Boston FID - club membership required?

[rep308]

A friend of mine moved from NH to a new home in Boston, his firearms are in safe storage with a MA licensed person. He asked about getting his FID, not LTC, at a Boston Police station and was told he needed a club membership. Is it needed in Boston, or was the officer misinformed? I thought FID's were Shall Issue.

Thank you

[GLOCK.Perfection]

they are supposed to be shall issue. this will be an interesting discussion...

[icyclefar]

Club membership is not a requirement under MA law, however as we all know the licensing authority seems to believe they can ask for whatever they want under the guise of "suitability". Your friend should pick and choose his battles wisely.

As a side note: Why would anyone (unless age restricted) want to apply for an FID when the fee is the same for an LTC? and yes, FID's are shall issue as long as you do not have any disqualifier's in your record.

[rep308]

[QUOTE= As a side note: Why would anyone (unless age restricted) want to apply for an FID when the fee is the same for an LTC? and yes, FID's are shall issue as long as you do not have any disqualifier's in your record.[/QUOTE]

LTC is the long term goal, the intent was a quick FID so he can get his firearms as he prepares for the LTC process. I don't want to hijack this thread, can or does Boston require a club membership as part of the FID process

[MrTwigg]

...does Boston require a club membership as part of the FID process

It's not required by law, however as previously stated the PD anywhere in this craphole of Socialism can do whatever the hell they damm well please.

[jdubois]

It's not required by law, however as previously stated the PD anywhere in this craphole of Socialism can do whatever the hell they damm well please.

But as opposed to an LTC, you can likely prevail over this BS requirement on an FID. There is no suitability clause on FIDs, and so the local police MUST issue it to you if you are not disqualified by the statute.

Contact one of our three resident lawyers about the matter.

[mikem317]

Does it make a difference if it's a FID or an FID [restricted for pepper spray]?

[terraformer]

Contact one of our three resident lawyers about the matter.

Oh, "contact a lawyer" is going to tick off somebody... [smile]
It is really likely that the officer who noted this requirement may not have been the authoritative voice of the dept. on this so I would call back, ask to speak with the whomever in BPD does the actual licensing to verify the requirement. If they confirm it, challenge that person with the law stating this is not a requirement and see what the reaction is. If they blink and backpedal, then chances are you are speaking to the wrong person. If they don't, then act (ie; bring in the lawyers) only when knowing for sure they will press this issue. If he is going for an LTC eventually, there is no need to tick anyone off needlessly. So much of life's issues stem from communication problems and you really want to make sure they really believe this is a requirement first.

[GSG]

It's not required by law, however as previously stated the PD anywhere in this craphole of Socialism can do whatever the hell they damm well please.

Yup, they do what they want.

Someone I know was in a very red/black municipality and applied for an FID, and told them it was just for hunting. He was told he had to get a hunting license every season or they'd take away the FID. All he wanted it for was hunting, he didn't know or care about fighting it in court, so he did what they told him, even when he didn't hunt.

But to answer your question about Boston, I don't know.

[icyclefar]

Yup, they do what they want.

Someone I know was in a very red/black municipality and applied for an FID, and told them it was just for hunting. He was told he had to get a hunting license every season or they'd take away the FID. All he wanted it for was hunting, he didn't know or care about fighting it in court, so he did what they told him, even when he didn't hunt.

But to answer your question about Boston, I don't know.

[puke2]

Sorry, I could not find an exploding head emoticon!

[jdubois]

Oh, "contact a lawyer" is going to tick off somebody... [smile]

You mean the guy who is never going to post here again? [rolleyes]


If they don't, then act (ie; bring in the lawyers) only when knowing for sure they will press this issue. If he is going for an LTC eventually, there is no need to tick anyone off needlessly. So much of life's issues stem from communication problems and you really want to make sure they really believe this is a requirement first.

Yes, good advice. It's exactly because what you do in your communications with the PD can effect you down the road that I suggested early getting in touch with a lawyer. They're undoubtedly more familiar with handling PDs about such issues than we are.

[Knuckle Dragger]

Does it make a difference if it's a FID or an FID [restricted for pepper spray]?

