G.L. Chapter 140, is amended by insertion of a new section:

Section ###

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, All applications for license or card regarding the possession, transfer, carrying, or other lawful acts with a firearm, rifle or shotgun shall be submitted to the Firearms Record Bureau. Said application can be submitted by electronic, paper or other means as may be convenient to the applicant.

Within seven days of the receipt of a completed application, the firearms record bureau shall conduct a records search of any criminal record of the applicant arising from within or without the commonwealth and determine whether the applicant is a prohibited person. Such search shall include files maintained by the department of mental health, department of probation and statewide and nationwide criminal justice, warrant and protection order information systems and files including, but not limited to, the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. If the information available to the firearms record bureau does not indicate that the applicant is a prohibited person under state or federal law, the firearms record bureau shall issue such license or card applied for within 30 days.

The Secretary of Public Safety and Security shall be responsible for entire licensing system as a whole and for the protection of the constitutional and other legal rights of any applicant or license/card holder.