The City of Lowell » Police Department JFK Civic Center + 50 Arcand Drive * Lowell, MA 01852 : 978.937.3200 + F: 978.970.0455 www.LowellPolice.com William M. Taylor ‘Superintendent Deborah Friedl Deputy Superintendent To: Kevin Murphy Arthur Ryan, Jr. City Manager Deputy Superintendent From: William Taylor Superintendent of Police Date: January 12, 2016 Re: New Policy of the City of Lowell Police Department Regarding Issuance of Licenses to Carry Firearms ‘As the licensing authority for the City of Lowell, the Lowell Police Department (LPD) has undertaken a review of the longstanding policy for issuing licenses to carry firearms. Early in the process it became apparent that our current policy was more than 30 years old and in need of substantial modifications. The main objective of the review was to ensure that the policy adhered to the required regulations and constitutional guidelines. ‘The LPD and the City of Lowell Law Department conducted extensive research and had several discussions with other licensing authorities throughout the Commonwealth. Additionally, the LPD engaged in conversations with members of the community who had an interest in this policy. The modifications that were made to this policy take into consideration the research, policies of other licensing authorities and the opinion of community members. [n summary, the new policy conforms to the necessary requirements while also keeping in mind the safety of the publ Following its initial introduction, the City Manager, Superintendent Taylor, and members of the Law Department met with Lowell residents to hear their concerns regarding the proposed new policy. The policy was further modified to accommodate certain such concerns. Highlights of new policy include; For all LTC applicants: © Each application will be reviewed on an individual basis, prior policy did not allow for this which resulted in very few Unrestricted Licenses to Carry (LTC) being issued. © Added for all LTC applications: the successful completion of approved Safety Course, including “live fire” component. Not required in prior policy. are cay ot | O WELL tix. unitue. inspiring© For Occupational and Unrestricted L'TC’s, an advanced safety course above the basic level, or demonstrated competency of the key components of such a course, for example, de-escalation of violence techniques; the lawful use of deadly force; responsibilities associated with carrying a concealed weapon; and concealed carry techt additional training or competency is required to demonstrate that applicants are familiar with the dangers and responsibilities inherent in carrying a concealed weapon in public. This is also a new requirement. For applicants seeking an unrestricted LTC the following also apply: ‘© Applicants must submit a written supplement providing the reasons they believe support the granting of an unrestricted LTC and identify the proper purpose of the LTC. Applicants are asked to provide additional documentation which may assist in determining that the applicant will not pose a threat to public safety. This is new; the prior policy did not take the following examples into consideration. Examples include: 1. Current or prior military service 2. Current of prior law enforcement service Prior receipt of an unrestricted LTC from another community or state, with no Prior receipt of a “restricted” LTC from Lowell or other community, with no violations 5. Signed letters of recommendation that show the applicant's good character and emotional stability athe city ot | O WELL “iv. unitue. inspiringPOLICY OF THE CITY OF LOWELL POLICE DEPARTMENT REGARDING ISSUANCE OF LICENSES TO CARRY FIREARMS All applications for a license to carry a firearm CLTC*) in Lowell will be reviewed on an individual basis. An LTC may be issued from one of three categories: an LTC restricted to sporting or hunting; an LTC for occupational purposes; and an unrestricted LTC. No form of LTC shall be issued to an individual who is a prohibited person pursuant to M.G.L. ch. 140 § 131AXi)-(x). Al applicants for an LTC will be interviewed. All applicants must contact the Lowell Potice Department, Firearms/Licensing Bureau (978-674-1879) between the hours of 8:00 an.3:00 an. to schedule an interview. Application Requirements ALL formes of LTC 1. All applicants must be at least 21 years of age, a resident of the City of Lewell, and a izen or Permanent Resident Alien. 2. All applicants for an LTC must successfully complete, with certification, a Massachusetts State Police-approved Firearms Safety Course that includes a live fire component (or a Massachusetts State Police-approved Firearms Safety Course and a live fire training course). Check at your local gun club or www.goal.org or www.ntainstructors.org to find a certified training program. 3. There is a $100 application fee for a Firearm ID (FID) or a LTC. Only Money Orders or Personal Checks are accepted as payment: NO cash or credits are accepted, and all fees are non-rofundable. Fees may be waived for applicants over the age of 70. All payments are due at the time of your interview. 4. Please bring to the interview: (1) a completed application form (obtainable from the Lowell Police Department); (2) a copy of your Birth Certificate (if you are a citizen by birth}, a U.S. passport, Naturalization Papers, or Permanent Resident Card, whichever is applicabic; (3) copies of the certificates you have received from applicable training course(s); (4) if you are applying for an LTC for occupational purposes or an untestricted LTC, bring all other applicable documentation, as provided below. 