GOAL's Position

Legislation

GOAL Bill

SD360: An Act Relative to Illegal Drug and Firearm Trafficking - Sen. Ryan Fattman

This bill would punish anyone found guilty of trafficking illegal/controlled substances as well as trafficking or theft of firearms, rifles, shotguns or machine guns with a term of up to life in a state prison and a fine of up to $500,000. The cases must be prosecuted fully and anyone convicted must serve the full sentence.

GOAL Bill

SD505: An Act Prohibiting the Confiscation of Lawfully Owned Firearms During a State of Emergency - Sen. Ryan Fattman

This bill would prohibit public officials and law enforcement officers in the Commonwealth from confiscating or causing the confiscation of, any lawfully owned firearm, rifle, shotgun, machine gun or ammunition due to a state of emergency. Violation of the statute would be punishable by a civil fine of $500 to $5,000 for each firearm and a prison sentence up to 2.5 years.

GOAL Bill

SD275: An Act Updating Hunter Harassment Laws - Sen. Michael Moore

This bill protects hunters and fishermen participating in the lawful harvest of animals and fish from violence, threats and other actions by individuals designed to intimidate or obstruct such activity and punishes such actions with progressive punishments of jail time and fines depending on the severity of the actions and whether or not they result in property damage, personal injury or death. It also places such cases under the jurisdiction of the Superior Court. Any fines collected under the regulation would be deposited in the Inland Fisheries and Game Fund.

GOAL Bill

SD331: An Act Relative to Equitable Firearm License Fees - Sen. Michael Moore

This bill would change the application fees for both a Firearms Identification Card and a License to Carry from $100 to $40; $20 of each fee would go to the licensing authority and $20 would go to the general fund.

GOAL Bill

HD590:  An Act Relative to the Lawful Return of Property - Rep. Shawn Dooley

This bill would ensure that the owner of any weapon that was temporarily transferred to a private business for storage without the expressed, written consent of the owner, would not be charged any fees as a requirement for the return of that weapon.

HD1080: An Act Relative to Violent Protection Order Violations

This bill would direct the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to develop and provide materials about legal methods of self-defense in the Commonwealth to a plaintiff that has successfully received a protection order. It also eliminates the duty of a plaintiff in such a case to retreat from any place they have a right to be.

GOAL Bill

HD166: An Act Relative to Electronic Defensive Devices - Rep. Colleen Garry

This bill would allow anyone over the age of 18 who is not a "prohibited person" (as defined within the bill) to possess, purchase, carry, transfer and otherwise utilize a stun gun or taser without a special permit, license or other qualification. The bill also elaborates punishments for violation of the proposed regulation.

GOAL Bill

HD64: An Act Relative to Changes of Address for Firearm Licensing - Rep. Joseph McKenna

This bill would eliminate the current provision in the law wherein a failure to notify the licensing authority of a change of address would cause the revocation or suspension of a license.

GOAL Bill

HD69: An Act Relative to Access to Constitutional Rights - Rep. Joseph McKenna

This bill would ensure that if one's fingerprints are already on file with the State Police then fingerprinting for the purposes of issuing or renewing a license would not be required if the requirement would delay the issuance of a license.

GOAL Bill

HD72: An Act Relative to Illegal Drug and Firearm Trafficking - Rep. Joseph McKenna

This bill would punish anyone found guilty of trafficking heroin, fentanyl and other illegal/controlled substances as well as trafficking or theft of firearms, rifles, shotguns or machine guns with a term of up to life in a state prison and a fine of up to $500,000. The cases must be prosecuted fully and anyone convicted must serve the full sentence.

GOAL Bill

HD3102: An Act Establishing a Commission on Firearm Licensing in the Commonwealth - Rep. Joseph McKenna

This bill establishes a commission to study the firearms licensing process in the Commonwealth that would examine the current system and make recommendations to improve the process with a focus on equity. The Commission would consist of: the Director of GOAL as the Chair, the Secretary of EOPSS, a Chief of Police, the Colonel of the MSP, and the Director of DMH.

GOAL Bill

HD501: An Act Relative to Sales Tax Exemptions for Gun Safes and Trigger Locks - Rep. David Muradian, Jr.

This bill would make the purchase of personal gun safes and trigger locks exempt from the Commonwealth's sales tax.

