Boston MA concealed carry

[Chris_B]

OK, I will backdrop my situation:

I am a legal Class A large capacity license holder, issued by the city of Boston MA. I also am a legal Boston resident. The fact of the matter is that a Class A high capacity license used to mean "Concealed Carry". Well not in Boston it doesn't

They can (read "always will unless you convince us that you need to carry, as in you're a lawyer or private detective or similar") put a restriction on the license, and that restriction is "Sport and target use only, no Concealed Carry". This means I cannot carry a handgun on my person, and I must only transport a firearm directly to and then from the pistol or rifle range

Here's the problem- Where I live, it's the end of the subway line. Where I live, I heard the shots from the drug bust three weeks ago. Where I live, there have been multiple murders in the last 3 or 4 years and many assaults. Where I live, the car parked in front of my apartment had a wheel stolen off it last week. Where I live, houses get broken into. Where I live, a man actually offered to kill me last week (I told the idiot to go home, now, and he did, but I was of course unarmed). Where I live, I have had to run down the street and corral the ambulance for the man whose store had been robbed, and who was bleeding from the head.

So if I hear commotion in my back yard or at my car, I can't carry, technically, unless it's in my hand, and then of course I am brandishing a weapon when I did not know if my life was in danger and violating the restriction on my license, making me the criminal. Nice.

Does any of this seem like I might want to have my right to carry to anybody but me?

I wish to pursue getting my License to carry concealed. I qualified on the Boston Police Range, took all the courses state, private, and city, jumped through every hoop in this city, which is hard to get a handgun permit in. The hell of it is, any other MA resident with a CCW can waltz into Boston and do their legal thing- but they just visit. Me, the guy who lives here who sees a guy stumble out of his store pouring blood- a store 2 blocks from my front door that I shop at...I can't?!?! And then I sleep here. Again, is this back-asswards or is it just me. Seems like it shouldn't be just me

Are there any Boston residents who have taken the steps to secure your CCW, and what steps did you take, who did you contact, etc. I assume this involves a lawyer

thanks in advance for any help

 

[Flapjack23]

That sucks man. I've got family in Mass. and know about the hoops you have to jump through. I went to a sporting goods store in Plymouth to get a slingshot and was told I couldn't. Best way to change your situation is one vote at a time. Good luck.

 

[thallub]

The hell of it is, any other MA resident with a CCW can waltz into Boston and do their legal thing- but they just visit. Me, the guy who lives here who sees a guy stumble out of his store pouring blood- a store 2 blocks from my front door that I shop at...I can't?!?!

Worked in MA for a couple of years in the 90s. Am well aware of the anti-gun attitude in that state, especially Boston. If I were in your situation I would get out of Dodge; er, Boston.

 

[Chipperman]

I just moved out of MA last month. I had a Class A, and carried in Boston whenever I was there. The real kicker for you is that when my Non-Resident License comes back, I'll still be able to CCW in Boston and be a NH resident.

Getting a lawyer will cost a lot, and may not do any good.
Moving out of Boston will definitely help. The further away from Boston you go, the more likely you'll be able to get a Class A with no restrictions.

Everett and Quincy seem to be a good towns near Boston for Licensing.

Look here:
http://northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=8703
Keep in mind that the map is not completely accurate. Some town info becomes outdated as Progun or Antigun CLEOs take over.

 

[Chris_B]

Difficult to move...broken lease=loss of money, moving=almost certainly paying more rent=loss of money, economy=questionable job status.

But the point of anti-gun CLEOs being breached... Wow that sticks in my craw.

A Police Chief, an administrator who does not pound the pavement, carries a gun because he needs it, while in a building full of armed cops.

Then that Chief is given the power- not the authority but the power- to interpret the Constitution.

 

[TargetTerror]

I'm from MA and now what you have to deal with. Contact GOAL (Gun Owners Action League) www.goal.org. They are the MA equivalent of the NRA and are VERY good at helping out gun owners.

As things stand now, though, I seriously doubt you will get a concealed permit in Boston. They don't event issue unrestricted Class A's (LTC) to their own police officers living in the city! I honestly don't think that anything will change until a case moves up the live based off of Heller arguing for right to carry. You could try some sort of equal protection or privileges and immunities type argument, but that will require a good lawyer and a lot of luck.

Short answer = cheapest way to get a non-restricted LTC is to move out of Boston. And yes, I'm taking into account having to break lease and moving expenses.

 

[moga]

I'm a former resident of Boston that used to live two blocks from the end of Orange Line (Green St). Like you, the crime around the T, the dark walk from the t stop to my house, and the aftermath of Katrina is partially what motivated me to get a LTC. I consulted with a firearm attorney out of Framingham when going through the process of getting a license. His name is Jesse Cohen, and he's one of the top three attorneys in MA that specialize in all things related to GCA 1998, including the licensing process. Ultimately I decided not to go through with the expense of fighting for a unrestricted A-LTC b/c my life's plans were taking me out of Boston in less than twelve months. If my plans were to stay, however, I would have ponied up for the full monty. Cohen will get you results. Forget about GOAL -- they are absolutely worthless. No offense to anyone that may feel differently.

Target Terror and I agree on one thing though. For the price of hiring legal counsel, you'd be just as well off by moving away from the areas controlled by Menino. The closest place that shall issues LTCs is up in Arlington, plus its a beautiful community to boot.

I am glad that I live in a free state now where I can buy as many 3rd gen Glocks, 1911s, and AR carbines until my heart's content. Yet aside from the politiks of PRMA, I do miss the city! Boston is an awesome town.

 

[doobie]

I'd break the lease and move. Your life isn't worth it.

Is your license a restricted LTC-A? If not then you can concealed carry.

