This week, Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo (D-Winthrop) unveiled an extensive gun control bill, House Bill 4121, which would further impact law-abiding gun owners in the Commonwealth. Being promoted as legislation aimed to be outgoing Governor Deval Patrick’s (D) crowning achievement, this egregious bill would give police chiefs discretion in licensing owners for shotguns and rifles, ban the private sale of firearms without a licensed gun dealer and require gun owners to provide a list of all firearms they currently own to the state with each renewal of their license, among many other things. Additionally, it would grant authority to the state Attorney General to remove certain firearms from the approved “firearms roster.”
As anyone who has gone through the process to legally obtain a firearm in Massachusetts knows, there is no dearth of existing laws that regulate the sale, purchase and transfer of firearms. The question should be what gun control laws should be repealed, NOT enacted. Your NRA will continue to stand opposed to any gun laws that have no effect on criminals, do not reduce violent crime and only restrict, harass and impose unnecessary costs and burdens on law-abiding citizens. This is certainly not an unreasonable position, but that seems to be beyond the misguided anti-gun legislators who embrace this proposal.
The first hearing on HB 4121 will take place this Tuesday, June 3, before the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security at 12:00 noon in the Gardner Auditorium of the state Capitol. Please attend and participate at this important hearing. If you cannot attend, it is CRITICAL that you contact members of this committee, using the contact information provided below, and urge them to OPPOSE this outrageous anti-gun bill. Tell them to vote NO on HB 4121.
Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security:
Senator James Timilty, Senate Chairman (D-Walpole)
617 722-1222
James.Timilty@masenate.gov
Senator Michael Moore, Senate Vice Chairman (D-Millbury)
617-722-1485
Michael.Moore@masenate.gov
Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz (D-Boston)
617-722-1673
Sonia.Chang-Diaz@masenate.gov
Senator Richard Ross (R-Wrentham)
617-722-1555
Richard.Ross@masenate.gov
Senator James Welch (D-West Springfield)
617-722-1660
James.Welch@masenate.gov
Representative Harold Naughton, House Chairman (D-Clinton)
617-722-2230
Harold.Naughton@mahouse.gov
Representative Michael Brady, House Vice Chairman (D-Brockton)
617-722-2230
Michael.Brady@mahouse.gov
Representative Sean Curran (D-Springfield)
617-722-2263
Sean.Curran@mahouse.gov
Representative Linda Campbell (D-Methuen)
617-722-2305
Linda.Campbell@mahouse.gov
Representative James Dwyer (D-Woburn)
617-722-2220
James.Dwyer@mahouse.gov
Representative Alan Silvia (D-Fall River)
617-722-2060
Alan.Silvia@mahouse.gov
Representative David Vieira (R-East Falmouth)
617-722-2230
David.Vieira@mahouse.gov
Representative Cleon Turner (D-Dennis)
617-722-2090
Cleon.Turner@mahouse.gov
Representative Brian Ashe (D-Longmeadow)
617-722-2090
Brian.Ashe@mahouse.gov
Representative Brian Mannal (D-Barnstable)
617-722-2582
Brian.Mannal@mahouse.gov
Representative Nicholas Boldyga (R-Southwick)
617-722-2810
Nicholas.Boldyga@mahouse.gov