Massachusetts Misdemeanors That Disqualify You from an LTC: A Reference List
Massachusetts firearms-licensing law disqualifies any applicant who has ever been convicted of "a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for more than 2 year...
How Do I Know If a Specific Gun Is Legal in Massachusetts?
The honest answer is that there is no single authoritative list you can check. Massachusetts firearms law is layered, the layers were rewritten in 2024, the ...
Grandfathering Under St. 2024, c. 135: Who Keeps What, and Under What Conditions
When St. 2024, c. 135 took effect on October 2, 2024, it dramatically expanded the Massachusetts ban on assault-style firearms and on the transfer of large c...
Voluntary Firearm Surrender in Massachusetts: How § 131O Works and Where the Risks Are
Massachusetts has a statewide voluntary firearms surrender program codified at G.L. c. 140, § 131O. It exists for a real reason. People inherit firearms from...
Moving to Massachusetts with Firearms: The 60-Day Safe Harbor Under § 129C
Massachusetts is one of the strictest firearms-licensing states in the country. If you live in another state and are planning to move here with firearms you ...
Massachusetts FID Cards: What They Are, Who Needs One, and What They Don't Cover
The Firearm Identification Card, almost always called an FID card, is the entry-level firearms credential in Massachusetts. It is issued under G.L. c. 140, §...
How Police Chiefs Review LTC Applications in Massachusetts
When you submit a License to Carry (LTC) application to your local police chief, you're not just filling out a form and waiting for rubber-stamp approval. Th...
LTC Denied for an OUI Conviction in Massachusetts
If you applied for a License to Carry and were denied because of an OUI conviction, you are dealing with one of the most common LTC disqualifications in the ...
Massachusetts LTC Disqualifiers: Categorical vs. Suitability Under § 121F
If you have been denied a Massachusetts License to Carry (LTC) or Firearm Identification Card (FID), or you have something in your background and want to kno...
Can You Keep Guns During an LTC Appeal in Massachusetts?
The short answer is no. Under current Massachusetts law, you cannot retain physical possession of your firearms while an LTC denial, suspension, or revocation appeal is pending. St. 2024, c. 135 eliminated the prior provision allowing limited retention...
Massachusetts Firearms Licensing Review Board
If a police chief denied your LTC (License to Carry) application based on a misdemeanor conviction from years ago, you may have a path forward that most peop...
LTC Suspension vs. Revocation in Massachusetts After H.4885
If your Massachusetts LTC has been suspended or revoked, the distinction between those two words matters more than you might think. Massachusetts LTC suspens...
What Happens to Your LTC When Charged with a Crime
Getting charged with a criminal offense in Massachusetts can trigger consequences far beyond the criminal case itself. If you hold a License to Carry (LTC), ...
Massachusetts LTC Suitability Standard Explained
If your license to carry application was denied for "suitability" reasons, you are not alone. Massachusetts LTC suitability is one of the most commonly misun...
What to Do If You're Under Investigation for Financial Crimes
If you learn you are the target of a federal or Massachusetts financial-crime investigation, do three things immediately: decline to speak with investigators, preserve every document, and retain experienced counsel before charges...
Your LTC Was Denied. What Are Your Options?
If your Massachusetts license to carry was denied, restricted, suspended, or revoked, you have 90 days from notice to file a petition for judicial review in the district court. Missing the deadline forfeits the right to appeal...
How to Appeal an LTC Denial in Massachusetts
To appeal a Massachusetts LTC denial, you must file a petition for judicial review in the district court having jurisdiction in the city or town where you applied, within 90 days of notice. The petitioner carries the burden of proving suitability...
SJC Rules Unlawful Exit Order Taints Consent to Search in Commonwealth v. Robinson
When police order you out of your car during a traffic stop, they need a legitimate reason—and "just because" isn't one of them. A recent Massachusetts Supre...
Appealing a Criminal Conviction in Massachusetts
To appeal a criminal conviction in Massachusetts, you must file a notice of appeal in the trial court within 30 days of sentencing under Mass. R. App. P. 4(b). The appellate court reviews the trial record for legal errors that affected the outcome...
More articles coming soon. Check back for regular updates on criminal law, appeals, and defense strategy in Massachusetts.