You cannot posses a gun AT ALL in MA without FID or an LTC. If you bust the cops balls by going over their head, they'll bust back by issuing a restricted permit or denying you all together. FID (which the OP referred too) is shall issue but only lets you have long guns, completely useless. An LTC-A overrides the FID so you can have long guns and handguns.(Same cost as FID) In MA your City or Town is the issuing authority. Every police dept can basically do whatever they want. Some towns issue unrestricted permits, which equal a working permit to conceal. Others give it with restrictions which can be Target & Hunting, Employment Only, Sporting, No Outdoor Carry or the dreaded "Other" which they can make up a reason on the spot. Belmont is a "red" town which means the chance of getting a permit is slim to none to begin with. Others with pro gun police chiefs allow you to exercise your rights without hassle. It all depends on where you live. If denied you can challenge the decision in court, but that typically doesn't work unless you have a REAL good argument OR your loaded. Your "Rights" don't mean anything in a Red town. Part of the LTC process is an interview where they decide if your a "suitable" person to have a permit or not. You can be squeaky clean with no record at all, it doesn't matter. The loophole (for them) is you can apply for your permit, they'll issue you a restricted one which does nothing for you (which you didn't apply for) BUT you can't fight it because you didn't get "denied" as you got "A" permit. Most people in that situation don't get anywhere without a lawyer. It's a very screwed up system. Yet at the same time on the other side of the state some PD's don't even conduct the interview and you have your permit in your hand in 2 weeks. It's ALL about where you live. I'm from Boston which is the worst of them all, I'll be very careful where I move when I go back to MA for this exact reason.