On June 26th, 2023, Representative Michael S. Day of Stoneham filed a petition to adopt a bill, HD.4420, An Act Modernizing Firearm Laws. The 142-page proposed legislation is considered by many to be the most anti-gun bill in the history of the United States and is still being debated as of the writing of this article.
According to Day:
“One of the most important duties we have as lawmakers is to ensure the health and safety of our residents, and neither a rogue Supreme Court nor increasingly sophisticated criminal activity will stop this Legislature from meeting those duties. Massachusetts has the lowest rate of gun-related deaths in the continental United States because our firearms laws work. This proposal will modernize our laws to continue to promote and encourage responsible gun ownership and will provide our communities with the tools they need to combat gun violence in our streets.”
What Day is probably referring to when he refers to “a rogue Supreme Court” is the 2022 ruling of NYSRPA (New York State Rifle & Pistol Association) V. Bruen. The Supreme Court ruled that a New York law requiring a license for a citizen to carry a concealed weapon in a public setting was unconstitutional, and the law was overturned. The ruling stated that licenses were issued on a “may-issue” basis, not a “shall-issue” basis, citing the Constitution’s Second Amendment. Since this ruling is from the highest court, other states may need to revisit similar laws.
Day also stated that this law:
“will provide our communities with the tools they need to combat gun violence in our streets.”
After reading the bill’s text, it sounds like more restrictions are being placed on current law-abiding gun owners, and last I heard, criminals don’t care about the law.
Under HD.4420:
- a person under 21 cannot purchase or buy a semi-automatic shotgun or rifle
- A stun gun will be considered a firearm
- It will be illegal to use a silhouette of a person for target practice unless you are a police officer
- It will be illegal to carry a concealed weapon on private property unless permitted by the property owner
- All magazines and feeding devices must have a serial number
- More regulations will be placed on firearm dealers
- Law enforcement can also ask to see your firearm license without any reason, which could lead to an unlawful search and seizure.
These are just a sample of the restrictions our state government is trying to pass.
This legislation is going to leave people without the ability to protect themselves. If a child can fight in the military at 18, why can’t they purchase a semi-automatic shotgun or rifle until age 21? Massachusetts has many rural areas, and we have many hunters who pass on the knowledge of the sport to their children. The second amendment was put into place for a reason and is not to be infringed upon.
Check out this video by Colin Noir about the proposed bill:
Lawmakers are trying to push this bill along quickly, but it is not too late to make your voice heard. I encourage you to read the bill, and if you oppose this legislation, contact your legislatures and voice your concern immediately. Time is of the essence.
Charlie W.
Sources
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/HD4420/BillHistory
Massachusetts First 
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