Massachusetts

Massachusetts police chief who denied a resident’s license to carry firearms wins appeal

Published

1 year ago

April 2, 2025

Massachusetts police chief who denied a resident’s license to carry firearms wins appeal

A local police chief who rejected a resident’s bid for a license to carry firearms, claiming the man was “unsuitable” to obtain an LTC, has won his appeal.

The then-Southboro Police Chief Kenneth Paulhus during the pandemic denied Paul Dwiggins a Class A large capacity license to carry firearms.

That decision from the police chief was then reversed by a district court judge, which was later affirmed by a Superior Court judge.

But now, Massachusetts Appeals Court justices reversed the previous court rulings, and they reinstated the police chief’s decision to deny the resident’s LTC.

“The judgment of the Superior Court is reversed, and a new judgment shall enter affirming the denial of Dwiggins’s license to carry,” the appeals court justices wrote in Wednesday’s ruling.

Back in September of 2020, the police chief rejected Dwiggins’ application for the large capacity license to carry firearms on grounds that he was “unsuitable” to obtain such a license.

The police chief, Paulhus, cited more than 80 police contacts with either Dwiggins’ son or wife over the previous 14 years. Many were for incidents of domestic violence at their house, and many of these contacts were for mental health crises involving his wife.

One of the police reports involved Dwiggins getting into a dispute with his 15-year-old son, who reportedly had a serious substance abuse history and was a drug dealer.

His son had come home drunk and become combative after Dwiggins told him he couldn’t have a sleepover, according to the police report. Dwiggins said his son had pushed him, while the son said his father had grabbed him first.

His son then picked up a kitchen knife, according to Dwiggins who told police that his son said, “He was going to go to his room and hold the knife to his throat so if his mother wanted to kill him he would make it easier for her.” Dwiggins said he then knocked the knife out of his son’s hands.

Another police report involved a different incident with a knife. Dwiggins’ son, after a physical altercation with his brother, reportedly picked up a knife and threatened to kill his brother.

Cops arrested the son, and the son while in custody said he wanted to take his own life by shooting himself with a gun.

Another incident involved Dwiggins’ wife being arrested. As the officers arrested her, she remained combative, kicking one of the officers and continuing to scream profanities at them. When the officers finally brought her to the police station, she threatened one of the officers, saying, “If I had a gun right now I would blow your head right off.”

There were also multiple police reports responding to incidents related to both the son’s and the wife’s use of alcohol and other substances.

In the chief’s notice to Dwiggins denying his application, the chief noted that he was deeming the applicant an unsuitable person to obtain a license for the following reasons: “Persons residing in your household with histories of substance abuse, criminal behavior, and mental health issues. After a review of the involved police reports, I have found you to be unsuitable.”

After the district and superior court judges reversed the police chief’s decision, the chief brought the appeal to the Massachusetts Appeals Court.

Dwiggins argued that he shouldn’t be denied a license because he said the chief’s decision about “unsuitability” was not about the applicant’s own behavior.

“We note, however, that the police reports on which the chief relied in finding the applicant unsuitable do include evidence of the applicant’s own behavior,” the appeals court wrote. “The applicant was involved in at least one incident of domestic violence in his home.”

“The chief was within his authority when he determined the applicant may create such a risk by bringing a firearm into the volatile, unstable, and violent environment of his residence, to which multiple police responses for domestic violence, substance use, and mental health have been required year after year after year,” the judges added.

One of the appeals court justices wrote a dissenting opinion, arguing there was insufficient evidence that Dwiggins himself posed a risk to public safety.

“… I find no case law suggesting that an unsuitability determination can be based on the conduct of third parties,” wrote Associate Justice Kenneth Desmond Jr.

“While I too believe that there is some wisdom in the chief’s public safety concerns, a plain reading of the statute leaves me unpersuaded that the majority’s interpretation of its language is correct,” Desmond added. “As such, I respectfully dissent.”

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Massachusetts

The Massachusetts beach towns better than Cape Cod, per Condé Nast

Published

10 hours ago

May 10, 2026

Press Room

The Massachusetts beach towns better than Cape Cod, per Condé Nast

Massachusetts residents love their beach towns.

And Condé Nast Magazine loves two particular beach towns in the Bay State, but surprisingly didn’t pick a beach on Cape Cod.

That’s why the towns were included on the magazine’s 2025 list of the 17 best beach towns on the East Coast.

“Whether you’re looking to lay out on the sand in summer or prefer walking along the water spotting wildlife and collecting rocks, the shores of the East Coast have a little something for everyone,” Condé Nast stated on its website.

Here’s more about the magazine’s favorite beach towns in Massachusetts.

