Chelmsford Had Over 1,400 Active Gun Permits Last Year
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety reports that Westford had an increase of 68 Class A licenses from 2011 to 2012.
Gun control remains as a topic on the national stage, with yesterday alone providing the unveiling a $500 million dollar gun violence package from President Obama and a new statement from the NRA saying that attacking firearms and ignoring children is "not a solution to the crisis we face as a nation."
Nearby, the topic remains in the news as well, most recently during last week's Board of Selectmen's meeting in Westford.
There, during a discussion over a proposed town level assault weapons ban that led Selectman Bob Jefferies adding that the bylaw should be joined by an additional bylaw requiring that gun owners join a militia.
Today, we want to hear your thoughts on the issue here in Chelmsford.
Patch has obtained the following statistics from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety regarding overall gun statistics in town from 2008 to 2012.
| 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | |
| Firearms Identification Card | 247 | 268 | 269 | 240 | 234 |
| Firearms Identification Card Restricted Chemical Propellant Only | 93 | 109 | 123 | 117 | 122 |
| Resident Class A Large Capacity License to Carry Firearms | 1099 | 1249 | 1324 | 1379 | 1474 |
| Resident License to Possess a Machine Gun | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 |
In 2012, Chelmsford ranked 33rd in the Commonwealth in active Class A licenses issued, 20th in the Commonwealth in active Chemical Propellant Only licenses and 22nd in active firearms identification cards issued.
Iron Mike
8:01 am on Thursday, January 17, 2013
Aah yes, the esteemed ‘Mass Executive Office of Public Safety’ – presided over until last month by that bumbling inept failure MaryBeth Heffernan.
Under her watch, - the state failed to implement Secure Communities,
- kept the failures if the state drug testing lab SECRET for seven month [trying to find a way to sweep it under the rug] – which thusly kept wrongly convicted people wrongly in jail,
- had the state’s Adjutant General suddenly ‘retire’ – over a lingering rape allegation from when he was a lieutenant…,
- hired, then FINALLY had to FIRE the ‘Director of Highway Safety - Sheila Burgess – with her 4 PAGE driving record. Congressman Jim McGovern[ment] disn't want her around anymore, - so Duh-val told MaryBeth to hire her, and MaryBeth NEVER checked her records.
Allowed Warden Anthony Mendonsa to ‘retire’ [pending investigation] from his brand new job at the giant Souza-Baranowski Prison, - where a week later a riot broke out and a guard was stabbed through his neck.
- - -
And NOW,…Gov Patrick want MaryBeth as a JUDGE!?!?!
Any you trust ANYTHING that office tells you? Why?
- - -
As for gun bans, - what part of the words “…shall NOT be infringed” are you not understanding?
Ken Wooster
11:18 am on Thursday, January 17, 2013
I know there is a reason for just about anything, BUT can someone tell me what 7 people will usa a "Permit To Possess a Machine Gun".for?
Tammy Lac
1:07 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
Because they are fun? Why do people need race cars that drive 200 miles per hour?
Iron Mike
11:32 am on Thursday, January 17, 2013
Simple Ken, - it’s called a hobby!
There are ranges across the country where folks can go and shoot them – legally and safely. Google: Knob Creek Machine Gun Range.
Some people collect stamps, some butterflies, and some cars. And some like to shoot.
Tyler Jozefowicz
12:52 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
Machine guns are a military weapon , the sole purpose of which is to kill as many people as possible in the least amount of time. Machine gun exemptions are a loophole. No one says target practice or hunting or home defense- too much fire power, so they rely on "hobby". Close the loophole. Like to shoot? Then go to the range and rent one for the afternoon.
Tammy Lac
1:07 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
Tyler, When is that last time you heard of a "legally owned machine gun owner" using it in a crime? Anyone who pays that much money and puts that much effort into getting one legally is going to make sure they get to keep it!
Tyler Jozefowicz
4:14 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
Governor Patrick's proposed legislation puts further restrictions on use and possession of machine guns in MA.
Section 20, further restricts such use to : (i) fire arm instructors;(ii) bona fide collectors, and, (iii) law enforcement officers. Hopefully the collectors are limited to collections and not use, as further evidenced by limits of 7 rounds to ammunition capacities.
Iron Mike
4:28 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
Tyler, - don't worry about it. You mother tells me she doesn't let you play with guns - not even water pistols.'
Really Kid - have you ever even held a gun, let along fired one? You write as if your only knowledge was gained from attending Obama rallies...
Tyler Jozefowicz
5:33 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
Mike: It would be nice if you contributed something meaningful to the commentary, besides your constant insults and obnoxious remarks. Can't attack the idea, attack the person. The guidelines for participating provide for not engaging in personal attacks.
Andrew Sylvia
7:38 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
Thanks Tyler.
This is a heated topic folks, please talk to the subject, not each other.
Iron Mike
8:59 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
Sure Andrew. But ~ sometimes ~ I think it would be nice if there were an age limit for posting here. As an old guy,...sorry,...I hear so many childish comments.
Somebody asked a fairly serious question about machine guns. I gave a clear and informative answer. I should have also mentioned that some people collect tanks - albeit an expensive hobby. And some people collect and fly vintage fighters and bombers.
I didn't need somebody to tell ME that 'machine guns are military weapons'. Where does that young man think I spent 37 years? I once ran an arms room that had over 200 of them....from all over the world.
Andrew Sylvia
9:36 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
I don't remember where I heard it, but I remember someone saying somewhere "you can be part of the problem, or part of the solution."
Everybody has their own expertise in various areas. You, me, Tyler, everybody. If we could all add that expertise instead of attacking each other, we'd have a much richer conversation here and I'd be able to do more reporting!
If you, or anybody else, thinks someone is violating the terms of service, let me know and I will step in. This is a gathering place for everybody of all views.
Tom Maggiacomo
11:22 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
Why are you reporting that there were over 1400 gun permits. Will you next report the names of the owners??!!
Andrew Sylvia
11:33 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
I believe it's actually illegal to provide that information in Massachusetts, but even if it wasn't, we wouldn't do it here.
General statistics though, I don't see a problem.
Tammy Lac
1:07 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
Tom I was interested to know that information, I agree the people that have lic should not be listed but its good to know how many do. Glad the number is growing!
The LIP
11:12 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
It is funny to listen to people who have never shot a gun talk about guns and how they should be regulated. Iron Mike is correct in his feelings. I live in Chelmsford and have had an unrestricted LTC for nearly a decade, grew up around guns all my life, never has anyone been injured by any of the guns that I or my family have owned. Educate yourselves before you just drop a sound bite you heard Rachel Maddow say earlier in the day.
Tammy Lac
1:08 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
Being a Chelmsford resident and also having my LTC I have a lot to say on the issue. I am glad I found this post. I have strong feelings against any additional gun restrictions. I have read proposed legislature from Federal, state and also from the Town of Westford, and I have not seen anything in any of these proposals, that would have reduced the chances of the school shootings. I have also not heard any decent proposal on how to protect our children in school. I had proposed to my daughter’s school the idea of having a well-trained licensed person being able to carry; obviously it would have to be someone with a will to do so. The school never replied. I seriously think the school shooting while tragic is being abused by our politicians with their own agendas and find it revolting. There are many things we could propose to protect our children, even simple non-lethal things such as Bear Mace would help defend a hall way….but, in reality the “protect our children” is just a slogan for anti- gun politicians to sound like they are doing something productive, when in reality their true intentions is to further restrict and disarm legal gun owners. If any bylaws are proposed in Chelmsford as they are in Westford I will do my best to fight against it and also ensure the selectmen who propose do not stay in office.