On Wednesday, May 25, 2011 The Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security favorably released H.2400, An Act Relative to Youth Hunting Programs to the House Committee on Ways and Means. This was a bill filed on behalf of GOAL by Representative Anne Gobi.

The first problem H.2400 seeks to fix is the age of application for a Firearm Identification Card (FID Card). Under the current laws of the Commonwealth, once a youth reaches the age of 15 they must have acquired an FID Card if they wish to hunt with a shotgun or rifle.

The problem with this law is that a person must be 15 years of age before they are eligible to apply for said card. Since the application process can take several weeks or months, many Commonwealth youngsters miss an entire hunting season waiting for the required FID Card. H.2400 would offer a solution to this problem by simply allowing persons to begin the application process once they reach the age of 14 years. The age for receiving the FID Card would still remain at 15, but the application process would be able to be completed prior to the required age.
The second hurdle facing youth hunters in Massachusetts is the exorbitant cost of applying for an FID Card. Under the current law the fee for such application is set at $100.00. This fee is simply too much to ask from our youngsters who are most likely trying to save for college. As a result, H.2400 seeks to remove the fees for an FID Card for anyone under the age of 18.

We would like to thank our members for contacting the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security. Now we ask that you help the future sportsmen of the Commonwealth by contacting the House Committee on Ways and Means and ask them to also favorably release H.2400.

email the entire committee at this link