Gosh, I hope not. Since the only thing you can do with a restricted FID is possess & buy pepper spay, I'd hope they wouldn't require a gun club membership and a trip out to the Bopo range.

I'd really like to see how this plays since there really should be no basis for the additional requirement.

[vellnueve]

Just get the LTC. It'll take just as long and only requires a few extra pieces of paperwork. Read the thread on getting a license in Boston.

If you fight the PD on the FID, your chances of getting that LTC will probably go down out of spite. If you apply for the LTC first, they'll give it to you assuming a clean record.

Also, note that you must apply at BPD HQ, not at a precinct station.

[LenS]

Info as heard by officers of Braintree R&P plus others.

Boston DOES have a policy of NOT issuing licenses unless you are a CONTINUING MEMBER of a gun club. We were told that they will require you to show 6 consecutive years of membership to get renewed each time or they will refuse to issue/renew. [The continuing membership bit is relatively new we are told.]

This is a big part of the reason why BR&P has 3000 members . . . many are "paper members" to maintain their Boston permits.

MGLs says that the city/town MUST issue an FID (assuming no statutory DQs) and can't require such things, but the City of Mumbles Menino could give two shits what the state law is and they will do whatever they please.

If you sue, you MIGHT win (providing you get a sympathetic or fair judge, not sure such an animal wrt gun rights, exists in Boston however) . . . but it will cost you much more than the ~$100/year membership for a gun club. Not to mention taking a lot more time before you ever (maybe) see a permit.

The requirements are almost identical for LTC and FID. Time to issue is really no different either, so it is a wiser expenditure of time/money/effort to go for the LTC up-front rather than enduring the pain twice (sorta like getting two teeth removed with no anesthetic a few months apart vs. do them both at once).

[highlander]

There's a very simple answer to this problem move the F#@^ out of Boston.

[GSG]

Gosh, I hope not. Since the only thing you can do with a restricted FID is possess & buy pepper spay, I'd hope they wouldn't require a gun club membership and a trip out to the Bopo range.

I'd really like to see how this plays since there really should be no basis for the additional requirement.

I think practicing on the shooting range with your pepper spray is a recipe for tragedy. [rofl]

[Knuckle Dragger]

Info as heard by officers of Braintree R&P plus others.

Boston DOES have a policy of NOT issuing licenses unless you are a CONTINUING MEMBER of a gun club. We were told that they will require you to show 6 consecutive years of membership to get renewed each time or they will refuse to issue/renew. [The continuing membership bit is relatively new we are told.]


I renewed in Boston last year and did not find this to be the case. I only had to demonstrate my membership upon renewal. I have six students that will be applying for the LTCs in Boston in the coming weeks, we'll get more current information then.



I think practicing on the shooting range with your pepper spray is a recipe for tragedy. [rofl]

ya think?

[jdubois]

If you sue, you MIGHT win (providing you get a sympathetic or fair judge, not sure such an animal wrt gun rights, exists in Boston however) . . . but it will cost you much more than the ~$100/year membership for a gun club. Not to mention taking a lot more time before you ever (maybe) see a permit.

You wouldn't have to sue. You'd just submit your application, wait until you're denied (or 40 days have elapsed) and then file a petition with the district court citing C. 140 § 129B(3). If the background check came back clean, it would be awfully hard for even an unfriendly judge to rule against you.

Whether or not the battle is worth it, weighing your desire for a Boston LTC later vs your desire to fight for what is right, is obviously up to you.

[38specialD]

You know jdubois,it was my mistake I should have said I dont post on here that often!!!!!I should have contacted "A LAWYER" before I made that post!!!LOL!!!!!!

[jdubois]

You know jdubois,it was my mistake I should have said I dont post on here that often!!!!!I should have contacted "A LAWYER" before I made that post!!!LOL!!!!!!

.[laugh]

[vellnueve]

I don't think Boston asks for proof of continuing membership either. They certainly do ask for proof of current membership.

[LenS]

I'm pretty sure that the continuing membership is a relatively new requirement. I'm not positive but think that the source of info was a resident of Boston who had received some printed documentation to that effect within the last 6-8 months and it was reported as such to some BOD member of BR&P.

Remember, I am not 100% positive here, so this is based on fuzzy memory from a meeting within the last year.