>> MASSACHUSETTS IS OFTEN NOTED FOR HAVING SOME OF THE TOUGHEST GUN LAWS IN THE COUNTRY.
IT NIGHT BE INFORMATIVE TO KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.
LET'S SAY YOU ARE A RESIDENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH AND DON'T OWN A FIREARM BUT YOU DECIDE, HUNTING, SPORT, PROTECTION, THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO BECOME A LICENSED GUN OWNER, WHAT EXACTLY IS THE
PROCESS AND WHERE DO YOU BEGIN?
>> THE VERY FIRST STEP IS TO TAKE A FIREARMS SAFETY CLASS.
>> HOW MANY OF THESE APPLICATIONS -- >> JIM IS THE POLICE CHIEF IN STONEHAM.
LOCAL POLICE CHIEFS DECIDE WHO IN THEIR COMMUNITIES IS GRANTED A FIREARMS LICENSE.
>> IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME.
ARE PROVIDING LICENSES TO CARRY TO ARE SUITABLE CANDIDATES.
SOMETHING YOU DON'T WANT TO MAKE A MISTAKE ON.
>> AS CHIEF MCINTYRE MENTIONED, THE FIRST STEP IS TO TAKE A COURSE.
THEY ARE OFFERED AT GUN CLUBS AND GUN RANGES AND FIREARMS SCHOOLS.
TOM IS THE OWNER.
>> WE GO OVERALL THE LAWS, STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION.
AND YOU WATCH A VIDEO OF HOW THE FIREARM WORKS AND WE DO THE HANDS-ON TRAINING.
EVERYBODY HAS TO LOAD, UNLOAD AND DECOCK A FIREARM.
>> EACH COURSE MAY BE A BIT DIFFERENT.
HIS COURSE INCLUDES LIVE FIRE TRAINING.
BUT ALL COURSES COVER ESSENTIAL PROTOCOLS.
>> HOW TO HOLD IT, LOAD IT, UNLOAD, GRIP, STANCE, ALL THAT STUFF.
AND THEN SAFELY, BEING ABLE TO SHOOT IT WITHOUT HURTING YOURSELF.
>> A CERTIFICATE VERIFIES YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE COURSE.
THE NEXT STEP IS TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION THAT CAN BE FIND ONLINE OR BY VISITING YOUR LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT OR THEIR WEBSITE.
YOU HAVE TO ANSWER A SERIES OF QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR BACK GROUPED AND PROVIDE TWO REFERENCES AND STATE THE REASON YOU ARE REQUESTING A FIREARMS LICENSE.
YOU MUST BE 21 YEARS OF AGE.
18 YEARS OLD FOR A MORE LIMITED FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION CARD, WHICH IS AVAILABLE AT 15 WITH PARENTAL CONSENT.
THE COMPLETE APPLICATION AND $100 FEE CAN BE TAKEN TO YOUR LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT, YOU WILL BE FINGERPRINTED AND PHOTOGRAPHED AND THE PROCESSING OF YOUR APPLICATION BEGINS.
>> WE DO A HISTORY CHECK, WHICH WILL LOOK FOR CRIMINAL HISTORY, NOT JUST IN MASSACHUSETTS BUT ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND THEY DO A MENTAL HEALTH BACKGROUND CHECK.
>> THAT APPLICATION LANDS ON THE CHIEF'S DESK WHO REVIEWS HIS DEPARTMENT'S OWN INFORMATION THE BACKGROUND CHECK, SOMEONE WHO WAS TAKEN INTO PROTECTIVE CUSTODY.
>> I LIKE THE WILL SYSTEM.
IT IS LOCAL CONTROL.
YOU HAVE A PRETTY GOOD FEEL.
AND BY GIVING US THE ABILITY TO LOOK AT SOMEONE'S BACKGROUND AND DECIDE IF THEY ARE A SUITABLE CANDIDATE.
>> IF THE CHIEF GRANTS A FIREARMS LICENSE, THE NEXT STEP IS TO PURCHASE A FIREARM, BUT EVEN THEN, THERE ARE MORE CHECKS, YOU MUST SHOW YOUR LICENSE AT THE STORE AND THEY
CONFIRM WITH THE STATE DATA BASE THERE IS A LENGTHY FEDERAL QUESTIONNAIRE TO COMPLETE AND ANOTHER FEDERAL BACKGROUND CHECK BEFORE THE GUN PURCHASE CAN BE MADE.
THE PROCESS TAKES 15-20 MINUTES AND YOUR FIREARM WILL BE REGISTERED.
JACK GALLAGHER SAYS THERE IS ONE MORE FORM.
>> THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE STATE REGULATION AND THEY WANT DISCLOSURE AND TRIGGER LOCK LAW AND GATE SAFETIES AND MAGAZINE DISCONNECTS AND SO FORTH.
>> THERE ARE A LOT OF STEPS IN THE PROCESS.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?
>> DEPENDS ON YOUR LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IF YOU ARE IN A LARGE URBAN AREA, YOU MIGHT HAVE A LONG WAIT, BUT ONCE YOU DO AND ONCE YOUR APPLICATION IS FULLY COMPLETE, THE LAW STATES YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE ANANCE WITHIN
40 DAYS.
THERE ARE A FEW VARIABLES HOW LONG TO PUT IT TOGETHER.
>> 40 DAYS.
SHOULD PRIVATE CITIZENS HAVE THE RIGHT TO OWN MILITARY-STYLE -ASSAULT WEAPONS.
>> IS THE PROBLEM EASY ACCESS TO GUNS O