Massachusetts: Gun Bills to be Heard Wednesday

On Wednesday, August 28^th, the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security will be holding a public hearing at 10:00 AM to discuss numerous bills pertaining to firearm laws in the state.  It comes as no surprise that many of the proposals before the Committee are anti-gun measures that would place further burdens on law-abiding gun owners and sportsmen.  Some of the latest in this line of ill-founded proposals are:

• Firearm rationing schemes
• Further restrictions on ammunition magazines
• Criminalizing private firearm transfers
• Increased taxes on firearms and ammunition

Fortunately, there are a number of pro-gun proposals before the committee that would make positive reforms for firearm owners in the Commonwealth.  Please contact committee members today and urge them to reject the numerous anti-gun bills before the committee and to SUPPORT House Bills 2122 and 2144.

House Bill 2122 – “An Act Relative to Constitutional Rights” - Representative David Allen Robertson (D- 19th Middlesex).  This important legislation would create a new section of law that would provide a clear presumption that the right to keep and bear arms is an individual civil right in Massachusetts.  Because of the poorly written laws in the state of Massachusetts, the courts and law enforcement have been confused regarding presumption of rights; however, with this new clearly defined presumption of rights, law-abiding citizens would be protected from unnecessary harassment.   Along with a clear presumption of rights, H.2122 would provide protections to prevent local government entities in the state from passing laws that further restrict Second Amendment rights.  State firearms preemption was enacted to avoid the possibility of a complex patchwork of regulations across the state, making it difficult for responsible firearm owners to ensure that they are following the law and ensuring Second Amendment rights are protected across the state.

House Bill 2144 – “An Act Relative to Firearm Owners Protection” Representative David Vieira (R- 3rd Barnstable).  Current federal law, the Firearms Owners Protection Act (FOPA), provides legal protection for law-abiding gun owners traveling across the country.  This law allows law-abiding gun owners to transport firearms across state lines to and from certain locations as long as firearms are unloaded and stored in the trunk or in a locked container.  This legislation would enact into state law a similar provision to expand protections for out-of-state/non-residents while traveling through the Commonwealth with a firearm to avoid harassment and any unnecessary delays.

Again, please contact members of the committee today and urge them to SUPPORT House Bills 2122 and 2144 and OPPOSE any and all anti-gun measures.