Disqualifiers

Every citizen has the right granted to them by the 2nd Amendment of The Constitution to keep and bear arms. If you have a clean mental health and criminal history there is no reason for any citizen in Massachusetts to be denied these given rights.

However, federal and state laws specify a number of conditions whereby an individual is ineligible to possess a firearm. These are called "statutory disqualifiers", and are permanent:

Any felony conviction as a juvenile or adult
Conviction under any law regulating the use, possession or sale of controlled substances as defined in Section 1 of Chapter 94C.
Conviction of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for more than two years (includes conviction for OUI in MA after May 27 1994)
Conviction of a "Violent Crime"*
Conviction under any law relating to weapons or ammunition for which imprisonment may be imposed
Dishonorable discharge from any branch of the military

Certain other statutory disqualifiers can be remedied as specified:

Being the subject of an outstanding arrest warrant in any state or federal jurisdiction - Ineligible until outstanding warrants are cleared
Being the current subject of restraining order (209 A) - Ineligible only while the order is current
Confinement to a hospital or institution for mental illness - Ineligibility waived with physicians affidavit.

If any of the disqualifiers apply to you, please contact us via email, or by phone at 978-486-8080 or 617-320-8012 (Jim Finnerty, Instructor).

*A violent crime is any “crime which could have been punished by 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, that (i) has an element the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force or a deadly weapon against the person of another (ii) is burglary, extortion, arson or kidnapping; (iii) involves the use of explosives; or (iv) otherwise involves conduct that presents a serious risk of physical injury to another.” This definition includes simple “assault” “assault and battery” and “burglary”.