Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed a comprehensive gun bill that aims to strengthen the state’s existing gun laws while protecting the rights of gun owners. The law includes provisions to address the issue of “ghost guns,” unserialized firearms that are difficult to trace. The state is responding to a 2022 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that established citizens’ right to carry firearms in public for self-defense. The law expands the state’s extreme risk protective order law, allowing health care professionals and others to petition a court to suspend a person’s gun rights in certain situations.
In addition to addressing ghost guns, the law prohibits the possession of firearms by non-law enforcement individuals at schools, polling locations, and government buildings. It also imposes strict penalties for the possession of modification devices that can convert legal firearms into fully automatic firearms. Governor Healey emphasized the importance of updating firearms laws in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling, stating that the legislation aims to prevent guns from falling into dangerous hands and address the root causes of violence through community investments. The law also requires license applicants to demonstrate a basic understanding of safety principles and receive live fire training.
The legislation allows district attorneys to prosecute individuals who shoot at or near residential homes and ensures that people subject to harassment prevention orders cannot access firearms. Gun rights advocates had raised concerns about the lack of a separate public hearing for the bill in the Massachusetts Senate, as differences existed between the Senate and House versions of the legislation. The law expands the definition of “assault weapons” and prohibits the possession, transfer, or sale of “assault-style” firearms or large-capacity feeding devices. It also criminalizes the possession of parts intended to make weapons more lethal, such as bump stocks and automatic parts.
The Supreme Court recently struck down a Trump-era ban on bump stocks, but Massachusetts and other states had already implemented their bans on these devices. The law aims to enhance public safety by addressing the risks associated with certain firearm accessories and limiting access to weapons that can cause harm. With these new provisions, Massachusetts seeks to ensure that its gun laws are up to date and aligned with public safety measures. Governor Healey and supporters of the law believe that it will contribute to keeping communities safe from gun violence and addressing the factors that contribute to such incidents.
