By Bob Katzen

The Senate 9-31, rejected a motion to send the firearms bill to the Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security in order to have a public hearing on it.

“Sending this bill to the Joint Committee on Public Safety [and Homeland Security] will allow for it to have a public hearing where industry experts and people from all walks of life can weigh in and share their perspectives,” said Sen. Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth). “Public hearings are one of our greatest assets as legislators, and forgoing the opportunity to hold one on this bill is a disservice to ourselves as legislators and our constituents.”

Sen. Cindy Creem (D-Newton) said that in November, the Public Safety Committee held a public hearing on 57 firearm-related bills, many of which provide the foundation of the current bill under consideration. “Given that the policies in the bill have been vetted both at the public hearing and through months of conversations with senators, gun safety advocates, gun owners’ groups, gun industry groups, police chiefs, district attorneys and health care professionals, the [bill is] ready for consideration on the Senate floor.”

(A “Yes” vote is for sending the bill back to the committee. A “No” vote is against sending it to committee.)

Sen. Patricia Jehlen No