The Process of Obtaining Your License

Application processing for new and renewal firearms licenses are conducted BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. NO WRITTEN (OR MAILED) APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED.

1. First: Review the laws below to make sure you are not disqualified from obtaining a license.
2. Call or e-mail Sergeant Doyle, via the contact information above, for an appointment (and answers to any questions you might have).
3. Review the application and be prepared to answer the questions.
4. Show up for your appointment with:
   • An up-to-date Massachusetts RMV License or ID¹
   • A Basic Safety Pistol Course Certificate²
   • A Check or Money Order payable to the "City of Salem".³ WE NO LONGER ACCEPT CASH, PER THE CITY OF SALEM.
   • Expecting to be fingerprinted, photographed & interviewed. You will be asked for two references (name, address & telephone), PLEASE, NO LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION.

¹If you are a naturalized citizen, or permanent resident alien, you must bring Naturalization papers, or your permanent resident alien card.
²For a license to carry you will need to take an approved training course, such as the Basic Safety Pistol Course given by a Massachusetts state certified instructor, or by the National Rifle Association. Firearms Identification Card requires a Hunter's Safety education course.
³In most cases the fee is $100, otherwise if you are applying for a class D (mace permit) the fee is $25.

Hours of Operation

Application & Laws (For Review Only)

Application will be completed online by Sergeant Doyle during your interview, however application and questions can be viewed at the following link:

MA Firearms Forms and Applications

IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO PRINT AN APPLICATION AS THE PROCESS IS DONE ELECTRONICALLY. PAPER APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

Click here for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Firearms Registration and Laws Website

We hope the information you find on this page is helpful to you.

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION COMPLETELY

Massachusetts Firearms Law Disqualifiers

All of the following crimes will disqualify a person from immediately obtaining an FID. However, if it is not a crime of violence, the person will be entitled to receive the FID after five years from the date of conviction or release from prison, probation or parole (whichever is longer). If this is the case, the person may only possess non-large capacity weapons with the FID card. On the other hand, if a person has been convicted of any of these misdemeanors, it will act as an automatic disqualifier for life from obtaining a LTC. In other words, if a person has been convicted of OUI he or she can never be issued a LTC in the Commonwealth.

All MGL updates are maintained by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and this page is merely a reference and may be outdated or inaccurate.

DISQUALIFIERS FOR FID's & LTC's

The following partial list of offenses appear to meet the statutory criteria for violent crimes in Massachusetts. VIOLENT CRIME shall mean any crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year or any act of juvenile delinquency involving the use or possession of a deadly weapon that would be punishable by imprisonment for such term if committed by an adult: (1) that has an element the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force or deadly weapon against the person of another, (2) that is burglary, extortion, arson or kidnapping, (3) that involves the use of explosives, or (4) that otherwise involves conduct that presents a serious risk of physical injury to another.