Here's my experience. I initially received my LTC-A from Boston back in 2005 at the age of 32. At the time I was just a rookie Correction Officer. Of course I got the same shitty story that everyone gets a restricted license for Sport and Target. I was more than happy just to be approved because the process had taken about 9 months. The reason it took so long was that when I was a teenager I was arrested for a domestic. I totally understood their reasons for making me wait as it was the same reason they By-passed me for the position of Police Officer. Needless to say I was heart broken.
I am a life long resident of the city of Boston, I have a BS in Sport Management from UMass Amherst, I have a wife and 2 young boys. I started my job with the MA-DOC in November of 2004. All my co-workers are licensed through their respective towns with no restrictions. They all recommend I get my LTC as we work in a dangerous environment.
So of course as I mentioned above I get the run around every time I called. They didn't care that I was a CO and just like them, worked in a dangerous environment. I forget the name of the Sgt who was in charge at the time but I sat down with him and told him my entire story. He asked me to go out and take a safety course, get a membership at a range, and to bring him my qualification records from the DOC. I went back a month later with everything he asked and he approved my license and all I had to pay was $25 and no need to qualify at Moon Island since the DOC was still using revolvers for qualification and on the job.
Fast forward to October 2010. I go back to renew my license and there is this angry women who is now in charge and is just being the biggest C U next Tuesday. She tells me it's $100 and that I have to go qualify at Moon Island. I had just recently requallified with the DOC as we do once a year. She did not care for anything I had to say. I also had to prove I was still a Boston Resident even though I brought the deed to my house and a couple of bills. I drove down to city hall at 9:30am so I could get a proof that I was still a Boston resident. I get back to headquarters about 11:00am and prove my residency and she finally schedules me to qualify.
A few weeks later I pass with flying colors and go back to finish the process. I again asked for no restrictions and even brought reports from my job that my life had been threatened by some of the most dangerous cons in the state. I have 6 years in and I'm a rookie Sgt and figure I should get my restrictions removed. She puts down the same Sport and Target but this time adds no conceal carry. I ask her why she added that. She said that this was only way I could get my license and everyone is getting it this way. I tried explaining that I have made some enemies behind the wall and I am scared for myself and family. She doesn't care one bit, she says have your job write you a letter. Unfortunately the DOC does not get involved with the personal use of firearms.
So hear I am today. A law abiding citizen and employee of the commonwealth and I have restrictions. My sister-in-law has a boyfriend who is a plumber and a piece of crap with a not so clean record and he was able to get a LTC-A with no restrictions a year later. All cause he gives the same crappy excuse that he does night deposits. What a crock of you know what.