Norfolk County. 2 documents captured.
MEDFIELD POLICE POLICY NO. 4.32
DEPARTMENT
FIREARMS LICENSING
MASSACHUSETTS POLICE
DATE OF ISSUE:
ACCREDITATION STANDARDS
REFERENCED: NONE 07/09/2023
EFFECTIVE DATE:
07/09/2023
ISSUING AUTHORITY:
REVISION DATE:
Michelle Guerette 11/07/2025
Chief of Police
BACKGROUND:
Massachusetts General Law sets out specific laws concerning the licensing and
regulation of individuals to own, carry, sell, and/or transfer machine guns, firearms, rifles,
shotguns, chemical propellants, and ammunition. The Medfield Police Department has
the responsibility to receive applications from residents and business owners within the
community and determine whether or not they should be licensed for any of these
purposes. This is a function that requires thoroughness, diligence, and consistent
application of the law to ensure that appropriate individuals are licensed.
POLICY:
The Medfield Police Department shall consider issuing firearms licenses to police
officers, residents, and business owners within the Town of Medfield. The Department
shall comply with the rules and regulations established by the Firearms Records Bureau
(FRB), the Massachusetts Instant Record Check System (MICRS) and the
Massachusetts State Police Identification Section when processing applicants for
possessing, purchasing, transferring or selling firearms, rifles, shotguns, ammunition or
chemical propellants. The final determination shall rest with the Chief of Police or his
designee.
The Department shall investigate and take appropriate action concerning licensees who,
by their actions, demonstrate that they are no longer suitable candidates to maintain
MEDFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT 1
POLICY 4.32 FIREARMS LICENSING
their firearms licenses, or whose criminal activities make them ineligible to have a
firearms identification card.
PROCEDURES:
Application Process
If an individual indicates that he wishes to apply for a License to Carry (LTC), or a
Firearms Identification Card (FID) the Chief of Police or his designee will process the
application:
1. Follow the prompts on the MICRS screen to complete the application.
2. For a first time applicant or an individual who has not been licensed since
October of 1998, one set of fingerprints are to be taken using the digital AFIS system. if
unable to utilize the digital system, one set of fingerprints are to be taken using blue
applicant cards. The officer and the applicant both sign the cards and ensure that all
information on the cards is filled out completely. However, if an individual is applying for
a renewal and the current license number ends with an A, B, C or D then two sets of
prints are not required. The applicant should complete the required fields of entry on both
sides of the print cards.
3. An Applicant's most recent Operator's license photograph shall be utilized for the
required license photograph.
4. Verify the individual’s driver’s license. In the event that the applicant does not
possess a driver’s license, a current military ID, passport or liquor identification card may
be accepted (MGL 138§34B).
5. Applicants must be 21 at the time of application for a LTC. An applicant must be
18 to be eligible for a FID. Also, persons15-18 may apply for a FID with written
permission from a parent of legal guardian.
6. If the applicant is applying for a first issue of a License to Carry, a copy of the firearms
safety course certificate or hunter safety course certificate must be submitted and placed
in the sleeve. The course must be approved by the Massachusetts State Police.
Out-of-state courses are not acceptable. Current or former military personnel may not
need to take this course based on statutory law.
7. All applicants for LTC, new or renewal, must submit a letter addressed to the
Chief of Police indicating their reason for wanting that level of licensing. An individual
requesting an LTC from an FID must also submit a letter.
8. If the applicant needs the LTC as a condition of employment, a letter from the
employer must be submitted on business letterhead.
9. A fee of $100.00 is to be collected for first issue. This is preferably in the form of
a check made out to the Town of Medfield. There is no application fee on renewals or
individuals over the age of 70. As a matter of law, first time law enforcement officers
MEDFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT 2
POLICY 4.32 FIREARMS LICENSING
(local/state/federal) pay a fee of $25.00 which will be paid by the Department and LEO’s
renewing through their employing agency are exempt from the fee for LTC’s.
10. If there is any question on whether or not the applicant is a resident, they should
submit a copy of voter registration or a letter of residency issued by the Town Clerk.
11. If an individual is making an application for an Out of State License, the applicant must make an
application through the Colonel of the State Police.
12. The applicant should be told that the process does not start until the applicant has submitted all
required materials..
13. The Chief of Police may require additional information and/or a personal
interview with the applicant.
14. The applicant will be notified when the license is ready and is required to appear
in person to obtain the license.
