LTC vs. FID – What’s the Difference?

In Massachusetts, you have two options if you’d like to own firearms – a License to Carry (LTC) or a Firearms Identification Card (FID). Although they have similarities, the two types of IDs are quite different regarding what you can and cannot do. Here are some of the differences between the two.

firearms license

License to Carry (LTC)

Before August in 2014, there were actually two different types of LTCs – Class A and Class B. Class B is much stricter with regulation and essentially allows the person the right to self-defense weapons in the home. Class B licensees are not permitted concealed & loaded carry outside of the home and are not allowed to transport loaded weapons either. Class B licenses will eventually be phased out by 2021. Today, you are only able to apply for a Class A, which allows concealed & loaded carry in and outside of the home.

You must be at least 21 years old to get your License to Carry. When you’ve obtained your LTC, you’re able to legally purchase, possess, and transport a handgun, large capacity rifle, or large capacity handgun. Any types of accessories and firearms that are legal for someone with a FID is also legal for someone with a LTC. In simpler terms, your License to Carry is basically a step up from a Firearms Identification Card.

Firearms Identification Card (FID)

A Firearms ID allows the purchase, possession, and transportation of non-large capacity rifles, shotguns, and ammo. You must be at least 18 to apply for a FID on your own, or you can be between the ages of 14-17 with parental consent. However, if you’re 14 you can only apply for the ID; you’ll be able to actually get it once you turn 15. You cannot carry or own handguns with a FID.


LOOKING TO OBTAIN YOUR LTC OR FID?

On Target Training holds the required training course needed in order to apply for your LTC or FID. We teach this course almost every Saturday at 11:00am at our store – 516 North Bedford Street in East Bridgewater, MA. Click here to inquire about upcoming courses.

Learn more about how to obtain your LTC or FID here or contact us for more information.

Posted in Firearms and tagged , , .

2,897 Comments

  1. Pingback: AutoCAD Discount

  2. Hello there! This is kind of off topic but I need some help from an established blog. Is it hard to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty fast. I’m thinking about creating my own but I’m not sure where to begin. Do you have any tips or suggestions? Cheers

  3. Thanks for sharing this wonderful post, blog comments really help us grow because we are building relationship with others and also it help us build SEO and also comments makes our blog alive and google also index comments. I would appreciate if you include my blog to your list of blog commenting sites.

Comments are closed.