Thank Dragline! The more I look into it, the more I'm considering getting the LTC. I thought there was more involved than there was!
Is it basically just filling out an application and paying the fee and waiting? I'm also wondering if they ask you why you want this, and if so, what the "right" answer is. I suppose my answer would just be "home protection and hobbyist" but I wont want to slip up and get denied. Any help is appreciated! Thank you all!
You need to take a basic firearms saftey course which is required, I took the NRA course because it's recognized in any states that require such course if you happen to move, or if you happen to want to get an out of state license in a particular state. Then you just go down to your local police station, fill out the paperwork, hand them a check, and wait until your background check is complete. Depending on how busy it is, it could take anywhere from 1-3 months, my father just renewed his and it took about a month even. As far as what to write on the paperwork for reason for wanting your LTC, just write "For all lawful purposes", and eave it at that. This is what is recommended to write on the application by firearms instructors in the state as well as 2A laywers in this state who specialize in these things.
An FID card is a whole lot simpler since there is no FBI criminal background check. Though with an FID card you can only own rifles that don't accept detachable magazines and shotguns.
Massachusetts is considered a "may issue state", meaning that depending on what town you live in you may or may not get a full Class A unrestricted LTC. Some towns will give you your class A, but with restrictions meaning you can own rifles, handguns, and high capacity magazines, but they may not grant you concealed carry, other towns are more lenient. I got mine the first time around no problem at 21, and just got it renewed in May, so I wouldn't worry too much about it. The good news is, a bill just passed this year that allows you to file a petition for judicial review within 90 days of your denial to take the department to district court, during this proceeding the department will have to prove to a judge that the reason they denied you is legitimate. So no longer will these departments be able to deny people for no reason like they were in the past, my cousin got denied about 5 years ago because they said they didn't think someone who was 21 should be able to carry a gun, so they said try again next time around when you are older. A judge would obviously not back this up as it is against his 2nd amendment rights. It got to the point where some departments were being brought to court so often for denying people their right to carry that the judge went off on the departments and said they better not ever waste his time and see them in his courtroom again for unfairly denying people their right to carry. So things have gotten alot better in the past year.
It may seem like alot, and compared to other states it is, but to me it's worth jumping through the hoops to be able to carry a gun and own pretty much whatever I want.
I'm thinking on supporting it with a Crosman 1377 this year, as 5mm pellets are getting harder to find.