Don't think so.................
From what I know- yes, you will need some sort of safety class to apply for the LTC.
I disagree. Specifically, I think GOAL's website, as quoted above, is wrong. As for Glidden's assertion; 1. It's only his opinion, not the law; and 2. He
TOLD the Brookline PD
NOT to push its policy of demanding range tests, including renewals, in violation of the controlling statute on the MCOP digest!
Here are both the statute AND the CMR:
G.L.c. 140, § 131P. Basic firearms safety, certificate; instructors.
(a) Any person making application for the issuance of a firearms identification card under section 129B, a Class A or Class B license to carry firearms under section 131 or 131F, or a permit to purchase under section 131A, who was not licensed under the provisions of this chapter on June 1, 1998, shall, in addition to the requirements set forth in said sections 129B, 131, 131A or 131F submit to the licensing authority a basic firearms safety certificate; provided, however, that a certificate issued by the division of fisheries and wildlife pursuant to the provisions of section 14 of chapter 131, evidencing satisfactory completion of a hunting safety course, shall serve as a valid substitute for a basic firearms safety certificate required under this section; and provided further, that any applicant for a firearm identification card for the sole purpose of purchasing or possessing chemical mace, pepper spray or other similarly propelled liquid, gas or powder designed to temporarily incapacitate shall not be required to complete any basic firearms safety course as a prerequisite for receiving such card.
Persons lawfully possessing a firearm identification card or license to carry firearms on June 1, 1998 shall be exempt from the provisions of this section upon expiration of such card or license and when applying for licensure as required under this chapter. No application for the issuance of a firearm identification card or license to carry shall be accepted or processed by the licensing authority without such certificate attached thereto; provided, however, that the provisions of this section shall not apply to (i) any officer, agent or employee of the commonwealth or any state of the United States; (ii) any member of the military or other service of any state or of the United States; (iii) any duly authorized law enforcement officer, agent or employee of any municipality of the commonwealth; provided, however, that any such person described in clauses (i) to (iii), inclusive, is authorized by a competent authority to carry or possess the weapon so carried or possessed and is acting within the scope of his duties.
515 CMR 3.05: Basic Firearms Safety Course Curriculum Approval Certification
(1) Applicability.
(a)
Any person lawfully licensed with a FID card on June 1, 1998 shall not be required to complete the statutorily required BFS course or submit a BFS certificate for:
1. subsequent FID card renewals; or
2.
subsequent LTC licensure and renewals.
(b) Any person lawfully licensed with a LTC card on June 1, 1998 shall not be required to complete the statutorily required BFS course or submit a BFS certificate for:
1. subsequent LTC renewals; or
2. subsequent FID card licensure and renewals.
(c) Any person licensed after June 1, 1998 who completed a BFS course for an initial FID card or LTC shall not be required to complete a subsequent statutorily required BFS course or submit a BFS certificate for FID card or LTC renewals.
Course completion certificates issued between June 1, 1998 and October 21, 1998 shall be valid where that course was subsequently certified as an approved BFS course.
1. The OP was licensed at the time of the statute's enactment, 1998; and
His FID has not expired nor has it been revoked/rescinded/suspended.
Ergo, he does not need a safety course now.
That doesn't mean the PD will agree, but then, there are PDs that demand them and more for mere renewals. That doesn't make it right, still less legal.