Quick Question About Getting a Gun License

[CaptainRon]

This is coming from somebody who's from Massachusetts, so forgive my cluelessness.

Just like many of you guys, I've always been interested in guns, but I grew up in an area that doesn't have much acceptance for them.

Once I'm active duty, will the military involvement make it easier to get a gun license? How hard is it to get a license? Also, any difference as far as rifles and handguns? I probably wouldn't get a handgun. I'm more interested in rifles and going to a range with some buddies.

 

[scoober78]

Captain Ron with a gun....oh my.

No license neccesary for long guns my friend...pistols either unless you want to carry one. If you decide you do, take the class even if the state you are in waives it for military. The training will do you well.

 

[Brett327]

www.airwarriors.com/forum/showthread.php?t=134613

Brett

 

[MasterBates]

In Massachusetts you must get an LTC (License to Carry)

It comes in 4 basic flavors:

FID-Restricted (Firearms ID) Pepper spray and mace.
FID- Non Large Capacity Rifles and Shotguns
LTC-B Adds non large capacity handguns to the FID
LTC-A Adds high (we in free states call them normal) capacity pistols and rifles, and allows you to carry pistols with some restrictions.

Most of these are not valid in Boston. Thanks, Mumbles.

www.goal.org is a good rescource for MA gun owners.

I am a reformed Masshole. I'm still an @$$hole, but I moved out of the Communistwealth of Massachusetts.

 

[CaptainRon]

Thanks guys. And you're right scoober; I'd definitely take the class for my own safety and those around me.

I wouldn't be getting it in MA, though. At the earliest it would be in Florida later this year.

Who knows, maybe I'll be taking part in these firearms threads down the line.

 

[Skeet]

This is coming from somebody who's from Massachusetts, so forgive my cluelessness.

Just like many of you guys, I've always been interested in guns, but I grew up in an area that doesn't have much acceptance for them.

Once I'm active duty, will the military involvement make it easier to get a gun license? How hard is it to get a license? Also, any difference as far as rifles and handguns? I probably wouldn't get a handgun. I'm more interested in rifles and going to a range with some buddies.

(1. Yes) at least in Alabama. You may own and shoot any long gun as long as it's not full auto without a license.
MasterBates pretty well spelled it out for you. Good info.

 

[mkoch]

Thanks guys. And you're right scoober; I'd definitely take the class for my own safety and those around me.

I wouldn't be getting it in MA, though. At the earliest it would be in Florida later this year.

Who knows, maybe I'll be taking part in these firearms threads down the line.

Florida is very nice as far as gun rights go. You will need to become a Florida resident to get a CCW, but that in itself is relatively painless (just get a drivers license and register to vote, no state income tax either). If you're at NAS Pensacola, just drive out the front gate, and a few miles up is a Tax Collectors office, you can do it there.

Florida lets you buy long guns with no hassle whatsoever, and handguns have a 3 day waiting period. The waiting period goes away once you have a CCW. Ask any local gun shop, they'll give you the paperwork for a CCW. Took mine about 2 weeks from dropping it in the mail to getting it in my mailbox. Florida CCW's are also valid in 29 other states, which makes traveling nice and convenient.

Edit: As far as military goes, your military ID or a copy of paperwork granting you a pistol marksman ribbon counts as "proof of training". At least in Florida.

 

[insanebikerboy]

You will need to become a Florida resident to get a CCW

Nope, totally untrue. Florida issues non-resident permits on a shall-issue basis.

What that means is someone in Massachusetts could get a permit from Florida, but that doesn't mean that person can carry the gun in Mass, only in states that honor the Florida permit. Also, the shall-issue part means that if you fit the qualifications, they have to issue it to you (apparently some states can not issue it to just because).


I'm a Tennessee resident and have a Florida CCW.

or a copy of paperwork granting you a pistol marksman ribbon counts as "proof of training"

Being in the military helps when getting your concealed carry because a copy of your military id or a DD-214 will count as your weapons training, in Florida (probably different for other states). You don't have to have specific documentation showing you've gotten a marksmanship ribbon, etc. That said, I'd say some people need to take courses even if in the military just to be more familiar/safe.

Oh, and the Florida permit is honored in a lot of states, I think it has one of the highest numbers of reciprocity with other states. I've even heard of guys getting multiple permits from different states just to be able to carry in as many states as possible.


www.packing.org That is probably the best site out there for CCW in the entire U.S., imho.

 

[snake020]

^ Piggyback on www.packing.org as a good reference to start.

 

[xmid]

(1. Yes) at least in Alabama. You may own and shoot any long gun as long as it's not full auto without a license.
MasterBates pretty well spelled it out for you. Good info.

You can shoot full auto too. Contrary to alot of people's belief you do not need a "license" to own class III firearms. You just pay a $200 dollar fee for the tax stamp from the BATF for each class III firearm you buy. Works the same for sound suppressors. There is virtually no limit to what you can shoot if you have the dough and don't live in an "evil state".

 

[snake020]

You just pay a $200 dollar fee for the tax stamp from the BATF for each class III firearm you buy.

Do the feds keep track of who has class III firearms this way? I mean is it just pay the fee and be on your way or are you added to some sort of de facto registration list?

 

[MasterBates]

They keep track of who has them..

Techincally, the ATF can call and want to come over to make sure you have not lost or sold it..

That rarely (read: never unless you have a shat-ton or are in other legal trouble) happens.

 

[Tom]

All this talk about CCW has me wondering. As someone who has grown up shooting all the time, a CCW seems like a no brainer. How does this work on a military base? Can you go about your daily business with a holster? I can imagine this is not the case and one most likely has to have some military approval. If you had a CCW and you couldn't carry it around base, do you just leave it in your vehicle for when you leave later?

 

[Brett327]

All this talk about CCW has me wondering. As someone who has grown up shooting all the time, a CCW seems like a no brainer. How does this work on a military base? Can you go about your daily business with a holster? I can imagine this is not the case and one most likely has to have some military approval. If you had a CCW and you couldn't carry it around base, do you just leave it in your vehicle for when you leave later?

Personal firearms are not allowed on base (except for storage in the Base Armory - not recommended). Most bases won't let you shoot personal firearms on the range either.

Brett

 

[Schnugg]

In 2000, NAS North Island would let you register your gun with base security and you could shoot it at the base range. When a RO was present.

That may have changed.

CCW on a federal base is just asking for a quick career. Some folks that live in on base housing at certain bases may be able to keep the weapons in their homes under lock and key.

Check with security at your base first before bringing them on base.