Massachusetts Committee to Hear Second Amendment Bills

Tomorrow, May 12, the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security will hear eighteen firearm-related bills in room A-2 at 1:00 p.m.  More specifically, the Committee will hear pro-gun legislation regarding firearms preemption, Sunday hunting, youth hunting, and emergency powers as well as anti-gun legislations on restricted areas.  For a full listing of all bills on the agenda, click here. 

House Bill 1568, sponsored by state Representative George Peterson (R-Grafton), is a firearms preemption bill that would keep towns and cities from passing restrictive ordinances against carry or possession of firearms or ammunition.  It is unreasonable to require citizens, whether residents of Massachusetts or someone visiting Massachusetts, to memorize and obey a myriad of local ordinances.

House Bill 2399, sponsored by state Representative Anne Gobi (D-Spencer), would allow Sunday hunting in December.  Many hunters - be it young or old, novice or experienced - stop hunting because of the lack of opportunity, both in time and accessible land.  The addition of an extra day in the field increases a person’s available time to enjoy our hunting heritage. 

House Bill 2400, also sponsored by Representative Gobi, would allow youth to begin the Firearm Identification (FID) Card process once they reach 14 years of age.  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.  H.2400 also would remove the $100 fee for a FID Card for anyone under the age of 18.

Senate Bill 1223, sponsored by state Senator Richard Moore (D-Uxbridge), is emergency powers legislation that would prohibit any government agency from confiscating or regulating the lawful sale, possession, transfer, transport and carry of firearms during a state of emergency.

House Bill 657, sponsored by Second Assistant Majority Leader Kathi-Anne Reinstein (D-Revere), is an anti-gun bill that would make it illegal to discharge a firearm across any highway or within 150 feet of a highway.  It would also make it illegal to possess a loaded firearm or hunt within 1,000 feet of a dwelling in use, unless authorized by the property owner or occupant.

If you are able, please attend this hearing to show your support for our Second Amendment freedoms.  Also, please contact members of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security and urge them to SUPPORT H.1568, H.2399, H.2400 and S.1223 as well as OPPOSE H.657.  Contact information for this committee can be found here.