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Is a C & R license or anything else mandatory to get a machine gun license?
I was thinking that I would just ask the licensing authority in my town (not the chief) if he would issue me one.
Any ideas???
actually to answer your question, NO you dont need a C&R license to get a MG licence (green card). However since the law requires that you be either a Firearms Instructor certified by the MA Criminal Justice Training council or a Bono Fide Collector, your Chief may want you to have the C&R first to show that you are in fact a collector. But no nothing says you have to have that prior to getting the green card. I did not need mine. After I got the Green card I ended up getting the C&R just to have it but did not need it to start off.
I will warn you though. I had a difficult time getting mine and I am a Firearms Instructor and a collector and I have known my Chief for years and years and even though he gives me my class A no restrictions he was not too thrilled to give out the green card. I was and am still the only person in my town that he has issued a green card to. So I really dont think he knew much about issuing them and that may or may not help in aquiring one. Getting green cards in MA has never been an easy process and as time goes on it gets harder and harder unless your a cop or know the Chief extremely well. Sorry to say that but its true. I think if you ask everyone in MA that has been issued a green card I think the majority will tell you that it was not just show up and get it on the first shot. I think most would admit that it took some persistent work to get the Chiefs to do it. Now some people probobly had no problems with it but I would bet money that the majority had a harder time.
I honestly believe that this is due to some Chiefs really dont know how the laws read in MA with MGs so they are not thrilled about giving them out. Heck, some Cops dont even know a civilian can legally own a MG. Go figure that one out. So dont act surprised when they look at you like you have 5 heads. I have talked with numerous Chiefs that flat out say, "I wont issue one. Period...." now if they are pushed and pushed by a persistent, law abiding civilian I dont know if they would change their minds. Most Chiefs that dont like to issue them hope that after 1 or 2 times turning someone down, they will just go away and stop asking.
However if you are polite and persistent you may have a shot. It worked for me. I have to give my Chief a lot of credit, he really did come through for me and I dont think he really wanted to to start with. I just kept going back and talking with him about it and I already knew the laws and backed it up by showing him paperwork on it and showed him the gun I wanted to legally buy. Plus I showed him all the red tape I had to go through with the ATF. Finally he felt comfortable about it. I have since been back 2 times to have him sign F4 paperwork for 2 NFA MGs and he has been great. In and out in less than 2 minutes. Once you get the Green card, they are fine and you probobly wont have a problem renewing it. Again, I know a guy who had a green card issued to him back in the early 90s and he never got a MG. He just wanted the plastic to flash and maybe someday he would buy one. Last year he went to get it renewed and the Chief goes, "do you have any MGs?" and the guy said no and the Chief said, "well I guess you dont need the Green card anymore then" and did not renew it and has neglected to since then.
If you have the MG with a valid green card they kind of need to renew it unless they want you to be out of compliance with the law. They dont need to but are more likley to.
your best bet is to find something you want to buy and politely go ask for the green card so you can buy it. If and when he says no just be persistent and polite. Whatever you do dont give up on the first shot. If you really want it, go get it..... But be prepared to be told no first off.
keep us posted,
Rob
