Massachusetts legislators are feeling the heat and the huge omnibus gun control bill has been temporarily put on hold until the fall because of citizen efforts.

House bill HD 4420, titled “An Act Modernizing Firearm Laws” introduced by Michael Day (Democrat, 31st Middlesex) does anything but “modernize” gun laws. This bill is 140 pages of the worst gun control proposals ever introduced – making the owning of a legal firearm nearly impossible in Massachusetts.  

Various citizen and professional groups has raised concerns about the bill, including the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association. Some of their concerns include:

• SECTION 173: PROHIBITED AREAS – This proposed section was the foremost significant concern of all Chiefs who reviewed this Bill. Creating “Gun Free” zones beyond the scope of courthouses, prisons, and schools, has been proven to be a practice that does not prevent crime, and, in fact, encourages criminals to seek out these areas as soft targets of opportunity, where their chances of meeting resistance will be minimal. 
• Section 173 (5) – Puts law enforcement officers at risk by PROHIBITING legally licensed off-duty and retired Law Enforcement Officers and other Federal and State personnel who carry a firearm for personal protection due to the nature of their profession and the associated risk and threat to their safety.
• Sec,on 173 (2) (iv) – Calls for property owners to post a sign on their premises indicating that it IS “permissible” to carry a firearm on their premises. We feel this practice would lead to additional calls for Police Service at locations that do not have this “sign” as they would be targeted by criminals.
• We know through statistics that most violent crime is committed by a 10% segment of individuals. Of this segment, the majority are repeat offenders. This group is marginally mentioned in this Bill. Most do not have legally licensed firearms, or Firearms permits… Any new legislation should focus on career criminals and violent repeat offenders
• For a full list of their concerns, please read the full letter.

Another group Gun Owners of America, highlighted their concerns about the omnibus gun control bill:  

• Redefines “Assault-style firearm” to be more extensive and ban ALMOST ALL semi-automatic firearms from civilian ownership.   
• Redefines “firearm” into a broader term that includes even stun guns.  
• Mandates “safe storage” procedures, locking up guns against your will.  
• Mandates REGISTRATION of all guns and feeding devices.  
• Contains confusing language for new MA residents and on the serialization of guns.  
• Mandates reporting any parts modifications to firearms.  
• Mandates reporting an itemized list of parts when modifying or building a gun.  
• Mandates serializing of feeding devices (magazines).  
• Mandates that privately made guns need to be registered within 7 days.  
• Bans anyone under 21 from acquiring or carrying semi-automatic rifles or shotguns.  
• Forces new requirements for firearms retailers.  
• Forces new training mandates for law-abiding gun owners.  
• Adds even more prohibited areas where even licensed individuals cannot defend themselves with a firearm.  
• AND DOES SO MUCH MORE.  

The MA House of Representatives is already in the process of redrafting this bill, so it is important to contact your legislatures to raise these concerns! Find your legislature here.

For Belmont residents, our Senator is William Brownsberger and our Representative is Dave Rogers.