In a move to strengthen gun control measures in Massachusetts, state lawmakers have reached a consensus on a comprehensive reform bill that targets so-called "ghost guns" and modification devices that convert firearms into fully automatic weapons. As reported by NBC Boston, the deal arrived just before the end of the legislative session and is expected to advance to Governor Maura Healey's desk shortly.
The legislation, which has been a point of contention for months, was hashed out during closed-door sessions, with an agreement reached as the legislative deadline approached. It aims to bring current gun laws in line with recent issues of untraceable firearms and escalating gun violence. According to a summary by Rep. Michael Day's aide, as mentioned by NBC Boston, the bill also sets new terms on gun licensing, prohibits firearms in certain public locations, and improves the state's red flag law.
Amidst the discourse on gun violence prevention, Massachusetts House Speaker Ronald Marino lauded the bill as "the most significant gun safety legislation that Massachusetts has seen in a decade." In a statement highlighted by NBC Boston, Marino expressed pride in the legislative effort, which began in response to a detrimental Supreme Court ruling deemed to partly weaken the Commonwealth's gun laws.
Reiterating the Commonwealth's history of stringent gun laws, Senate President Karen E. Spilka proclaimed Massachusetts as a frontrunner in the fight against gun violence. According to various studies, these laws have been effective in lowering incidents of gun violence. However, the recent wave of tragedies accentuates the ongoing urgency of this troubling and relentless scourge, as noted in her statement acquired by MassLive. Additionally, advocates, including those who wore orange across the State House to signify their support, consider the legislation an essential step forward. Ruth Zakarin, the executive director of the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, emphasized this in her interview with State House News Service.
The bill comprises several key points, such as the modernization of the assault-style firearm definition, stringent control over ghost guns, and increased penalties for possession of firearm modification devices. It also aims to bolster community-based violence prevention programming and amend the process for issuing extreme risk protective orders, as detailed in the joint statement from lead negotiators Day and Creem, according to MassLive. If signed into law, the bill will represent a significant tightening of gun laws in a state already known for its rigorous stance on gun control.
