Defined Standards of Suitability?

[Edzo]

Hi everyone. After reading through the Massachusetts gun laws, in addition to as many relevant court cases I could find on Lexis-Nexis, there seems to be a contradiction regarding a chief’s discretion in determining suitability. Allowing the chief “wide latitude” in determining suitability beyond what’s written in the law seems like it must be capricious/arbitrary unless the standards are defined.

Has anyone requested a standard of suitability from their police department? If the department refuses, or states there are is standard, would that be useful if the applicant is later denied?


Thanks.

 

[Scrivener]

Hi everyone. After reading through the Massachusetts gun laws, in addition to as many relevant court cases I could find on Lexis-Nexis, there seems to be a contradiction regarding a chief’s discretion in determining suitability. Allowing the chief “wide latitude” in determining suitability beyond what’s written in the law seems like it must be capricious/arbitrary unless the standards are defined.

You obviously "get it."

The courts and legislature refuse to. The condition is known as cognitive dissonance.

 

[Fsorrent]

That's is great, well formulated point. Although many if not all will agree with you, this is a case of :

 

[Cross-X]

You think that the legislature or courts could distill the human condition of suitability to a few simple terms?

Dreamer!

 

[matt]

You think that the legislature or courts could distill the human condition of suitability to a few simple terms?

Dreamer!

I'm sure they could. It would go something like this: "no person who is alive, or has been alive, shall be deemed suitable"