If you want to know how to get a gun legally in Boston, here are the unconstitutional steps a legal citizen needs to go through. Go pass some more laws Tommy you blithering idiot commie Time to complete all steps and get license: 89 days Total cost to fulfill all requirements (does not include the costs of buying a gun): $422 Summary of required steps: -take approved pistol safety class -become a member of a gun club -apply for license -pass Moon Island range test Detailed steps: 1 - Review application for Class A license, $0, 0 days There are three types of licenses available (listed in order of increasing usefulness): FID, Class B and Class A. FID and Class B are nearly worthless; do not bother with them. You want a Class A. The application can be found at:
http://www.mass.gov/chsb/pdfs/frb/frb_fid_lic_app.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; NOTE: This application paperwork is not accepted by the City of Boston. It is no better or worse than Boston's requirements, but Boston requires its own paperwork. If you see no problems on the state application, then you won't have any problems with Boston's version. Boston's application is not available online and must be picked up in person. See Step 9 below (Prior to applying in person in Boston, you should review question-section of the state application. You will be asked every question on the state application.) 2 - Decide to get CLASS A gun license and maybe a gun, $0, 0 days Call local gun club to find out the scheduling of the next open NRA Certified Basic Pistol Safety Class. Recommended: Boston Gun and Rifle Association has classes every week. Phone: 617 436 8846 Website:
http://www.bostongunclub.net" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Cost: $150/class. 3 - Sign up for class at BGRA, $150, 1 day BGRA - need to bring filled out application, found on website (
http://www.bostongunclub.net" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;). To be prudent, try to sign up a week or so before the class. However, they often have openings in the next scheduled class. Check or cash [edit: they now take credit cards as well (or debit with a visa/mc logo)]. The BGRA is located at Fields Corner, on a side-street just after going under the subway bridge (when heading south on Dorchester Ave from Boston). Hard to find. Call the BGRA and ask for directions from whomever you talk to. You have to press a buzzer to be allowed in. 4 - Start basic pistol safety class, $0, 3 days Held at BGRA 5 - Graduate basic pistol safety class, $0, 7 days Don't lose the graduation papers. This is a good point to confirm that you want to spend the rest of the time and money necessary to get a license. 6 - Join a gun club, $150, 1 day Many clubs have more extensive facilities than the BGRA. The BGRA has a benefit of location and a friendly atmosphere, but if you have a car and don't mind a short drive, there are better facilities outside of the Boston city limits (BGRA is a pistol range only).
http://www.goal.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; has a list of ranges in the surrounding counties. At the BGRA, take $25 off if you sign up within a month of taking the class. 7* - Target shooting tutorial. Prep for Moon Island test, $22, 4 days Assuming you're taking this from Bob at BGRA. You will get his card upon finishing the class. The hour or so tutorial is not expensive, but possibly not worth the money if you think you're good enough already or you know someone who will let you train on their .38 revolver. The Moon Island test is described in all its gory detail below. Presumably best day for both you and the trainer will be several days after graduation. 8 - Get club membership letter, $0, 4 days (about a week from step 6) The time between applying (step 6) and getting notice of membership, should be less than 2 weeks. 9 - Fill out Class A license and apply, $100, 1 day Note: to apply in Boston you must pick up an application in person from the licensing dept. Call the BPD (617 343 4425 - license dept., 617 343 4200 - main number) to verify the hours that they are open. You may have to schedule a few hours off from work to go pick up application, and--if you are actually applying on a different day--a few hours to apply. Don't bother applying for anything but a CLASS A license (you will be issued either an unrestricted or a restricted Class A license). The only Bostonians who get unrestricted class A licenses are crime victims, business owners who make cash deposits, or people connected politically. When asking for a CLASS A license, expect first question from police to be "what do you want that for?" Possible answers: "for all lawful purposes", "sport/target", or "business-related". You will need: Drivers License, copy of Birth Certificate, 2 Utility Bills, copy of Gun Course Certificate, copy of Letter of Membership from gun club, and 2 references (name, address, phone #). (if you are applying for a "business-related" license you will need more paperwork--they will give you a list). Pick application in person: 1190 Tremont St., Roxbury, MA 8:30 - 3:30 Monday-Friday. You can show up with the required paperwork and apply immediately, or you can take the application home and bring it back filled out and with papers. Application processs: you will be fingerprinted with ink, fingerscanned, and photographed (photograph will be shown on license). You will be verbally asked all of the questions on the state application by an officer. You will be asked to choose a range date for test and given a permission slip for the range date. DO NOT LOSE PERMISSION SLIP. Cash, not check or credit. ATM machine on site.** 10* - Take Moon Island test, $0, 3 days Bring the permission slip given to you in step 9. Moon Island test can be scheduled for any weekday, either at 7am or 4pm. Presumably, you could take it the next day. Estimate the shortest time to be 3 days from the day you apply for a license. 11 - Receive Class A license, $0, 42 days The officer said that this would take 5-6 weeks, (but probably less) to get license. I don't know if they started processing the day after I filled out the forms or the day after the range test. The officer's statement, while encouraging, seems to contradict the actual facts. In conversation with other license applicants, and my own experience, it seems that the licensing process takes a Minimum of 6 weeks and could take more than 100 days. On anecdotal evidence, it seems to take anywhere from 2 to 6 months for the Boston police department to actually issue a license
