[751] in libertarians
new MA gun law proposed
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (damartin@volta.mit.edu)
Fri Feb 24 14:53:23 1995
Reply-To: damartin@volta.mit.edu
Date: Fri, 24 Feb 95 14:51:20 EST
From: damartin@volta.mit.edu
To: libertarians@MIT.EDU
Somoene asked me to forward this to our list. If you are a
Massachusetts voter, you might want to call your represntative about
this.
February 23, 1995
Massachusetts Update:
Yesterday, Attorney General L. Scott Harshbarger, along with
State Sen. Cheryl Jacques (D-Needham) and Rep. James Brett (D-
Boston), held a press conference to unveil an omnibus gun control
bill which takes direct aim at your Second Amendment rights in
Massachusetts.
The proposal bans so-called "assault weapons" and "large
capacity" magazines under state law. The list of specific guns
that fall under the ban is longer than the list contained in last
year's federal crime bill and no exemptions are made for specific
firearms not deemed to be "assault weapons." In fact, the proposal
gives the DPS discretion to add more guns to the ban list at any
time!
The proposal also creates a separate license to possess or
carry a rifle or shotgun legally owned prior to the effective date
of the ban. It prohibits the carrying of any gun falling under the
ban in a vehicle, even by valid license holders, unless it is
locked in the trunk or locked in a case and unaccessible.
Violations would be considered felony offenses and be punishable by
a fine of up to $500.
The proposal also rewrites state law relating to the issuance
of FID cards. Currently, individuals convicted of a felony are
eligible to obtain an FID card to purchase rifles or shotguns five
years after completion of their sentence. This proposal would
prohibit any felon from obtaining an FID card during his or her
lifetime -- even if that individual was convicted of a non-violent
felony. It raises the fee for an FID card from $5.00 to $25.00 and
requires FID cards to be renewed every five years (they are
currently valid for a lifetime until revoked.)
Governor Weld has also re-filed his "assault weapons" ban
proposal, H. 2883. It is important that you begin contacting your
state lawmakers and urging them to oppose these far-reaching and
unnecessary restrictions on your right to keep and bears arms. You
know that these proposals will have no positive impact on violent
crime -- and your representatives in Boston need to hear that from
you! As the legislative session moves on, you can contact Gun
Owners Action League at (508) 393-5333 or the ILA Grassroots Office
for a status report on these measures.
On Thursday, March 2, Gun Owners' Action League will sponsor
their Firearms Safety and Education Day in Boston, an annual event
to which all legislators and senior staff are invited. The purpose
of this event is to demonstrate to, and familiarize lawmakers with,
the safe and lawful handling and use of firearms. Contact your
State Senators and State Representatives and urge them to attend
this event, which will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the
Great Hall of the State House. If lawmakers can become more
educated about the issue of lawful firearms ownership, they can
make more informed decisions on these and other gun control
measures that will come before them this session.
