This Is The Toughest Gun Law In America

A Class A license means it's a carry license rather than an FOID. The Class A license is still subject to the various types of restrictions I cited above.

MA statutes Section 131 said:
Section 131. All licenses to carry firearms shall be designated Class A or Class B, and the issuance and possession of any such license shall be subject to the following conditions and restrictions:

[Introductory paragraph as amended by 2014, 284, Sec. 46 effective January 1, 2021. See 2014, 284, Sec. 112. For text effective until January 1, 2021, see above.]

The issuance and possession of a license to carry firearms shall be subject to the following conditions and restrictions:

[Paragraphs (a) to (c) effective until January 1, 2021. For text effective January 1, 2021, see below.]

(a) A Class A license shall entitle a holder thereof to purchase, rent, lease, borrow, possess and carry: (i) firearms, including large capacity firearms, and feeding devices and ammunition therefor, for all lawful purposes, subject to such restrictions relative to the possession, use or carrying of firearms as the licensing authority deems proper; and (ii) rifles and shotguns, including large capacity weapons, and feeding devices and ammunition therefor, for all lawful purposes; provided, however, that the licensing authority may impose such restrictions relative to the possession, use or carrying of large capacity rifles and shotguns as it deems proper. A violation of a restriction imposed by the licensing authority under the provisions of this paragraph shall be cause for suspension or revocation and shall, unless otherwise provided, be punished by a fine of not less than $1,000 nor more than $10,000; provided, however, that the provisions of section 10 of chapter 269 shall not apply to such violation.

...

Source: https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXX/Chapter140/Section131

Class B licenses were phased out in 2015.
 
http://www.mass.gov/portal/visiting...s/getting-a-gun-license-in-massachusetts.html

The two most common types of firearms licenses in Massachusetts are:

a Firearms Identification (FID) card, which permits the license holder to purchase and possess non-large capacity rifles, shotguns, and ammunition; additionally, any person age 15 to 18 years old who wants to purchase self-defense spray must obtain an FID (individuals 18 years old or older do not need an FID card to purchase self-defense spray); and,
a License to Carry (LTC), which permits the license holder to purchase and possess all large and non-large capacity firearms, rifles, shotguns, and ammunition; this license also allows the carrying of concealed handguns.
 
^^^ I saw that page on the MA .gov site. It doesn't change anything.

See posts #19 and #21, the second of which which quotes directly from MA statutes to document that the Class A license is subject to several types of restrictions. Yes, it authorizes carry -- but it often does NOT authorize daily carry for self defense.
 
In MA carry is synonymous with concealed carry since the laws prohibit any sort of public open carry; to my knowledge even if someone catches a glimpse it's considered a sort of intimidation/threat.

Of course in MA they have a seemingly high rate of carry permits - to own a pistol at all you need one. Say it was 20% - well that means only 20% of the entire state can even own a pistol - that's not very good is it?
 
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