SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1468        FILED ON: 1/18/2013

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1161

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Richard T. Moore, (BY REQUEST)

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying resolution:

Resolutions relative to firearm licensing.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1468        FILED ON: 1/18/2013

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1161

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

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Resolutions relative to firearm licensing.

Whereas, the processing of applications for firearm identification cards and licenses to carry takes an inordinate amount of time;

Whereas, there is no logical explanation for such an undue timeframe for the review and processing of applications for lawful firearm owners;

Whereas, such a delay may violate state law requiring processing of applications within a 40 day timeframe;

Whereas, because of this unnecessary delay, applicants are subject to potential fines and may be jailed for offenses of possession of firearms without a license, of no fault of their own;

Whereas, every citizen of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts enjoys constitutional rights to keep and bear arms in accordance with the 2nd Amendment of the Constitution of the United States and Article XVII of the Constitution of the Commonwealth; and therefore be it

Resolved, that in the event an application, submitted in a timely fashion by an applicant, is not processed within the prescribed 40 days, said applicant’s fee shall be refunded in full; and be it further

Resolved, that said applicant’s application shall be reviewed and processed immediately in accordance with the law; and be it further

Resolved, that said applicant’s license to carry or firearm identification card shall not be suspended, revoked, or denied until such time as the application has been formally reviewed.