Firearms Licensing

FIREARMS LICENSING

The South Hadley Police has resumed reviewing applicants for new and renewed Firearms Licensing. Due to COVID restricts, please adhere to the following

1. MAIL IN YOUR APPLICATION, SHPD, 41 Bridge St., South Hadley, MA do not come to the station to drop it off
2. If you have SCANNING ability, you may email your application to records@southhadleypolice.org
3. You will be contacted by phone shortly thereafter to schedule your appointment. Appointments may be delayed
4. If you or anyone in your household is ill, please call to reschedule your appointment.

***MAIL IN YOUR APPLICATION***

***Please, provide an email address on your application to allow us to send documentation confirming we have received your application***

Please read the following instructions and please MAIL or EMAIL (records@southhadleypolice.org) your completed application form (PDF) to South Hadley Police Department. The Firearms Licensing Officer will contact each applicant to schedule an appointment for an interview, fingerprints, and pictures. Please include a legible phone number and email address on the application so an interview can be scheduled.

Policy

It shall be the policy of the South Hadley Police Department to issue Licenses to Carry firearms or an FID in such a manner that the safety of the public and the licensee are protected. In order to ensure such safety, the department shall issue said permits in strict accordance with Massachusetts general Laws, Chapter 140, section 131.

Firearms License Categories

There are different types of licenses based on the type of firearms to be possessed:

License to Carry (LTC) M.G.L. Ch. 140 Sec. 131: Permits the purchase, possession, transportation, and carrying of all large- and non-large-capacity handguns, rifles, shotguns, stun guns, and feeding devices, as well as ammunition. This is the only license that allows the carrying of concealed handguns-either loaded or unloaded.
Firearms Identification Card (FID) M.G.L. Ch. 140 Sec. 129B: Permits the purchase, possession, and transportation of non-large-capacity rifles, shotguns, ammunition.
Firearms Identification Card (Restricted): Permits (15-17 year of age) to purchase, possess, and transport self-defense sprays (18 and older can possess without FID).

License to Carry (LTC) Requirements

21 years of age
South Hadley Resident or an owner of a South Hadley Business
MA Certified Firearms Safety Course Certificate or a MA Basic Hunter Education Course Certificate
Driver’s License or picture ID w/DOB
Two proofs of residency (utility bill, credit card bill, excise tax/real estate bill, bank statement, etc.)
Copy of Naturalization Certificate (If Applicable)

Firearms Identification Card (FID) Applicants

At least 15 years of age (15-17) w/parent or legal guardian consent. Please print out and submit the required Parental Consent Form.
South Hadley Resident or an owner of a South Hadley Business
MA Certified Firearms Safety Course Certificate or a MA Basic Hunter Education Course Certificate
Driver’s License or picture ID w/DOB (15-17 YOA School ID or Passport)
Two proofs of residency (utility bill, credit card bill, excise tax/real estate bill, bank statement, etc.) (15-17 YOA Parent/Guardian provides proofs of residency)

FID Restricted (Self Defense Spray Only) Requirements (only applies to 15-17 YOA)

15-17 years of age w/parent or legal guardian consent
South Hadley Resident
Driver’s License, School ID, Passport, etc.
Parents/Guardian provides two proofs of residency (utility bill, credit card bill, excise tax/real estate bill, bank statement, etc.)

Training Requirements

In accordance with MGL Ch. 140, Sec. 131P (a) all first time Massachusetts firearm license applicants must successfully complete a Massachusetts Certified Firearms Safety Course or a Massachusetts Basic Hunter Education Course and submit a certificate of completion with their firearms license application.

Certified Firearms Safety Courses are taught by independent instructors certified by the Massachusetts Department of State Police and are usually a 1-day course. Many local gun clubs and shooting ranges offer the approved course. Be careful in choosing the course because some approved courses incorporate live fire, others don’t. Taking a firearms safety course is your best option if you are simply trying to fulfill the training requirement to apply for a Massachusetts firearms license.
Basic Hunter Education Courses are administered by the Division of Fisheries & Wildlife and are taught throughout the state by certified volunteer instructors and agency staff. The Basic Hunter Education course includes the recommended guidelines for all new hunters and is designed to teach proper safety and ethics in the field while hunting.
Link to the Firearms Safety Course List for the approved Basic Firearms Safety Course List
Any current member of the United States Military or the Massachusetts National Guard who has not been prohibited under M.G.L. Ch. 140 Sec 129B shall be exempt from being required to submit Basic Firearms Safety Certificate (valid Military ID).