Firearms Licensing Officer Duties
The Chief of Police or his designee shall be assigned to insure that all appropriate
materials have been collected, and are valid and complete, to include:
1. The various records checks required by MICRS will be conducted, printed out
and added to the sleeve. Any irregularities or discrepancies will be thoroughly
investigated.
2. If applicable, contact can be made with communities where the individual was
previously licensed.
3. When the application package is complete the Administrative Sergeant shall make a
recommendation to the Chief of Police whether or not the license should be issued or
renewed. The Administrative Sergeant will then be responsible for transmitting the data
to MIRCS so that the licenses can be created if the application was approved.
License Denials
The Administrative Sergeant will forward a memo to the Chief of Police when it becomes
apparent that an individual is statutorily disqualified, or in the case of an LTC, is an
unsuitable candidate for licensing. The memo will outline and support with
documentation the reason(s) for the denial. The Administrative Sergeant will also submit
a letter of denial to the Chief of Police for their approval.
MEDFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT 3
POLICY 4.32 FIREARMS LICENSING
License Suspension/Revocation
If an individual, currently licensed by the Medfield Police Department, is alleged to have
committed a crime or an action that may statutorily disqualify the individual, or makes the
individual unsuitable to be licensed, the Chief of Police shall be immediately notified.
If the Chief of Police determines that the LTC or FID should be suspended or revoked,
the Administrative Sergeant will take immediate action using MIRCS to suspend or
revoke the license. IMC records should reflect the updated license status as well.
Immediate action will also be taken to seize the individual’s license, firearms, and
ammunition. This may include the assistance of other law enforcement agencies to go
to the individual’s place of work, or other location, to obtain the license, firearms, and
ammunition.
The Chief of Police will follow up with a letter to the licensee indicating the reason for
suspension or revocation and the steps that can be taken to appeal the decision.
If the Medfield Police Department has contact with an individual who has a license in
another community and is alleged to have committed a crime or an act that may
statutorily disqualify the individual, or make the individual unsuitable to be licensed, the
licensing community shall be immediately notified by the Shift Commander so that
community may take appropriate action. The Shift Commander shall also forward a
memo to the Chief of Police with supporting documentation of the action taken by the
Medfield Police Department.
MEDFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT 4
MEDFIELD POLICE POLICY NO. 4.32
DEPARTMENT
FIREARMS LICENSING
MASSACHUSETTS POLICE
DATE OF ISSUE:
ACCREDITATION STANDARDS
REFERENCED: NONE 07/09/2023
EFFECTIVE DATE:
07/09/2023
ISSUING AUTHORITY:
REVISION DATE:
Michelle Guerette 11/07/2025
Chief of Police
BACKGROUND:
Massachusetts General Law sets out specific laws concerning the licensing and
regulation of individuals to own, carry, sell, and/or transfer machine guns, firearms, rifles,
shotguns, chemical propellants, and ammunition. The Medfield Police Department has
the responsibility to receive applications from residents and business owners within the
community and determine whether or not they should be licensed for any of these
purposes. This is a function that requires thoroughness, diligence, and consistent
application of the law to ensure that appropriate individuals are licensed.
POLICY:
The Medfield Police Department shall consider issuing firearms licenses to police
officers, residents, and business owners within the Town of Medfield. The Department
shall comply with the rules and regulations established by the Firearms Records Bureau
(FRB), the Massachusetts Instant Record Check System (MICRS) and the
Massachusetts State Police Identification Section when processing applicants for
possessing, purchasing, transferring or selling firearms, rifles, shotguns, ammunition or
chemical propellants. The final determination shall rest with the Chief of Police or his
designee.
The Department shall investigate and take appropriate action concerning licensees who,
by their actions, demonstrate that they are no longer suitable candidates to maintain
MEDFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT 1
POLICY 4.32 FIREARMS LICENSING
their firearms licenses, or whose criminal activities make them ineligible to have a
firearms identification card.
PROCEDURES:
Application Process
If an individual indicates that he wishes to apply for a License to Carry (LTC), or a
Firearms Identification Card (FID) the Chief of Police or his designee will process the
application:
1. Follow the prompts on the MICRS screen to complete the application.
2. For a first time applicant or an individual who has not been licensed since
October of 1998, one set of fingerprints are to be taken using the digital AFIS system. if
unable to utilize the digital system, one set of fingerprints are to be taken using blue
applicant cards. The officer and the applicant both sign the cards and ensure that all
information on the cards is filled out completely. However, if an individual is applying for
a renewal and the current license number ends with an A, B, C or D then two sets of
prints are not required. The applicant should complete the required fields of entry on both
sides of the print cards.
