Introduction

Our names are Amanda, Allison, and Ashley! We are three block students of Spring 2013 at Salem State University. We created this blog to develop gun control awareness. We will be focusing on gun possession laws in Massachusetts. Gun control has been in the spotlight recently due to recurring tragedies. We will explore the steps people are required to complete in order obtain a gun permit and voice our opinions on whether we think the current policies are enough. Let's start by learning about the current policies on guns in Massachusetts. According to the mass.gov website, a resident of Massachusetts who is at least 15 years of age can begin the process of obtaining a gun permit. Firearms licenses are issued out by municipal police departments. The two main agencies involved with firearms licensing are the local police departments and the Office of Public Safety's Firearms Records Bureau. There are different types of firearms licenses. There is Class "A" LTC which permits the purchase, possession and carrying of all ammunition, handguns, rifles, shotguns, and feeding devices. Class "B" LTC permits the purchase, possession and carrying of all ammunition, non-large capacity handguns, and all rifles and shotguns. Then there is the Firearms Identification Card (FID) which permits the purchase, possession and carrying of non-large capacity rifles, shotguns, and ammunition only. You must be 21 years old to obtain a Class "A" or "B" permit. FID applicants are required to be 18 years old or 15-17 years old as long as they have parental consent. Besides the forms that are required to be filled out, a person must also complete a training before gaining a license.

To learn more and see where we got our information please click here:
Massachusetts Gun Licensing Requirements 

It is rare to watch the news at night and not hear about another shooting in America or see flashbacks of past tragedies. Now we will each share where we stand on gun control as of now.

I am Ashley and I currently believe it is too easy to obtain a gun license and purchase guns today. It makes me uneasy to read about the steps a person has to take in my state to be able to carry a gun, or anywhere in the United States for that matter. I appreciate that they run background checks before distributing licenses, however a young adult who may have evil intentions may not have any crimes reported yet. I also feel the people the person who wishes to get a gun license lives with should be required to fill out forms as well. Everyone who lives in the house where there will be guns needs to be completely educated on gun safety and mentally capable of knowing right from wrong. Guns can get in the wrong hands too easily and I think it is important to make steps towards safer gun distribution. I do believe people should have the right to protect themselves, however I do not think everyone is made to be a gun owner. I am realistic and I know guns will never be eliminated from the public I think it is time for Americans to learn more about gun control and how we can ensure safety.

I am Amanda and I believe that it is too easy to obtain a gun license and purchase guns today in Massachusetts. The process doesn't seem in depth enough for someone who wants to carry a gun. Carrying a gun is a serious thing. The weapon can be harmful not only to the owner but to the people around him or her. In order for a person to receive a gun license they have to take a Basic Firearms Safety Course. Once the course is taken, the person can go to their local police station and apply for a gun. The police department runs a background check on the person to make sure they have no restraining orders, determine if they are suitable, and determine if they have any convictions and so on. The person also has to go for a mental health check. A person may have a clear background check, but may have crimes that have not been reported or the person may have baneful intentions with the weapon once in their possession. When a person has a mental health check it is only to assure they have never been institutionalized. It does not inform the police department if they are being treated or have been treated for a mental health issue. For example, a person trying to get a gun permit could be treated for bipolar but the officials would never know because they aren't required to disclose that information. I am grateful that all of these steps are acknowledged, but are they really proving that someone is capable of carrying a gun? In my opinion, the answer is no. It is too easy for someone to become a gun owner. I respect the idea that people want to protect themselves, and I know that guns will never be omitted in Massachusetts, but I think it is time for Americans to learn about how people obtain guns and what we can do to change the laws on gun ownership.

Hi I am Allison and I believe that the process to obtain a gun in Massachusetts is too easy. Yes, proper paperwork and background checks must be done but I do not feel like that is enough. Just because somebody has not committed a crime does not mean they are not going to. Just because someone wants to own a gun for protection does not mean that everyone in that home feels the same; not everyone in that home may be a good person with humane intentions. Many of the horrific crimes that have happened recently are due to it being too easy to legally obtain a gun, or guns being too easy to take from other people. Also the gun laws do not process mental illness as part of the FBI background check which I believe to be the most vital flaw in the process of getting a gun. I do not believe people should be penalized for having mental disorders, but to be given one of the most powerful items in the world that makes it so simple to hurt or kill someone is too much of a danger to themselves and the people around them.  I am also aware that there are people who hunt for sport (which I personally also do not agree with) as well as those who want a gun to protect themselves, especially due to the recent events. However if we weren’t allowing people to easily get possession of guns less people would be so scared and feel the need to have their own. It’s a vicious cycle that somebody needs to stop and that will only happen  if we as citizens come together, learn the most we can about the topic, and make America a safer place to live.