Application Fees

License to Carry (LTC) & Firearms Identification Card (FID) $100/New Applicants & Renewals

*Over 70 Free to Renew

*15-17 $25 for FID & FID Restricted

*Retired Law Enforcement Officer $25 to Renew

All fees are payable to "The Town of South Hadley" by Bank Check or Money Order upon initial interview. Personal checks, cash, and credit cards will not be accepted. All fees paid are used to process the application and are non-refundable. Note: Please do not send payment in with your application.

Application Processing

Once the applicant has completed the initial steps required of him / her, the department shall process the application as follows:

The application shall be given to the Chief of Police, or their designee, for processing;
The application shall be checked for accuracy and completeness;
The Chief of Police, or their designee, shall conduct a personal interview with all applicants prior to the issuance or denial of any license. The purpose of this interview is to clarify any matters still in doubt, to determine if there is an actual need for the carrying of a firearm, and in general to assist in the determination if the applicant shall be granted a license to carry a firearm.
Within 7 days of the receipt of a completed application and a personal interview for a License to Carry / FID, or renewal of same, the South Hadley Police Department shall forward a copy of the applicant’s fingerprints to the Colonel of State Police, who shall within 30 days advise the South Hadley Police Department, in writing, of any disqualifying criminal record of the applicant arising from within or without the Commonwealth and whether there is reason to believe that the applicant is disqualified for any of the reasons listed in this statute;
The department shall be sure that all forms, letters, and certificates required are attached to the application;
The Chief of Police, or their designee, shall then make a determination of whether a person is suitable to possess a firearm based on the facts of the particular application. Not withstanding the foregoing, the following persons are considered to be unsuitable to carry a firearm under M.G.L., Chapter 140, Section 131, and shall be denied a license:
- Anyone who has been convicted (or adjudicated delinquent or as a youthful offender) of a felony, a misdemeanor punishable by more than 2 years imprisonment, a violent crime, or a weapons or drug offense;
- Anyone who has been confined to a hospital or institution for mental illness, unless he / she has an affidavit from a physician stating he is not disabled by such illness in a manner that prevents him / her from possessing a firearm;
- Anyone who is or has been under treatment for or confinement for drug addiction or habitual drunkenness, unless deemed cured by a physician;
- Anyone who is an alien;
- Anyone who is subject to an outstanding arrest warrant;
- Anyone who is subject to a suspension or surrender order or a protection order issued pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 209A.
License process can take 60 days or more. If approved, you will be notified by phone when your permit is in. All permits must be picked up at the station by applicant after providing identification.
Have you moved? Are you new to the South Hadley Community and need to transfer your license to this community? Print and mail in the Address Transfer form
MGL 140 § 129B and 131 state:
Any licensee shall notify, in writing, the licensing authority who issued said license, the chief of police into whose jurisdiction the licensee moves and the executive director of the criminal history systems board of any change of address. Such notification shall be made by certified mail within 30 days of its occurrence. Failure to so notify shall be cause for revocation or suspension of said license.

Disqualification

All applications will be approved or disapproved within the sound discretion of the Chief of Police, or their designee, subject to Massachusetts General Laws and the policy and procedures of this department as outlined above. Further, upon the occurrence of a disqualifying event, a license or permit which had been issued shall be revoked or suspended.

Any applicant or holder aggrieved by a denial, revocation, or suspension of a license, unless a hearing has previously been held pursuant to chapter 209A, may, within either 90 days after receiving notice of such denial, revocation, or suspension or within 90 days after the expiration of the time limit during which the South Hadley Police Department is required to respond to the applicant, file a petition to obtain judicial review in the District Court of Hampshire County having jurisdiction in the Town of South Hadley wherein the applicant filed for, or was issued, such license. A justice of such court, after a hearing, may direct that a license be issued or reinstated to the petitioner if such justice finds that there was no reasonable ground for denying, suspending or revoking such license and that the petitioner is not prohibited by law from possessing same.

Please contact Lt. David Gagne @ (413) 538-8231 Ext. 312 or via email with any questions regarding the LTC & FID process.

Firearms Licensing