I started reloading this summer, and thanks to some fine folks on this forum, realized, per MGL, I needed a permit from the local FD if I want to buy more than one box of primers at a time. So I inquired with the Office of Fire Prevention, and was sent a generic permit application to fill out and return. Under the "reason for permit" section, I basically paraphrased the MGL code section, stating the permit was for storage of centerfire ammo, between 10k and 50k rounds, rimfire, shotshell, powder, primers, etc. I attached my $40 check, and off it went.
Finally, 2 weeks later I get a voicemail from the fire captain, asking for more information. So I called him back, and he asks me, "So what's this permit for." So I repeated, for centerfire ammo 10k-50k round, etc. He cut me off and said, "Yeah, you copied the law here, but I need to know what you have." So I tried to explain to him that I have all sorts of rimfire, centerfire, shotshells, primer and powder, but not in quantities that required the permit, and that I was waiting for the permit before I bought them. He didn't seem to get it, and asked for an inventory of all my ammo and components, along with their storage location. I happened to have a recent inventory, with quantities that happened to be just below the limit requiring a permit, so I sent the excel file off to him.
Three weeks later (after he promised I'd have the permit that first week), I finally get it in the mail. The permit is for "ammunition and gunpowder" - no mention of primers - "as described in the attached." And he had attached a copy of my inventory, signed and dated by him.
So basically he gave me a permit to store the ammunition that I already had, and legally didn't need a permit for in the first place. Meanwhile, I still don't have a permit that says anything about storing more than 1000 primers, or more than 10k of ammo, which is what I really needed in the first place.
It was a major hassle dealing with the fire captain in the first place - he was the kind of guy who made it sound like asking him to do his job was unreasonable and a major inconvenience. I'm thinking I should just say F*** it, stick the useless permit in m gun safe, and get on buying whatever I need. Can anyone think of a good reason why I should go hassle this guy into doing it right?
Finally, 2 weeks later I get a voicemail from the fire captain, asking for more information. So I called him back, and he asks me, "So what's this permit for." So I repeated, for centerfire ammo 10k-50k round, etc. He cut me off and said, "Yeah, you copied the law here, but I need to know what you have." So I tried to explain to him that I have all sorts of rimfire, centerfire, shotshells, primer and powder, but not in quantities that required the permit, and that I was waiting for the permit before I bought them. He didn't seem to get it, and asked for an inventory of all my ammo and components, along with their storage location. I happened to have a recent inventory, with quantities that happened to be just below the limit requiring a permit, so I sent the excel file off to him.
Three weeks later (after he promised I'd have the permit that first week), I finally get it in the mail. The permit is for "ammunition and gunpowder" - no mention of primers - "as described in the attached." And he had attached a copy of my inventory, signed and dated by him.
So basically he gave me a permit to store the ammunition that I already had, and legally didn't need a permit for in the first place. Meanwhile, I still don't have a permit that says anything about storing more than 1000 primers, or more than 10k of ammo, which is what I really needed in the first place.
It was a major hassle dealing with the fire captain in the first place - he was the kind of guy who made it sound like asking him to do his job was unreasonable and a major inconvenience. I'm thinking I should just say F*** it, stick the useless permit in m gun safe, and get on buying whatever I need. Can anyone think of a good reason why I should go hassle this guy into doing it right?