Gun rights activists have criticized Governor Maura Healey’s decision to immediately implement a new gun law in Massachusetts that cracks down on ghost guns, bump stocks, and trigger cranks. The law, which was approved in July and set to take effect later this month, also expands the state’s “red flag” law to allow police, health care, and school officials to alert the courts about individuals who may pose a danger with access to guns. Healey defended the law, stating that it is important for measures to go into effect without delay to enhance gun safety and prevent gun violence.
Gun rights advocates have expressed anger at what they see as an infringement on civil rights, arguing that the new law creates unnecessary barriers for law-abiding residents seeking to own firearms. Activists have been working to gather enough signatures to suspend the law until a potential 2026 referendum can be held to repeal it. However, Healey’s decision to put the law into immediate effect has thwarted their efforts to temporarily suspend it. The law was enacted in response to the Supreme Court’s Bruen decision, which affirmed citizens’ rights to carry firearms in public for self-defense.
A federal lawsuit has been filed by gun advocates, challenging the constitutionality of the Massachusetts law. The lawsuit argues that the law imposes burdensome licensing requirements on firearms possession and carry for self-defense, citing the Bruen decision. The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order or injunction to prevent the state from enforcing what they view as oppressive licensing regimes. The Massachusetts law prohibits non-law enforcement individuals from carrying guns at schools, polling locations, and government buildings, and requires gun license applicants to demonstrate understanding of safety principles and provide mental health information to local authorities.
The new law also expands the definition of assault weapons to include known assault weapons and similar firearms, banning their possession, transfer, or sale, as well as large-capacity feeding devices. It aims to ensure that individuals subject to restraining orders do not have access to firearms and allows district attorneys to prosecute those who shoot near homes. Despite opposition from gun rights activists, Governor Healey has stood firm in her decision to implement the law immediately in order to enhance public safety and prevent gun violence. The ongoing legal challenge to the law underscores the contentious debate around gun rights and regulations in Massachusetts.
