Hi All,
I am trying to get my LTC - took the course in December, submitted paperwork 1st week of January, fingerprinted ~1/10, approved in late February, but still no LTC.
Is Mass slow-rolling these? I can't figure out why it should take so long (seriously)...
Is this typical?
As has been stated, the slow-rolling is from your town rather than the state. And no, they have zero visibility into security clearance investigation records or current standing. Nor do most actually care, I reckon. Statistically, non-LE LTC holders have cleaner criminal records than LE. Doesn’t matter, you’re a lesser citizen because you’re not LE and MGL specifically differentiates you as having fewer 2A rights. Of course, this violates the 14th Amendment, but here we are.
The annoying thing is that the PD, by law, has 40 days to process your LTC and either give it to you or deny you. However, there are no penalties for them if they break the law by going beyond the time limit. And courts of sided with the towns because they put on their sad puppy dog faces in court and promise that they’ve been trying really hard to complete them on time and will try super duper hard to get them done quicker. All while doing Jack diddly, aside from intentionally slow-rolling them*.
General Law - Part I, Title XX, Chapter 140, Section 131
malegislature.gov
The licensing authority shall, within 40 days from the date of application, either approve the application and issue the license or deny the application and notify the applicant of the reason for such denial in writing; provided, however, that no such license shall be issued unless the colonel has certified, in writing, that the information available to him does not indicate that the possession of a firearm or large capacity firearm by the applicant would be in violation of state or federal law.
* Qualifier: There are a rare few PDs who actually do just have extremely minimal staff and have a hard time keeping up with the applications. The vast majority of PDs who violate MGL Ch 140 Section 131 have plenty of resources and just choose to delay applications.