MA LTC renewal: "All Lawful Purposes"

[fish2xs]

If you are not a MA resident - or were not a MA resident this won't apply to you. Please spare me the "why do you live there" comments. Thanks!

4 years ago, I got a Class A high capacity LTC from my town restricted to "Target and Hunting". The officer in charge said that I "needed" some reason to get an "All Lawful Purposes" Class A - such as owning my own business.

Fast forward to today. I have started an LTC with a friend doing computer geek stuff - setting up web sites, recommending technologies, business process optimization, etc. This is done in off-hours. (I still have my day job.) We only have one customer so far.

My LTC is up for renewal. I would like to get "All Lawful Purposes" on my LTC based on my business ownership. Has anyone else done this? How much of an effort was required? What documentation was required to show this?

FYI I live in the Merrimac Valley, near the NH border,

Thanks for your insight!
-Phil

 

[Benjamin]

There are a few attorneys who do application preparation for just this situation.

I don't recommend their services. I worked as a legal assistant for one, and spent the better part of ten months writing LTC packages.

The idea is to write up a convincing short essay emphasizing your responsibility, qualifications, and explaining why you need the unrestricted LTC A/ALP. This was often submitted with 2-3 letters of reference/character references and the actual application.

Good phrases include 'operate my own business visiting clients on site'
'often receiving cash payments'
'work requires me to carry thousands of dollars worth of software, computers and networking gear'
'am concerned that this makes me a particularly attractive target for criminal assault'

Bad phrases include
'issue this license or I'll sue your department'
'require high capacity firearms in case of invasion'
any significant political content, unless it's about your membership on the board of selectmen, chamber of commerce, etc.

 

[thebigc]

when my mom applied for hers she just said that she wanted to shoot and collect hi cap guns and carry as well because she handels the money for the local pop warner sometimes.

 

[Aguila Blanca]

Bad phrases include
'issue this license or I'll sue your department'
'require high capacity firearms in case of invasion'

Those won't work, eh?

Maybe they're more appropriate for if I decide to submit an application for a non-resident license?

 

[phantomak47]

I used to live in Barnstable and when I was 21 I was able to get a Class A license. I simply put "For All Lawful Purposes",but last I heard that had changed and you had to put something more detailed down.

 

[XeroSygnal]

I recently had my Class A - All Lawful Purposes renewed in a city where the new police chief has become notorious for "downgrading" ALP licenses. However, I was renewed for the ALP with no problems.

In my explanation of why I needed the ALP I mentioned how I work an overnight shift and how I commute through/into a particularly bad part of Boston.

I also mentioned that I posessed a Type-03 C&R FFL. Don't know if having the federal license had any impact or not.

 

[Tim3256]

The determining factor is the jurisdiction. Some Chiefs just won't do it.
Benjamin has offered up about the same as I would give regarding the letter to the Chief. Keep in mind that since he's (the Chief) issuing the LTC, his personal politics play the pivotal role, here. You need to try to convince him that:
a) You have a legitimate need.
b) You are a responsible enough individual for him to "trust" on "his" streets with a concealed firearm.

BTW: Don't refer to your intended CCW piece as a "weapon" (bad conontation). It is a "firearm", "pistol" or "gun". Good luck.

 

[RTFM]

I use to live in Franklin and then Stoughton.
Just leave, the whole damn state's a pathetic mess.

For those intrested in killing innocent women and getting off scott free:
http://www.ytedk.com

 

[Rickstir]

I used to work for a company in Cambridge. A lot of the engineers moved to New Hampshire to avoid crud like this.

 

[atk]

Got my first LTC in Danvers - Class A LTC ALP, no letter of need, or anything. I filled out the paperwork (reason for issuance: "All Lawful Purposes"), paid, got photographed and fingerprinted, waited for the response, and had my LTC.

5 years later, living in Haverhill, I did the same thing. Called the issuing officer so that I'd know what to do, leaving a message stating, "I'm coming up for renewal in a few months, and I want to make sure things are as smooth and as easy for you as possible." Just filled out the paperwork (had to provide my own photograph this time), went in, got fingerprinted, paid, and walked out with a new Class A LTC ALP. Still didn't provide any letter of need, just putting "All Lawful Purposes" for the "reason for issuance" line, again.


I've got a friend in a very tight town, where they would only issue Class B's. When he originally requested a class A, the chief walked up, crossed off the class A and wrote in class B. When it came time for him to renew, he wanted a class A, so he called up his local police, and asked what to do. He was told to just submit the application for a class A and got it (ALP, again).



If I were you, I'd make a phone call to your local licensing authority, and ask what you need to do to make it go smoothly and easily. You could even ask about upgrading the license. Then do what you're told, and put "All Lawful Purposes" in any lines that ask the reason for issuance. The licensing authority may give you "Hunting and Target" again, but you can't sue them if you don't ask for the most

 

[Benjamin]

Some towns will issue an ALP if thats what you apply for. That's how I got mine @ 21 years of age.

No explanation required on Non res LTC application if I recall correctly.

Good luck.

 

[outofbattery]

For those intrested in killing innocent women and getting off scott free:
http://www.ytedk.com

I live about 2 miles from the Dike Bridge , well the reconstruction of it.


You're entirely in the hands of the CLEO who handles such things.Some are for all intents and purposes "shall issue" towns and others you can forget so much as even a license for target use only regardless of your reasons.To that end, getting a lawyer and coming up with elaborate reasons that skirt the actual reason for an LTC ( DO NOT say that you want to pack heat for protection ) is only useful if the CLEO or subordinate responsible is a fence-sitter but in my MA experience , either you are in a community that will issue an ALP , or not.

 

[Benjamin]

Final suggestion - if you do decide to write something explaining why you want the ALP LTC A, call the station's non-emergency phone number during normal hours. Inquire politely who the licensing officer is. Get the proper spelling of his/her name.

Keep the letter to the point.
If you mention how you and your lovely wife have two kids in school and are active in church, make sure you write it as community involvement, not just that you have kids.

 

[Peet]

Cow-orker in a town next door told me: No one gets a class A ever. Well, except for cops, security guards, and the politically connected. Flash foreward a few years - the Lt. who did the licensing leaves, new man gets the job. SAME town, SAME dept, different rules. She can get an "A" now.

I was (so far) lucky to live in towns that didn't have that problem. Apply, go through the NICS check, and issue.

That's what is rotten in MA. Please (PLEASE) join GOAL (see www.goal.org) and support the effort to change MA from "may issue" to "shall issue". I support them even though they are TOTALLY eastern-centric (is that even a word?) so nothing beyond Worchester exists. But we share the same goals (pun intended).

Peet in W. Mass.

 

[Chipperman]

Go down to the station is person. Speak with the the receptionist and be very friendly. S/He may be able to give you some idea of how to go about working the local politics with the CLEO. If not, s/he may be able to refer you to someone further up the feeding chain.

Many towns in MA have an officer that is in charge of the licenses, and the Chief just signs them. Try to find out if the Chief is anti, the Officer is anti, or both. If both are anti, it makes your job tougher. If only one is anti, you can try to speak directly with the other to explain yourself.

Having a C&R can only help your cause.

I was very patient and deliberate when I "worked the system". I already had a Class A, but I was going for the elusive Machine Gun License. The strategy will be the same regardless.

Good Luck, neighbor.