Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024
(1)
Applicability.
(a) Any person lawfully licensed with a FID card on June 1, 1998 shall not be required to complete the statutorily required BFS course or submit a BFS certificate for:
1. subsequent FID card renewals; or
2. subsequent LTC licensure and renewals.
(b) Any person lawfully licensed with a LTC card on June 1, 1998 shall not be required to complete the statutorily required BFS course or submit a BFS certificate for:
1. subsequent LTC renewals; or
2. subsequent FID card licensure and renewals.
(c) Any person licensed after June 1, 1998 who completed a BFS course for an initial FID card or LTC shall not be required to complete a subsequent statutorily required BFS course or submit a BFS certificate for FID card or LTC renewals.
Course completion certificates issued between June 1, 1998 and October 21, 1998 shall be valid where that course was subsequently certified as an approved BFS course.
(2)
Basic Firearms Safety Course Curriculum Criteria. Curriculum for a BFS course shall include curriculum criteria as described in M.G.L. c. 140, § 131P(b).
(a) A BFS course used as a prerequisite for a FID shall use rifles and/or shotguns as the primary subject matter of the curriculum unless the course is an approved LTC BFS course. A BFS course used as a prerequisite for a LTC shall use pistols and/or revolvers as the primary subject matter of the curriculum.
(b) Certain BFS course curriculums do not contain a firearms related law component. Such curriculums can still meet Department of State Police curriculum criteria by utilizing guest speakers familiar with firearms laws or by utilizing or distributing to its students written informational pamphlets/books/videos by an entity/individual familiar with firearms laws to cover that portion of the course.
(3)
FID Card Basic Firearms Safety Courses. The following BFS courses, with fulfillment of 515 CMR 3.05(2)(b) requirements as applicable, meet the Department of State Police's criteria for obtaining a FID card and are approved:
(a) NRA Basic Rifle or Shotgun Courses and NRA Home Safety Course;
(b) SIG Arms Academy Firearms Orientation and Familiarization Courses for Shotgun, Carbine or Rifle;
(c) Smith & Wesson Academy Massachusetts F.I.D. Safety Training Course; and
(d) Approved LTC Basic Firearms Safety Course as set forth in 515 CMR 3.05(4) or (5).
(4)
LTC Basic Firearms Safety Courses. The following BFS courses, with fulfillment of 515 CMR 3.05(2)(b) requirements as applicable, meet the Department of State Police's criteria for obtaining a LTC and are approved:
(a) Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association Basic Handgun Safety Course;
(b) NRA Basic Pistol Course, NRA Personal Protection Course or NRA Home Safety Course;
(c) SIG Arms Academy Handgun Orientation Course; and
(d) Smith & Wesson Academy Massachusetts Carry Permit Course.
(5)
Courses Not Listed in 515 CMR 3.05(3) and (4). Additional courses will be approved on an individual basis at the discretion of the Colonel pursuant to 515 CMR 3.05(6).
(6)
Issuance of Basic Firearms Safety Course Curriculum Approval Certification. For courses not listed in 515 CMR 3.05, a BFS course curriculum approval application can be obtained by writing to the Department of State Police, Licensing Unit, 470 Worcester Road, Framingham, MA 01702. The application can be mailed or delivered to the same address. A letter approving the course or denying approval because the course does not meet the curriculum requirements will be mailed to the applicant.
(7)
Basic Firearms Safety Course Completion Certificate. Certificates of completion shall be provided by the certified BFS instructor to the student upon successful completion of a BFS course, approved as set forth in 515 CMR 3.05. All such certificates shall be in a form prescribed by the Colonel and shall contain the following information:
(a) Course title and the fact the course was approved in accordance with 515 CMR 3.05;
(b) Purpose for which course was offered, i.e. "Valid for FID Card" or "Valid for LTC" (Courses valid for LTC are also valid for FID cards.);
(c) Name and date of birth of the student;
(d) Date of course completion; and
(e) Certified BFS instructor's typed or printed name, signature, and BFS Instructor Certification number.
