By Bob Katzen

The Senate 37-3, approved a bill that would change some of the state’s gun laws. The House has already approved a different version of the measure and a House-Senate conference committee will try to hammer out a compromise version.

Provisions in the Senate bill include cracking down on the spread of ghost guns — unserialized and untraceable firearms; codifying the state’s existing prohibition on assault weapons; making it illegal to possess devices that convert semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic machine guns; giving firearm licensing authorities access to some of a gun permit applicant’s mental health hospitalization history; prohibiting the carrying of firearms in government administrative buildings, with exceptions for law enforcement officers and municipalities that choose to opt out; allowing health care professionals to petition courts to remove firearms and licenses from patients who pose a risk to themselves or others; and creating a commission to analyze the allocation of state violence prevention funding and recommend changes to reduce gun violence in disproportionately impacted communities.

“Concern for public safety, a commitment to equity, respect for the Second Amendment, and a focus on the root causes of gun crime and gun accidents—these principles underlie each of the policies included in the bill the Senate passed today,” said Sen. Cindy Creem (D-Newton), the chief sponsor of the measure. “I’m proud of the collaborative effort that went into the [the bill] and I look forward to seeing these policies signed into law by the end of [the 2024] session.”

“Today the Senate came together and acted on gun violence—rising above the divisiveness of this critical issue in the name of protecting our residents from gun crime, modernizing our laws and supporting communities who have been torn apart by unnecessary violence,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “I’m proud to lead a body that is committed to building on our commonwealth’s record as a national leader on gun safety. “

“Despite not having a public hearing on the gun bill which means the public didn’t have the opportunity to weigh in on it and despite having one of the lowest gun crime rates in the country, the Massachusetts Senate voted in favor of more restrictive laws for gun owners in the commonwealth,” said Sen. Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton). “The bill went too far infringing upon lawful gun owners rights while not going far enough to attack illegal firearm trafficking and unlawful possession … I was disappointed we didn’t do more to penalize career criminals perpetrating the vast majority of gun crime in the commonwealth. We need to spend our time and effort on addressing security issues at the border that will prevent guns and substances from entering the country at rates as high as they are now.”

“I voted against this bill because I have deep concerns with a number of provisions that I feel lead us into a constitutional gray area and risk opening up our great gun laws to legal challenge in front of the Supreme Court,” said Sen. Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth). “In a fairly unprecedented move, this bill also did not have a public hearing, which is arguably the most important part of our legislative process.”

(A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.)

Sen. Patricia Jehlen Yes