GOAL Bill

HD502: An Act Relative to Gun Safe Deductions - Rep. David Muradian, Jr.

This bill would make the purchase of a gun safe 100% tax deductible up to $2,000 on your Massachusetts tax return.

GOAL Bill

HD504: An Act Relative to the Use of Shotguns - Rep. David Muradian, Jr.

This bill would charge the Director of Fisheries and Wildlife, rather than the Legislature, to regulate the use and possession of shotgun ammunition for hunting.

GOAL Bill

HD3878: An Act Relative to Critical Wildlife Habitat Management - Rep. David Muradian, Jr.

This bill would increase the cost of a wildlands conservation stamp from $5.00 to $7.50 and $2.50 from the sale of each stamp will be dedicated to habitat management on Fisheries and Wildlife-owned land. In order to fish, trap, hunt or otherwise utilize any lands owned or managed by Fisheries and Wildlife, one would have to purchase a stamp unless otherwise specifically authorized.

GOAL Bill

HD3617: An Act Relative to Constitutional Rights - Rep. David Robertson

This bill would ensure that no county, municipality, township or other community entity in MA may enact, pass or enforce any law, ordinance or regulation regarding the lawful ownership, possession, purchase, etc. of weapons, antique weapons, ammunition or ammunition parts.

GOAL Bill

HD1111: An Act Relative to Fair Licensing - Rep. Todd Smola

This bill would update the Commonwealth's licensing scheme establishing a Class A license that would allow a holder to purchase, shotguns and feeding devices, including large capacity items and ammunition for all lawful purposes. The bill also impose a "shall order" provision on the licensing authority as long as the applicant is not a prohibited person rent, lease, borrow, possess and carry firearms, rifles, etc.

GOAL Bill

HD1116: An Act Relative to the Lawful Sale of Handguns - Rep. Todd Smola

This bill clarifies and simplifies the legal transfer of handguns between lawful sellers and lawful buyers by eliminating certain bureaucratic regulatory uncertainties.

GOAL Bill

HD1119: An Act Relative to Firearms and Recreational Vehicles - Rep. Todd Smola

This bill would allow anyone lawfully licensed to carry, possess and own a firearm in the Commonwealth to do so while riding a snow mobile or other recreational vehicle. Currently firearms must be kept in a locked case while operating such vehicles.

GOAL Bill

HD775: An Act Relative to Protecting Domestic Violence Victims - Rep. Alyson Sullivan

The bill, divided into three (3) sections, would delete the current text of MGL Ch. 265 § 18C and replace it with a modified version of language mirroring what is commonly known as the “Castle Doctrine.” Section 1(a) of the bill states that whomever knowingly breaks and enters an occupied dwelling place, gives up any rights to civil or criminal action against the legal occupants for any injuries acquired. Section 1(b) includes the same but adds a mandatory minimum sentence of five (5) years if minors are present in the dwelling. Last, section 1(c) includes a mandatory minimum of twenty (20) years-to-life in state prison for entering a dwelling they know to be occupied while possessing a dangerous weapon-regardless of whether or not any injuries occur.

GOAL Bill

HD228: An Act Relative to the Civilian Marksmanship Program - Rep. Timothy Whelan

This bill would allow firearms acquired through Congress's Civilian Marksmanship Program to be transferable by a licensee.

GOAL Bill

HD1796: An Act Updating Hunter Harassment Laws - Rep. Jonathan Zlotnik

This bill protects hunters and fishermen participating in the lawful harvest of animals and fish from violence, threats and other actions by individuals designed to intimidate or obstruct such activity and punishes such actions with progressive punishments of jail time and fines depending on the severity of the actions and whether or not they result in property damage, personal injury or death. It also places such cases under the jurisdiction of the Superior Court. Any fines collected under the regulation would be deposited in the Inland Fisheries and Game Fund.

GOAL Bill

HD1797: An Act Relative to Certain Hunting Zones - Rep. Jonathan Zlotnik

This bill would allow the Director of Fisheries and Wildlife to establish a deer hunting season for rifles, revolvers or pistols in certain hunting zones determined by the Director.

GOAL Bill

HD1795: An Act Relative to the Use of Shotgun Ammunition for Hunting - Rep. Jonathan Zlotnik

This bill would charge the Director of Fisheries and Wildlife, rather than the Legislature, to regulate the use and possession of shotgun ammunition for hunting.