Massachusetts gun license disqualifiers: who can and can't get an LTC
The seven things Massachusetts checks before it issues a License to Carry — age, residency, record — with the edge cases people ask about most.
Massachusetts checks a short list before it issues a License to Carry. Four things must be true. Three must not. Here they are, with the edge cases we get asked about every week.
Four things that must be true
21 or older15+ for an FID card (rifles and shotguns only)
US citizen or permanent residentA green card counts
A state-approved safety courseThe certificate of completion goes in with your application
An application with your licensing authorityYour police department; non-residents use the Firearms Records Bureau
Things that disqualify you
A felony convictionAnywhere, any time
Certain misdemeanoursIncluding any offence punishable by more than two years, drug offences, and violent or weapons offences
An active restraining orderExpired is different
A Massachusetts DUI/OUI conviction since 1994Date and state both matter
A dishonorable dischargeFrom any branch
A court ruling of mental incompetence, or certain commitmentsTreatment or a diagnosis on its own is not a disqualifier
Being the subject of an outstanding warrantClear it first
Being found "unsuitable" by the chiefThe discretionary part — see below
"Unsuitable": the part that isn't a checklist
Even with a clean statutory record, the licensing authority can deny an LTC if it has reliable, articulable information that you would be a risk to public safety. Since the 2024 law the standard is defined more tightly than it used to be, and you can appeal a denial to the district court. This is where an honest conversation with the department — before you apply — pays off.
Edge cases people ask about
I have a sealed record. Does it count?
Sealed cases can still be seen by licensing authorities. Whether they disqualify you depends on what the offence was, not on the seal. Tell the department; surprises are worse than disclosures.
My restraining order expired years ago.
Only an active order is a disqualifier. An expired one may still come up in the suitability conversation, so be ready to talk about it.
I had a DUI in another state.
The statutory disqualifier is a Massachusetts OUI conviction from 1994 on. Out-of-state convictions can still count if the equivalent offence carries the same penalty here — check with the department or a lawyer.
I've been in therapy / take medication.
Treatment, a diagnosis or medication on their own do not disqualify you. A court ruling of incompetence or certain involuntary commitments do.
I have a medical marijuana card.
Massachusetts can still issue the license. Federal law is the problem — it prohibits buying a firearm from a dealer while you use marijuana, medical or not.
I'm a green card holder.
You qualify. Citizenship is not required; permanent residency is.
I live in New Hampshire and work in Boston.
You can apply as a non-resident through the Firearms Records Bureau. The class requirement is the same.
Check in 30 seconds
Our quiz walks the same list. If it flags something, call us before you write yourself off — sealed cases and expired orders often sit differently than a yes-or-no question suggests. For the full statutory list, GOAL publishes it in detail.
What we do and don't do. We teach the state-approved class and the law Massachusetts requires you to complete before you apply. Applying is your own step with your own police department; we are not part of it. This guide is general information, not legal advice — the licensing authority and the statute are the final word.
The class
One four to five hour class. Live fire included.
More in getting licensed
Qualifying, the class, the application, and what happens after.