Demonstrators hold signs during an anti-gun violence rally in Boston, Massachusetts, on March 25, 2023. - The rally was organized by the Stand For A Safer Tomorrow, a student led gun violence prevention and awareness organization.
On Oct. 18, Massachusetts House lawmakers approved bill H. 4135, a new law to tighten the state's firearm laws and ban unregistered firearms.
Guns rights advocates criticized the new law, which they claimed as the "worst anti-gun legislation."
Gun Rights Advocates Oppose New Massachusetts Law
The National Rifle Association of America-Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) criticized the lawmakers and asked supporters to reach their state senators and voice their opposition to the bill.
"H. 4135 re-writes gun laws in the Commonwealth and imposes unprecedented gun control. This is an ominous bill that includes the worst anti-gun legislation in the country," the association stated. NRA-ILA said the bill enforces widespread bans on commonly owned firearms and eliminates due process through expanded "red flag" laws, a gun violence prevention law.
NRA-ILA added that the law expands gun registry programs and positions an extreme financial burden on gun owners. The Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association also criticized the bill, voting collectively last week to oppose the law.
There were concerns that officers would not be authorized to carry their weapons off-duty. However, the lawmakers modified H. 4135 to allow off-duty officers to carry their guns, even in prohibited places such as government buildings and schools.
Gun owners opposed to the new bill say the measures defined in the legislation do more to target gun owners than to reduce crime.
Jim Wallace, executive director of the Gun Owners' Action League, said the law goes against the lawful people. Wallace said that nothing in the law goes after the criminals. He added that the new law only responded to last year's Supreme Court decision.
Rep. Peter Durant (R-Mass.) responds on the House floor that they are responsible for keeping people safe, but that does not mean they will take away the freedoms and rights enjoyed by those legal citizens.
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What is Bill H. 4135?
According to The Epoch Times, the bill H. 4135 was passed by the Massachusetts House on a 120-38 vote. It would mandate that firearms be registered with the state to steer clear of the flow of illegal guns into the state.
The new law pursues to modernize the existing firearm registration system. The law would also inflate the state's ban on assault weapons by banning the purchase of AR-15-style weapons. The lawmakers said that the proposed law will increase the availability of firearm data for academic and policy use.
The proposed law would outlaw possession of firearms while under the influence of alcohol and prohibit firing guns near homes. The law bans using firearms in polling places, schools, and government buildings. Furthermore, the law allows judges to cease gun licenses of people considered to harm themselves and others.
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