By Bob Katzen

The House 123-33, Senate 35-5, approved and sent to Gov. Healey a bill that would change some of the state’s gun laws.

Provisions include cracking down on untraceable “ghost guns;” banning firearms in additional public spaces like schools, polling places and government buildings; expanding the 2018 “red flag” law that allows school administrators and licensed health care providers to petition a court to temporarily take firearms away from someone deemed a threat to themselves or others; closing loopholes that allow the modification of legal firearms into illegal automatic weapons; and providing a legacy clause so all firearms legally owned and registered in Massachusetts as of the effective date of the bill will continue to be legal and may be bought and sold within the state.

“Today, as we consistently do in the area of firearm safety, we take the lead in making the commonwealth a safer place to live by giving law enforcement the tools they need to go after ghost guns, keeping battlefield weapons out of our neighborhoods and keep our schools, homes, town halls and polling locations safe,” said Rep. Mike Day (D-Stoneham), House Chair of the Committee on the Judiciary. “While Washington is paralyzed by dysfunction that endangers Americans across the country, we in Massachusetts address our challenges directly and take the steps necessary to modernize our firearm laws to keep us safe.”

“In the decade since we last updated Massachusetts’ gun statues, our nation and our commonwealth have continued to be rocked by mass shootings and gun tragedies at an alarming rate,” said Majority Leader Sen. Cindy Creem (D-Newton). “This legislation proactively addresses the root causes of gun crime to curb the epidemic of violence and prevent tragedy before it strikes. It does so by ensuring that ghost guns, Glock switches and assault-style firearms are kept off our streets and out of the wrong hands.”

“While we all share the same fundamental goal: to ensure the safety and well-being of our families, our neighbors and our communities, it is critical that we approach it with a balanced perspective that respects Constitutional rights while striving for effective solutions that target violent crime,” said Rep. Joe McKenna (R-Sutton). “Unfortunately, the legislation passed, while well-intentioned, did not achieve that goal. The reality is that the commonwealth already has some of the strictest gun laws in the nation. As a result, those who choose to exercise their Second Amendment Constitutional rights have jumped through hoops for decades to remain law-abiding citizens. Meanwhile, those intent on committing violence — and doing so with a firearm — will continue to have no regard for these proposed laws or for those already on the books.”

“We were given less than 24-hours to read a 116-page bill with potentially serious legal repercussions for lawful firearm owners in a state that already has some of the most stringent gun laws in the country,” said Sen. Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton). “An overwhelming number of my constituents reached out to my office expressing their opposition to this legislation and their concerns about the lack of transparency regarding this bill throughout the entire legislative process. This bill unfairly punishes law-abiding gun owners and doesn’t do enough to address the root cause of gun violence in our communities.”

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

Rep. Christine Barber Yes Rep. Mike Connolly Yes Rep. Paul Donato Yes Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven Yes Sen. Patricia Jehlen Yes