The law of firearm possession in Massachusetts is a complex area of the law. Police chiefs have the authority to both issue and revoke a person's firearm identification card and license to carry firearms pursuant to M.G.L. c. 140 § 131 and M.G.L. c. 140 § 129 D.
The law provides that a license to carry firearms may be issued to any person who is suitable and who is not restricted by law. There are only seven statutory reasons that a person is restricted from obtaining a license to carry a firearm. However, because the law grants the police chief wide discretion in deciding who is a suitable person to be licensed, many individuals who should be able to be licensed are routinely denied the ability to carry a firearm.
It is also not unusual for an individual who has been licensed for many years to be denied a renewal of his license to carry. Again, because of the police chief's wide discretion, it is not uncommon to have a current police chief to deny renewal of a license that had previously been issued by a chief of the same town or city. When this occurs, or when a new application for a license to carry is denied, the applicant has ninety days to appeal the decision to a District Court judge.
Attorney James J. Gribouski of Glickman, Sugarman, Kneeland & Gribouski has represented several individuals in their appeals to the District Court judge and has an excellent record of success. Attorney Gribouski is well versed and knowledgeable in the area of firearms law and has extensive experience in representing those charged with criminal firearm offenses. Any individual who has been wrongfully denied their right to carry a firearm or has been arrested for a firearms offense should contact the Law Offices of Glickman, Sugarman, Kneeland & Gribouski.
