GOAL Moves to Consolidate Three Suitability Cases - Attorney General Opposing

Despite the negative effects Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024 had on gun owners in Massachusetts, we saw some positive advancements fighting it in the courts. One such area where we’ve seen progress is fighting against the “suitability” licensing requirement. Not too long after the Bruen decision, Chairman Mike Day snuck an amendment into a technology bill to – “Codify Suitability”. Since then, judges in at least four separate local jurisdictions, including Boston Municipal Court, have issued decisions calling the “suitability” standard unconstitutional under the Bruen standard.

Now, those cases are being appealed by the local authorities and the Commonwealth. In response, GOAL and the lawyers working on these cases, some well-known names in our circle like attorneys Bill Smith, Jason Guida and Dan Hagan have decided to work together to consolidate their cases. This will help expedite the process and move the cases more quickly through the process and ensure that an even, consistent precedent is established. Unfortunately, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office has decided to fight against the motion to consolidate, likely in an effort to prevent “suitability” from being done away with permanently.

GOAL will continue to work with these attorneys’ efforts to ensure suitability, a subjective standard, is no longer the law of the Commonwealth as it violates Bruen. We will continue to fight to hold Massachusetts responsible for respecting the Second Amendment and to get a definitive answer about suitability from a higher court.