Oak Bluffs ranked No. 5 on the list

Coming in at number 5 is one of the most popular spots on Martha’s Vineyard – Oak Bluffs.

What they said: “The colorful gingerbread houses for which Oak Bluffs is known are straight out of a storybook. Visitors walk straight off their boats into Ocean Park, a circular green overlooking the sea, encircled by said houses, with a frothy, delicate gazebo sitting in the center. Oak Bluffs has a long history of welcoming Black visitors, and today it is home to the annual African-American Film Festival.”

Rockport ranked No. 4 on the list

Rockport is a town on the North Shore of the Bay State.

What they said: “The coastal region is known for its excellent seafood, beautiful beaches, and historic landmarks. Many a good film has been filmed here as well, such as Martin Scorsese’s ‘Shutter Island’ and Kenneth Lonergan’s ‘Manchester-by-the-Sea.’

“Forty miles north of Boston, (Rockport) has a can’t-miss natural gem in Halibut Point State Park, from which visitors can spot Maine in the distance 80 miles away. Rockport is also beloved by art history buffs: it is home to Motif Number 1, a fishing shack with the superlative ‘the most-often painted building in America.’ It was built in 1840, and was a popular subject because it represented New England’s nautical character.”

What other regions of New England are on the list?

According to Condé Nast, they include:

Bar Harbor, Maine
Kennebunkport, Maine
Newport, Rhode Island
Hampton Beach, New Hampshire
Madison, Connecticut

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Massachusetts

Massachusetts town near Gillette Stadium presses for World Cup security funding

Published

23 hours ago

May 9, 2026

Press Room

Massachusetts town near Gillette Stadium presses for World Cup security funding

Up the road from Gillette Stadium, a town neighboring Foxboro is pressing for funding to meet public safety demands arising from the World Cup, with the first match just over a month away.

Walpole’s state delegation has written a letter to the state Office of Travel and Tourism requesting approval of the town’s request for nearly $200,000 to support “essential public safety personnel,” as officials expect “significant spillover impacts” from the premier soccer tournament.

As the Walpole/Foxboro town line on Route 1 is a handful of miles north of Gillette Stadium, officials are expecting increased traffic congestion and pedestrian activity to amount to “heightened public safety demands.”

“As outlined in the Town’s proposal,” the state delegation wrote in the letter it sent to the state last week, “Walpole will play a critical role in ensuring safe and efficient operations for both residents and visitors.”

“This funding will help close a critical gap and ensure that Walpole can safely support this internationally significant event,” the delegation added.

The state Office of Travel and Tourism confirmed to the Herald that it received the letter from state Reps. John H. Rogers, Paul McMurtry, Ted Philips and Marcus Vaughn and Sen. Mike Rush. The office said it will announce decisions in the coming weeks about round two of the $2 million grant program that supports municipal public safety needs tied to the World Cup.

The first round of the program, a $10 million competitive initiative, awarded funding earlier this year to 17 communities to support tournament-related events, including fan festivals, watch parties and regional activations.

This comes after the Foxboro Select Board battled the Boston Soccer 2026 nonprofit host committee and Kraft Sports & Entertainment, which operates Gillette Stadium, for months to ensure it received full funding to cover all security personnel and equipment.

In mid-March, the David vs. Goliath fight concluded, with Boston Soccer 2026 and the Krafts agreeing to cover Foxboro’s $7.8 million request.

Gillette, which will be rebranded as “Boston Stadium,” is set to host seven matches – five in the group stage and two knockout games – between June 13 and July 9. The World Cup is considered a SEAR 1 event, the highest risk level for public gatherings in the country.

“These matches will bring an excitement that this town has never seen,” Foxboro Police Chief Michael Grace said before the Select Board voted to grant an entertainment license for the matches to go on.

Gillette Stadium. (Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)

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Massachusetts

The best Massachusetts high schools for athletes? According to one study, here are top 25

Published

1 day ago

May 9, 2026

Press Room

The best Massachusetts high schools for athletes? According to one study, here are top 25

No other city in the country boasts more championships than Boston, giving Massachusetts a sporting pedigree unlike any other.

What’s unique about many of the state is that several of the stars from those championship-winning teams were Massachusetts natives.

Before they were winning the Stanley Cup, the Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, World Series or a gold medal, those athletes were high school standouts.

Which high schools in Massachusetts are considered the best for athletes today?

According to a study conducted by Niche, which accounts for survey feedback from students and parents—accounting for “reviews of athletics, number of state championships, student participation in athletics, and the number of sports offered at the school”—and data from the U.S. Department of Education, these are the top 25.