Phipps v. Police Commissioner of Boston

*725 *344 Concerned for his safety and the protection of his property, the plaintiff, Richard Phipps, a victim of an armed robbery at his small retail business, successfully applied to the police commissioner (commissioner) of the city of Boston (city) for a license to carry a firearm pursuant to G. L. c. 140, § 131. However, the commissioner, through the city police department's (department) licensing unit, restricted Phipps's license to target *726 practice and hunting only, uses not germane to his activities or intended purposes. At a meeting with the commander of the department's licensing unit,…