BOSTON, MA - Blue states have apparently decided on ways to circumvent the Second Amendment and the United States Supreme Court, which may not be all that evident on the surface. Such appears to be the case in the former cradle of liberty, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
A group of pro-Second Amendment groups and four individuals have filed suit against the Boston police commissioner over what the plaintiffs claim are “substantial and untenable delays” in the department’s processing of concealed carry permits.
Clearly, if government officials cannot refuse to comply with the people’s right to own and bear arms, they can try to make it nearly impossible to do so.
According to the lawsuit filed against Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox, the police department in 2020 used the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak as an excuse to shut down the Boston PD’s Licensing Division, refusing to accept new applications. Moreover, when the Licensing Division resumed operations, there was a backlog of thousands of applications, which held back processing for months.
Initially, in 2021, the Second Amendment Foundation and Commonwealth 2A filed a lawsuit against the Boston police commissioner, a suit settled in mediation. The Boston Police Department agreed to speed up the pace of processing applications and agreed to work through the backlog by October 2021.
The suit evidently had no success in speeding up the process, with the plaintiffs arguing the department is using the same delays today, with some applicants waiting several months to get through the process.
The new lawsuit cites one current applicant who has been enduring an untenable delay, saying, “Plaintiff Leslie Good submitted an application for a LTC to the Licensing Unit on February 6, 2023, using an online portal on the Police Department’s website. She submitted a completed application form, as well as documentation of the required training and copies of her identification. She paid the $100 application fee.
On June 15, 2023, Ms. Good had not heard anything further, so she again contacted the Licensing Unit by email to ask about the status of her application. She received no response. Ms. Good contacted the Licensing Unit twice more, on June 23, 2023, and July 10, 2023, but again received no response.
"Ms. Good has received no further communications from the Licensing Unit. Pertinently, the Licensing Unit still has not contacted her to schedule the taking of fingerprints or an interview.
As of the date of this Complaint, it has been 206 days since Ms. Good submitted her application, but Defendant has not started the state background check process, which the state will have 30 days to complete. Ms. Good has no idea when she will be able to obtain a LTC.”
Under Massachusetts law, said licensing authorities “shall” either approve or reject such an LTC, providing the applicant a reason why the LTC was denied. This must be done within 40 days of completing and submitting the application. In the case of Ms. Good, she has been waiting over a year to receive her LTC permit.
Second Amendment Foundation executive director Adam Kraut slammed Cox, claiming he has not explained the delays affecting Good and other applicants.
“We can only conclude the commissioner has adopted a policy or instituted a practice of delaying applications for many months, which amounts to deprivation of rights under the color of law. We’re hoping the court provides a quick resolution to this practice and stops it cold,” Kraut said.
This apparent trampling of God-given, constitutionally protected rights where the first shots of the American Revolution were fired shows how far Massachusetts has digressed since the 1700s when it concerns the liberty of its citizens.
Massachusetts joins other New England states, such as Connecticut and Rhode Island, as being incredibly anti-Second Amendment. According to Guns & Ammo magazine, Massachusetts ranks 47th in the country where gun rights are concerned, only outpaced by New York, Hawaii, New Jersey, and California. Connecticut ranks 45th, and Rhode Island 43rd.
The National Rifle Association (NRA) reported earlier this year on sweeping gun control legislation proposed in Massachusetts, including, among other things:
However, in the case of Boston, who needs sweeping gun control legislation when the police commissioner can slow-walk LTC applications in clear violation of Massachusetts General Laws and the United States Constitution.
A group of pro-Second Amendment groups and four individuals have filed suit against the Boston police commissioner over what the plaintiffs claim are “substantial and untenable delays” in the department’s processing of concealed carry permits.
Clearly, if government officials cannot refuse to comply with the people’s right to own and bear arms, they can try to make it nearly impossible to do so.
According to the lawsuit filed against Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox, the police department in 2020 used the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak as an excuse to shut down the Boston PD’s Licensing Division, refusing to accept new applications. Moreover, when the Licensing Division resumed operations, there was a backlog of thousands of applications, which held back processing for months.
Initially, in 2021, the Second Amendment Foundation and Commonwealth 2A filed a lawsuit against the Boston police commissioner, a suit settled in mediation. The Boston Police Department agreed to speed up the pace of processing applications and agreed to work through the backlog by October 2021.
The suit evidently had no success in speeding up the process, with the plaintiffs arguing the department is using the same delays today, with some applicants waiting several months to get through the process.
The new lawsuit cites one current applicant who has been enduring an untenable delay, saying, “Plaintiff Leslie Good submitted an application for a LTC to the Licensing Unit on February 6, 2023, using an online portal on the Police Department’s website. She submitted a completed application form, as well as documentation of the required training and copies of her identification. She paid the $100 application fee.
On June 15, 2023, Ms. Good had not heard anything further, so she again contacted the Licensing Unit by email to ask about the status of her application. She received no response. Ms. Good contacted the Licensing Unit twice more, on June 23, 2023, and July 10, 2023, but again received no response.
"Ms. Good has received no further communications from the Licensing Unit. Pertinently, the Licensing Unit still has not contacted her to schedule the taking of fingerprints or an interview.
As of the date of this Complaint, it has been 206 days since Ms. Good submitted her application, but Defendant has not started the state background check process, which the state will have 30 days to complete. Ms. Good has no idea when she will be able to obtain a LTC.”
Under Massachusetts law, said licensing authorities “shall” either approve or reject such an LTC, providing the applicant a reason why the LTC was denied. This must be done within 40 days of completing and submitting the application. In the case of Ms. Good, she has been waiting over a year to receive her LTC permit.
Second Amendment Foundation executive director Adam Kraut slammed Cox, claiming he has not explained the delays affecting Good and other applicants.
“We can only conclude the commissioner has adopted a policy or instituted a practice of delaying applications for many months, which amounts to deprivation of rights under the color of law. We’re hoping the court provides a quick resolution to this practice and stops it cold,” Kraut said.
This apparent trampling of God-given, constitutionally protected rights where the first shots of the American Revolution were fired shows how far Massachusetts has digressed since the 1700s when it concerns the liberty of its citizens.
Massachusetts joins other New England states, such as Connecticut and Rhode Island, as being incredibly anti-Second Amendment. According to Guns & Ammo magazine, Massachusetts ranks 47th in the country where gun rights are concerned, only outpaced by New York, Hawaii, New Jersey, and California. Connecticut ranks 45th, and Rhode Island 43rd.
The National Rifle Association (NRA) reported earlier this year on sweeping gun control legislation proposed in Massachusetts, including, among other things:
- Ban on possessing any gun, loaded or unloaded, on all state, county, and municipal buildings; all polling places; all private property unless the owner has provided express consent or posted signs allowing firearms on their property (in other words, pretty much everywhere)
- Mandates new training requirements, including costly written exams and live fire training
- Mandates registration of all guns and feeding devices
- Mandates serializing all firearm parts
- Bans anyone under 21 from acquiring or carrying any semi-automatic rifle or shotgun
- Bans anyone under 15 taking part in shooting sports and training
- Places new mandates, protocols, and training requirements on retailers.
- Institutes a new, broad “Assault Weapons Ban,” including firearms already owned by law-abiding citizens
However, in the case of Boston, who needs sweeping gun control legislation when the police commissioner can slow-walk LTC applications in clear violation of Massachusetts General Laws and the United States Constitution.
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Comments
2023-09-12T04:21-0400 | Comment by: Donna
Massachusett police want more innocent people victimized by criminals that won’t follow any gun laws. Glad I live in the great state of Arizona, where freedom reigns.