UPDATE: Massachusetts Legislature Launching a Gun Law "Listening Tour"

Massachusetts Gun Law Listening Tour Stop THIS COMING MONDAY!

March 20, 2023

 

This Monday, March 20^th the Massachusetts Legislature is holding the second stop on its Gun Law Listening Tour. This event will be concerning the nexus between guns and domestic violence in the Commonwealth and we encourage everyone who is concerned about their second amendment civil rights to attend. The event will be held in room ST-102 at the Ghosh Science Center at Worcester State University this Monday, March 20^th from 6-8PM.

The event will consist of a panel discussion and then a question-and-answer period at the end. Per Representative Day’s office, the members of the panel will include:  the Fitchburg Chief of Police, DA Early's Victim Witness Advocate lead, a representative from the Spanish American Center, a representative from the Worcester YWCA, and Eric Fleegler, a professor who has experience studying domestic violence and firearm policies.

Also, concerning the late notice about this event: we were only made aware that this event was occurring last night, March 16^th.  We have requested much more advanced notice about these events but short notice continues to be an issue. Please know that we release the information about these events as soon as we hear about them.

Also, if you are planning on attending the event, please take a look at the talking points we have on our website. We have been customizing them to meet the topics of the tour stops.

Below are some talking points and reports you may wish to use when speaking before the panel.

• GOAL's 2018 Report: Massachusetts Gun Control Failure.pdf 
• GOAL's 2022 Update: Massachusetts Gun Control Scheme an Abject Failure
• Updated Downloadable/Printable Talking Points For Domestic Violence Hearing
  

Domestic Violence:

• ·      What is the State doing to help victims, or potential victims of domestic violence?
• ·      The process in Massachusetts to acquire a License to Carry a Firearm is incredibly burdensome and expensive for many people, especially those who are struggling to put food on the table for their children. A firearm may be the only lifesaving tool a victim of domestic violence can count on to save her life and the lives of her children.
• ·      Massachusetts has a history of persecuting, even prosecuting, victims for trying to defend themselves. Nothing makes this stance then when the Commonwealth prosecuted a victim of domestic violence for trying to defend herself with a stun gun. It took action from the Supreme Court of the United States in JAIME CAETANO v. MASSACHUSETTS to protect her from the criminal charges against her. What is the Commonwealth going to do to change its anti-self-defense stance?
• ·      After the Caetano case, the State was required to repeal the prohibition on electronic defensive tools such as stun guns. The resulting laws are a complete mess. In most states around the country, these items are “over the counter” products, but Massachusetts now classifies them as handguns. This places tremendous roadblocks in place as it can take, sometimes, a year or more to complete the License to Carry process which is itself broken.
• ·      Pepper spray, another “over the counter” product throughout most of the rest of the country. The most basic of all recognized self-defense tools can only be sold at a retailer. How many people know that?
• ·      The prohibitions on who can even possess pepper spray (Chapter 140, Section 122D) are essentially the same for handguns. Just because someone might have a blemish on their record should not mean they are denied the most rudimentary means of defense against domestic violence.
• ·      GOAL has filed a bill, for the second time, H.1776  An Act relative to protecting domestic violence victims:    This bill was filed by Massachusetts State Representative Alyson Sullivan-Almeida. The legislation would provide severe penalties for attackers who illegally enter a home especially if children are present. It would also provide legal protections for victims that had to use force to defend themselves or children. Will the legislature pass this important safety measure?
• ·      GOAL has filed this bill, for the second time,  H.1527 An Act relative to violent protection order violations: This This bill was filed by Massachusetts State Representative Susan Williams Gifford. The legislation would require the State to provide those who successfully acquire a protection order with information on self-defense resources. The bill will also provide legal protections for potential victims if they have to use force to defend themselves anywhere they have the right to be. Will the legislature pass this important safety measure?
• ·      The Supreme Court of the United States has made it very clear that the Second Amendment is indeed a civil right, and specifically not a “second class” civil right. What steps is the Commonwealth going to quickly take to undo the quagmire of laws and regulations that prevent, and or significantly delay, the ability of good people to defend themselves against overwhelmingly mor powerful attackers? For some reason this State lives by the policy that being pro-civil rights equates to being weak on guns or crime.

General:

• ·      State law requires a license application to be processed in 40 days. Quite often it can take months just to get an appointment and months more to get it processed. What is being done to address this? Why are there no punishments for government officials who refuse to comply with the law?
• ·      When there are problems that need to be addressed, the State Agencies in charge of licensing claim that the LTC and FID cards are not state licenses and they have no authority to correct things at the local level. How is that possible?
• ·      The current excessive gun laws are so convoluted it is virtually impossible for the average person to understand them let alone comply with all of them.
• ·      The Commonwealth’s gun laws are so punitive in nature and difficult to comply with that many gun owners have given up trying. Especially when we know the laws and regulations can be reinterpreted on a whim.
• ·      There is a book published by retired police chief Ron Glidden that covers everything a Massachusetts gun should know. It is over 400 pages long and it appears the legislature wants even more.
• ·      GOAL runs a class called Massachusetts Gun Law for Citizens. The class takes nearly four hours and doesn’t even cover the criminal side of the law. Even with four hours, there are still questions the experts can’t answer because there is too much gray area and opportunity for inventive interpretation by government and law enforcement.

Suicide – where is the success

• ·      After 25 years there has only been a minimal decrease in gun related suicides. During the same time suicide by hanging has skyrocketed.
• ·      Why did the legislature block all debate and amendments concerning mental health during the Red Flag Law passage.
• ·      GOAL has been trying for several years to establish a professional commission to tell us what the mental needs are in Massachusetts. Why has that bill been blocked.
• ·      GOAL has filed legislation to create an in-state Friends and Family suicide prevention hotline. It has never even been released from committee for consideration, why?

Gun Safety – where is the success

• ·      The state collects millions of dollars in license fees every year but does not spend a penny on firearm safety education. All of it is paid for by the 2A community.
• ·      It is evident that the state could care less about gun safety. In 2014 GOAL was instrumental in passing a law that required the State Police to produce public service announcements (PSAs) about training and safe storage. Nearly nine years later – nothing, why?
• ·      During the COVID pandemic the state government specifically targeted the 2A community and shut down all safety training that is required by Massachusetts to obtain a license when the federal government listed it as a critical activity. Even our ranges were singled out and forced to close. Why?
• ·      In 2014 GOAL worked very hard with the legislature to pass school safety measures. Have any of those been implemented. If not, why not?

Crime – where is the success

• ·      After a quarter of a century since the 1998 Gun Control gun related homicides have increased by 111% - where is the success?
• ·      IN 2014 GOAL drafted the criminal language that was passed in that huge bill. These laws covered the crimes of trafficking, breaking and entering into firearm retailers, transporting across state lines for criminal purposes, deceptive weapon laws. Have any of these laws been used. How many people that we see on the news have been prosecuted under these laws that we drafted.
• ·      GOAL has repeatedly filed legislation that would make criminal trafficking in guns and hardcore drugs punishable by up to life in prison. Why hasn’t that bill been considered and passed into law?
• ·      GOAL has repeatedly filed legislation to give victims of domestic violence the ability to defend themselves and their children. The proposal would also provide severe penalties for domestic violence home invasion, especially if children are present. That bill also has languished in so-called study. Why?
• ·      Why does the State continue to pass laws that only affect the lawful 2A community. We are among the most vetted citizens in the Commonwealth yet punitive laws are continually passed and is clear you want more. Why?
• ·      There are only two groups of people that must report a home move to the state, or they lose their civil rights. They are sex offenders and lawful gun owners. Why?