5. Following the interview, the licensing authority of the Lowell Police Department reviews the application and a thorough criminal background investigation is conducted. Applicants will be notified by mail once the application process is completed. The process from interview to notification takes approximately three months.LIC for Occupational Purposes 6. Applicants for an LTC for occupational purposes must, in addition to completing the Massachusetts State Police-approved Firearms Safety Coursedlive fire training referenced in (2), satisfactorily demonstrate that they have training or experience that satisfies the key components of courses focused on concealed carry of « firearm in public places. For example, such components include but are not limited to: de-escalation of violence techniques; the lawful use of deadly force; responsibilities associated with camying a concealed weapon; and concealed carry techniques. Applicants may satisfy this condition by successful completion of one of the following taining courses: NR4 Basics of Personal Protection Outside the Home (Level 1) ot NRA Defensive Pistol (see www.nrainstructors.org); SIG Arms Concealed Carry Pistol Course (LTC-012) (hitps:!/www.sigsaueracademy.com/productdisplay/conceal-carry-pistol); GOAL The Art of Concealed Carry in Massachusetts Gece hup://goal.orgytraining/art_of_concealed_carry.html); Mass Firearms Sctool Concealed Carry I (see hittp:tiwww.massfircarmsschool.com). 7. Applicants for an LTC for occupational purposes must further furnish to the Lowell Police Department a signed letter from the applicant’s employer identifying in detail the nature of the business and the reason(s) for requiring such an LTC. Unrestricted LTC Applications for an unrestricted LTC will only be granted in limited circumstances, 8. Applicants for an unrestricted LTC must, in addition to completing the Massachusetts State Police-approved Firearms Safety Courseflive fite training referenced in (2), satisfactorily demonstrate that they have training or experience that satisfies the key components of courses focused on concealed carry of a firearm in public places. For example, such components include but are not limited to: de-escalation of violence techniques; the lawful use of deadly force: responsibilities associated with carrying a concealed weapon: and concealed carry techniques. Applicants may satisfy this condition by successful completion of one of the following training courses: NRA Basics of Personal Protection Outside the Home (Level 1) ot NRA Defensive Pistol (sce wwwinrainstructors.org); SIG Arms Concealed Carry Pistol Course (LTC-012); GOAL The Art of Conceaied ~— Carry ins Massachusetts (see htip://goal.org/training/art_of concealed catry.html); Mass Firearms School Concealed Carry I (see http:tiwww.massfirearmsschool.com)). 9. Applicants for an unrestricted LTC must further submit a written suppiement providing specific reasons that the applicant believes support granting the unrestricted access. The written supplement should identify the applicant's proper purpose in secking an unrestricted LTC, 10. Applicants for an unrestricted LTC should also provide any additional documentation they may have that will assist the Superintendent in making a determination that issuance of an unrestricted LTC to the applicant will not pose a threat to public safety. Applicants, 2are encouraged to suby documentation include, but are aot it as much such documentation as possible. Examples of such ited to:? Current or prior service in the military; Current or prior service in law enforcement; Prior receipt of an unrestricted LTC from another community or state, with no record of any violation of any term or condition of the LTC; Prior receipt of a restricted LTC from Lowell or from another community or state, with no record of any violation of any term or eondition of the LTC (the receipt of such from Lowell will cary greater weight than the receipt of such license from elsewhere); ation Card (FID) from Lowell or from another community or state, with no record of any violation of any term or condition of the FID (the receipt of such from Lowell will carry greater ‘weight than the receipt of such license from elsewhere); Prior receipt of a hunter safety training and/or experience fnunting; Signed letters of recommendation that show the applicant’s good character and emotional stability. Such letters of recommendation should indicate that the applicant is not subject to excessive drinking habits, substance abuse, or violent behavior. Letters of reference may, but need not, be from the references listed on the applicant's apptication. Letters from an applicant’ relatives are not acceptable. Each letter of reference must be on 8.5" x 11” paper and be signed, dated, and show the reference's name, address and telephone number. The Superintendent of the Lowell Police Department, or his or her designee, reserves the right to contact each reference. A particularly strong application with regard to (9) will resuit in a lesser need to provide documentation with regard to (10), and vice versa. Failure to produce satisfactory documentation in accordance with (9) and (10) may result in the denial of an unrestricted LTC. ‘The above criteria are intended to provide LTC applicants with a reasoned expectation of the likelihood of obteining an LTC, Whete an LTC is denied, or where an applicant applies for an unrestricted LTC and is issued a restricted LTC, reasons for such decision shall be provided to the applicant. In all instances, the Supetintendent of the Lowell Police Department, or his or her designee, reserves the right to exercise hiis or her discretion and deny an application for an LTC, or to issue a restricted or unrestricted LTC, in accordance with Massachusetts law ' The below list is offered for exemplary purposes only. (he City makes no representation that the examples provided would be weighed equally: nor does the City represent that production of any of the below documentation is in itself sufficient to result in the issuance of an unrestricted LTC.