Massachusetts Town Subjects Gun Permit Applicants To An Essay Portion

Lowell, Massachusetts is going to require gun permit applicants to write an essay to explain why they’re exercising their Second Amendment rights.
If a federal judge struck down California’s 10-day waiting period for gun owners as an unconstitutional infringement on their civil rights, then this
essay portion should surely be struck down.

The policy requires anyone seeking a license-to-carry to take a gun-safety course. Anyone applying for an unrestricted gun license must state in
writing why they should receive such a license, and to provide additional documentation, such as prior military or law-enforcement service, a
prior license-to-carry permit, or signed letters of recommendation.

Critics who spoke Tuesday, and who've blasted the policy before, made one last attempt at persuading Police Superintendent William Taylor to
make it less onerous on applicants.

"I will never write an essay to get my rights as an American citizen," resident Dan Gannon said.

A state law requiring that you prove a valid "need" to carry a handgun?  That's crazy talk!   


http://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2016/01/22/massachusetts-town-subjects-gun-permit-applicants-to-an-essay-portion-n2108196

What is also sad and crazy is that MA is a "may issue" state, but like many other states with similar issuing standards the "may issue" varies wildly between rural/urban counties. For example, in California Los Angeles County is no-issue unless you are a celebrity or donate to LEO organizations/causes. However in Kern County (directly north of LA County, I grew up less than 15 miles from Kern County) it's essentially shall-issue, as is most counties in CA.

Of course Hawaii has to be one of the examples of may-issue being no-issue, in all counties. I'm still shocked they are (now) complying with LEOSA, which from what I understand they did not for many, many years. As wrong as the essay requirement is, I could only dream of having a police chief here that "only" required that.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not defending such an unconstitutional infringement - its just frustrating for me to see how now nearly two years after the 9CA's decision on Baker we are no closer to CCW in Hawaii, and likely will never get there absent a complete change in political climate.

the mandate in Baker has not actually been issued.  We will see where the Ninth is at once it votes en banc in Baker.   We will see relief in either Baker or more likely Young by the end of the year.

the mandate in Baker has not actually been issued.  We will see where the Ninth is at once it votes en banc in Baker.   We will see relief in either Baker or more likely Young by the end of the year.

wolfwood,

My appreciation and thanks to you on the Baker case, you've been instrumental on working 2A issues for us in Hawaii. With that being said, I'm not too optimistic that the Ninth will be any benefit to us with Baker. I've been tracking the main thread on Peruta over at Calguns and the general perspective seems to be that the Ninth will vacate the original decision, and we know that likely means Baker will fall as well. Even if that is the case, didn't the State essentially not defend the law restricting where you can take your firearms (range, dealer, gunsmith, domicile, etc)? If Baker is vacated, would that asinine law still stand?

Young is where the State threw in the towel and where we will get most of our relief.  Even if Peruta is decided against us I should still be able to win in Young.  Young still is problay a year away from being ruled on though.

Young is where the State threw in the towel and where we will get most of our relief.  Even if Peruta is decided against us I should still be able to win in Young.  Young still is problay a year away from being ruled on though.

Thanks for the additional information. I haven't really investigated Young, will have to look into it.

Adding this report to the thread for the essay AND over $1k in required training is what they want.

http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/01/26/city-implements-essay-requirement-1000-in-training-for-handgun-permit/