to Carry (LTC) below.

Similar to permit requirements, states vary greatly in their processes for how an applicant obtains a concealed handgun permit, what their permits/licenses are called, whether licenses include photographs, whether fingerprinting is required, license duration, license costs and turnaround times. Some states allow an applicant to complete an application online, while others require an in-person visit to the office of the respective issuing authority. There are even states that require the applicant to provide a list of non-related character references.

Concealed Carry Permit Basics

Massachusetts is now a shall-issue state since the Supreme Court’s ruling on the NYSRPA v Bruen case on June 23, 2022. Licenses to Carry (LTC) are issued at the local police station or, for non-residents, through the State Police Firearms Records Bureau. Shall-issue means licensing authorities are compelled to issue a license if an applicant meets the basic requirements set out by state law.

Concealed carry is legal in Massachusetts for individuals who have a Massachusetts LTC or a formerly issued, valid Class A LTC. The minimum age is 21 years old, and LTCs are issued to residents and non-residents. In terms of reciprocity, Massachusetts does not honor permits from any other states.

Class B LTCs were previously issued and allow for only the open carry of non-large capacity firearms. Any current Class B LTCs will be valid until their expiration dates.

Federally Prohibited Persons

The Federal Gun Control Act of 1968 and the Federal Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997 make it illegal for a person who fits into any of the prohibited categories to ship, transport, receive or possess firearms or ammunition. These laws prevent a state from issuing a concealed handgun permit/license as it would be illegal for people who fit in these categories, by federal law, to own or possess a gun.

What Are the License Requirements in Massachusetts?

An applicant must:

  • Be at least 21 years old
  • Be a U.S. citizen or legal alien
  • Complete a firearms training course
  • Not have been convicted or adjudicated a youthful offender or delinquent child
  • Not have been committed to a hospital or institution for mental illness, alcohol or substance abuse, unless after five years the applicant submits an affidavit from a registered physician endorsing his or her ability to possess a firearm
  • Not be subject to an order of the probate court appointing a guardian or conservator for an incapacitated person on the grounds that the applicant lacks the mental capacity to contract or manage the applicant’s affairs
  • Not be subject to a temporary or emergency restraining order or order of protection
  • Not have any outstanding warrants
  • Not have been discharged from the armed forces of the United States under dishonorable conditions
  • Not be a fugitive from justice
  • Meet federal law requirements

Do I Need Firearms Training in Massachusetts?

Yes. Persons applying for an FID or LTC must successfully complete a basic firearms safety course. A course used as a prerequisite for an FID shall use rifles and/or shotguns as the primary subject matter of the curriculum. A course used as a prerequisite for an LTC shall use pistols and/or revolvers as the primary subject matter of the curriculum. Course curriculums that do not contain a firearms-related law component can meet Department of State Police curriculum criteria by utilizing guest speakers familiar with firearms laws or by utilizing or distributing to its students written informational pamphlets/books/videos by an entity/individual familiar with firearms laws to cover that portion of the course.

Exemptions -Training requirements do not apply to (i) any officer, agent or employee of the commonwealth or any state of the United States; (ii) any member of the military or other service of any state or of the United States; (iii) any duly authorized law enforcement officer, agent or employee of any municipality of the commonwealth; provided, however, that any such person described in clauses (i) to (iii), inclusive, is authorized by a competent authority to carry or possess the weapon so carried or possessed and is acting within the scope of his duties.

Effective January 1, 2021, a current member of the United States military or the Massachusetts National Guard who has not been prohibited under said section 129B from owning a firearm and has received adequate training while serving in the military shall be exempt from being required to submit a basic firearms safety certificate to the licensing authority upon submitting a copy of the member’s most current military identification form.

Be sure to verify that any firearm training you receive in order to obtain your license is approved by the state of Massachusetts.

How Do I Get a Concealed Handgun Permit in Massachusetts?

Step 1: Take an approved basic firearms safety course.

Step 2: Download the application.

Step 3: Contact your local firearms licensing office for its specific requirements. Non-residents must apply in-person at the Firearms Records Bureau for first time applicants and then once every six years thereafter. You will likely need the following documents:

    • Completed application
    • Firearms safety course certificate
    • Fingerprint cards
    • A form of ID
    • Proof of residency, if required
    • Application fee

You will be notified by your local licensing authority when your firearms license application has been processed, either by telephone or by mail. You may need to pick up your firearms license in person.

 

For more information, visit the USCCA Massachusetts gun laws page now…