By Bob Katzen
Gov. Healey signed into law 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.
“Massachusetts is proud of our strong gun laws, but there is always more work to be done to keep our communities safe from violence,” said Gov. Healey. “This legislation updates our firearms laws in response to the Supreme Court’s misguided Bruen decision. It cracks down on ghost guns and 3-D printed weapons, which I have long advocated for, enhances our ability to prevent guns from falling into dangerous hands and invests in our communities to address the root causes of violence. This law will save lives.”
“This legislation reflects the input of many, including law enforcement officials, community advocates, gun owners and healthcare workers,” said Sen. Cindy Creem (D-Newton). “It provides the tools needed to better protect our residents from the epidemic of gun violence and to prevent future tragedies. With support from both chambers and the governor’s signature today, Massachusetts can once again stand proudly by its record as a national leader on gun safety and more importantly, we will save countless lives.”
“Massachusetts has taken a huge step forward today towards keeping our communities safer from gun violence,” said Ruth Zakarin, CEO of the MA Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence. “There is no one size fits all solution to the gun violence crisis that plagues our nation, and we appreciate the comprehensive, multifaceted approach that this bill takes towards ending this epidemic.”