 

[Chipperman]

From his original post:

...and that restriction is "Sport and target use only, no Concealed Carry". This means I cannot carry a handgun on my person, ...

I took that to mean that his LTC is restricted.

 

[moga]

Yep. He can own guns, shoot them at the range, and transport them in a case to the range. That's it. But that's a hell of a lot more than most law abiding citizens are allowed in Meninostan.

 

[Chris_B]

I'm a former resident of Boston that used to live two blocks from the end of Orange Line (Green St)

Howdy former neighbor. I live in Forest Hills. If I step out of my front door, I can see the T station at the very end of the Orange line. Right at the end of the shops at Forest Hills is where my godfather's autobody shop was for years and years. I probably used to run into you at Doyle's

Is your license a restricted LTC-A? If not then you can concealed carry.

The license is a Class A Large Capacity License to carry firearms

The text literally reads under issuing city:

"Restrictions: Sport/Target- No Concealed Carry"

As mentioned, even this is what most folks in this city are not given.

Meninostan. I like that

 

[Yellowfin]

The time is approaching swiftly to be able to sue Massachusetts over most of its gun laws.

 

[Chris_B]

I'm already hoping I can sue over my lack of Harvard degree soon.

 

[SteelJM1]

I moved from Mass (Brimfield, aka middle of nowhere) to Tucson last August. Your chances of getting a CCW in Boston are slim to none. Even the towns out in western mass, it depends on the police chief. Since the chief for Brimfield is only a part timer and normally works in Springfield, i got a big fat NO from him (actually he said to me "Give me a good reason why I should, and don't bring up that 'It's my constitutional right' crap!).

I got my CCW in Tucson a couple months ago. The process was nice. One 8 hour CCW class, $60 bucks, $8 electronic fingerprinting at the police station (and the cops were quite friendly too, seemed to be HAPPY that we were getting our CCW's) and a few weeks later, BAM, my nice shiny AZ CCW permit. Oh and the nice thing about this state is that CCW means concealed carry WEAPONS, not just pistols

So as much as I miss so dearly the constant rain, cleaning leaves in the fall, shoveling snow and watching my car rust in the winter, mowing the yard in that stupid humidity, irritatingly short motorcycle riding season (when it's not raining that is), bad drivers, terrible roads, having to pay to use the damn highway, lack of good fast food places, having to go to a packie to get a frikin beer, paying a yearly fee to own something...

 

[TEDDY]

former mass residents

Steel: I am suprised at you, why yankees are supposed to be so rugged,stand the cold and such.
I cant believe you would leave that stanch bastion of liberty and go to that
wild country.dont you miss the flee market there?
but me I was quicker than you.I left in 2000.I have 90 acres and deer count back of garage was 29.got 7 this last fall.plenty of sausage and cube steaks plus hamberger for the spaggetti sauce,and sloppy joes.
good for you.

 

[thallub]

having to pay to use the damn highway,

If you ever get homesick for toll roads just drive over to OK-The Turnpike State.

 

[Chris_B]

(actually he said to me "Give me a good reason why I should, and don't bring up that 'It's my constitutional right' crap!).

Well, at that point, my first reaction would be to say "You do not have the right or authority to interpret the Constitution of the Commonwealth or the US. Give me a reason I should not be allowed to have it, and don't give me any of that "You decided that I can't" crap, because it's illegal and we both know it"

But we know how that would turn out, don't we?

I heard (can't say if it's true) that when a man in Quincy was given that BS a few years back, he called the Police Station every Friday to request an escort to the bank so he could cash his paycheck

Now, I see a couple holes in that story, but it's a good one nonetheless.

I hear so many idiots in this city blather on and on about how people who obey the law shouldn't complain about more laws and restrictions, since if they are law abiding, they have nothing to worry about. That's the mindset here- nanny state is good, they will protect, they will take care. Never mind that the police are a reactive force and cannot help until after a crime is committed...I hear this from disc jockeys now. Yep, spinning the latest Offspring single really does give a guy keen insight into the deep questions of the day

But this train of thought only pisses me off, so I'll go make some awful sandwiches for dinner

 

[SteelJM1]

Teddy: Do you mean the junk-fest where I had to leave 20 minutes earlier to get to school or work and avoid hitting dolts crossing the street all piggly-wiggly without regard to the fact that cars are trying to get through?

Dearly.

 

[Chris_B]

As an addendum:

After I had my horrid dinner (deviled ham and salmon salad sandwiches with a side of potato chips, where is my double wide), my Dad called

He wanted to know if I heard any of the commotion last night, one block from where I type this. Oh yeah, convenience store robbed at gunpoint, shots fired, etc etc. Didn't hear a thing, I was sound asleep. Gee, I can't wait for some more gun control. That will make this place safer. Once these guys find out using guns for violence is illegal, that will settle the whole darned thing. And then its good-bye, deadbolts!

For those keeping score, that's two stores in my neighborhood robbed in about 3 months, on either side of me, the druggies getting out of jail and coming home to my neighborhood, my neighbor's car having a wheel stolen off of it, break-ins across the street- oh, did I mention the four drunk punks who gave me a hard time on Wednesday night, as I walked home? I won't toss in the junkie I had arrested a few years back, for being passed out on a sidewalk 100 yards from my front door

Quick, get a liberal to explain to me how these gun laws that tell me I can't carry make me safe, before I start having independent thought! Ack! Ack! I need a nanny and an Obama inspirational doll! Ack!

 

[armsmaster270]

I was armed when I went on a Ride Along with a Boston P.D. Unit and the officer told me his weapon was almost glued in his holster after the problems the cops there have from shootings. Stated " We got cops doin hard time for on duty shootings."