3. An Applicant's most recent Operator's license photograph shall be utilized for the
required license photograph.
4. Verify the individual’s driver’s license. In the event that the applicant does not
possess a driver’s license, a current military ID, passport or liquor identification card may
be accepted (MGL 138§34B).
5. Applicants must be 21 at the time of application for a LTC. An applicant must be
18 to be eligible for a FID. Also, persons15-18 may apply for a FID with written
permission from a parent of legal guardian.
6. If the applicant is applying for a first issue of a License to Carry, a copy of the firearms
safety course certificate or hunter safety course certificate must be submitted and placed
in the sleeve. The course must be approved by the Massachusetts State Police.
Out-of-state courses are not acceptable. Current or former military personnel may not
need to take this course based on statutory law.
7. All applicants for LTC, new or renewal, must submit a letter addressed to the
Chief of Police indicating their reason for wanting that level of licensing. An individual
requesting an LTC from an FID must also submit a letter.
8. If the applicant needs the LTC as a condition of employment, a letter from the
employer must be submitted on business letterhead.
9. A fee of $100.00 is to be collected for first issue. This is preferably in the form of
a check made out to the Town of Medfield. There is no application fee on renewals or
individuals over the age of 70. As a matter of law, first time law enforcement officers
MEDFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT 2
POLICY 4.32 FIREARMS LICENSING
(local/state/federal) pay a fee of $25.00 which will be paid by the Department and LEO’s
renewing through their employing agency are exempt from the fee for LTC’s.
10. If there is any question on whether or not the applicant is a resident, they should
submit a copy of voter registration or a letter of residency issued by the Town Clerk.
11. If an individual is making an application for an Out of State License, the applicant must make an
application through the Colonel of the State Police.
12. The applicant should be told that the process does not start until the applicant has submitted all
required materials..
13. The Chief of Police may require additional information and/or a personal
interview with the applicant.
14. The applicant will be notified when the license is ready and is required to appear
in person to obtain the license.
Firearms Licensing Officer Duties
The Chief of Police or his designee shall be assigned to insure that all appropriate
materials have been collected, and are valid and complete, to include:
1. The various records checks required by MICRS will be conducted, printed out
and added to the sleeve. Any irregularities or discrepancies will be thoroughly
investigated.
2. If applicable, contact can be made with communities where the individual was
previously licensed.
3. When the application package is complete the Administrative Sergeant shall make a
recommendation to the Chief of Police whether or not the license should be issued or
renewed. The Administrative Sergeant will then be responsible for transmitting the data
to MIRCS so that the licenses can be created if the application was approved.
License Denials
The Administrative Sergeant will forward a memo to the Chief of Police when it becomes
apparent that an individual is statutorily disqualified, or in the case of an LTC, is an
unsuitable candidate for licensing. The memo will outline and support with
documentation the reason(s) for the denial. The Administrative Sergeant will also submit
a letter of denial to the Chief of Police for their approval.
MEDFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT 3
POLICY 4.32 FIREARMS LICENSING
License Suspension/Revocation
If an individual, currently licensed by the Medfield Police Department, is alleged to have
committed a crime or an action that may statutorily disqualify the individual, or makes the
individual unsuitable to be licensed, the Chief of Police shall be immediately notified.
If the Chief of Police determines that the LTC or FID should be suspended or revoked,
the Administrative Sergeant will take immediate action using MIRCS to suspend or
revoke the license. IMC records should reflect the updated license status as well.
Immediate action will also be taken to seize the individual’s license, firearms, and
ammunition. This may include the assistance of other law enforcement agencies to go
to the individual’s place of work, or other location, to obtain the license, firearms, and
ammunition.
The Chief of Police will follow up with a letter to the licensee indicating the reason for
suspension or revocation and the steps that can be taken to appeal the decision.
If the Medfield Police Department has contact with an individual who has a license in
another community and is alleged to have committed a crime or an act that may
statutorily disqualify the individual, or make the individual unsuitable to be licensed, the
licensing community shall be immediately notified by the Shift Commander so that
community may take appropriate action. The Shift Commander shall also forward a
memo to the Chief of Police with supporting documentation of the action taken by the
Medfield Police Department.
MEDFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT 4
The provisions a municipal licensing page most often touches: G.L. c. 140, § 131 (licenses to carry), G.L. c. 140, § 121F (applications, suitability, judicial review), G.L. c. 140, § 131P (the safety certificate).