Gun licenses on the rise in Mass.; 7.8 percent increase seen
By Matt Rocheleau Globe Staff January 27, 2016

Tens of thousands of new gun licenses were issued to Massachusetts residents in 2015, continuing a recent surge, according to state data.

There were 342,622 active Class A firearms licenses statewide, according to figures provided by the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services earlier this month. That was up about 24,700, or 7.8 percent, from the same time a year ago.

A Class A license, the broadest license available under state law and by far the most popular, allows the holder to carry rifles, shotguns, or handguns. It also allows the holder to carry a concealed handgun.

The number of Class A licenses has increased by 104,150, or 44 percent, from five years ago....

“More guns, more fear — more fear, more gun violence — more gun sales.”

Massachusetts Violent Crime Rates: 2010 (before the recent surge in
gun ownership) compared to 2014 (the latest available full-year statistics)

Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reports/ Crime in the United States

https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s

2014 is the latest full year available

Massachusetts violent crime rate

2010: 466.6 violent crimes per 100,000 inhabitants
2014: 391.4/100K

Murder/nonnegligent manslaughter:

2010: 3.2/100K
2014: 2.0/100K

Aggravated assault:

2010: 331.8/100K
2014: 267.6/100K

Robbery:

2010: 105.0/100K
2014: 89.5/100K

I didn't include rape as the reporting criteria changed. Nonetheless, the disinterested reader
can find at the FBI site that the rate under the old definition is also lower