The Term “Use” Now Potentially Applies to “Unapproved” Firearms

12/10/24

Listen to audio version.

A single word in law makes an enormous difference, as our members are all too familiar. Gun owners in this State have been dealing with a, so-called, Approved Firearms Roster for nearly twenty-five years. In the past, this roster only dealt with handguns. With the passage of Chapter 135 that roster now potentially lists only the firearms can use. The roster only placed restrictions on what a retailer could sell/transfer, not what a licensed individual could possess or use. Under the new language that establishes the Firearm Control Advisory Board, that has now changed.

Now under Chapter 140, Section 131 ¾, the term “use” appears:

The secretary of public safety and security shall, with the advice of the firearm control advisory board established in section 131½ compile and publish a roster of assault-style firearms banned under section 131M and a roster of firearms approved for sale and use in the commonwealth using the parameters set forth in section 123.

GOAL has conferred with attorneys, law enforcement, etc. and none can offer any explanation for this additional word other than the fact that it now appears to restrict the “use” of any gun not on the approved rosters. Notably, it does not include the possession. So, apparently one can possess/own a firearm not on the rosters, but just can’t use them?

As with everything in the Devil’s Snare there is no immediate explanation forthcoming. 

Also, at the most recent Firearm Control Advisory Board meeting, they voted to extend the suspension of enforcing the long gun testing requirements. Again leaving another major chunk of Chapter 135 in limbo.