Massachusetts has some of the strictest gun laws in the United States and consequently is among the states with the lowest rates of gun violence and gun deaths. Meanwhile, in contrast, in the last decade, gun homicides and suicides have been trending upwards in the US.
The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Inc. v. Bruen weakened state gun control laws and particularly set back state legislation in place to protect their residents from firearm violence. These recent developments undermined Massachusetts’ long-standing safety record regarding guns. In an attempt to reinforce its strong firearms regulations, the Massachusetts House of Representatives last October passed a comprehensive gun reform bill that enhances background check systems, crackdowns on untraceable “ghost guns,” limits on guns in sensitive public spaces, expanding extreme risk protection orders and new requirements for firearms training. This wide-ranging piece of legislation represents the most significant strengthening of the state’s gun laws since 2014 and is being closely watched in today’s political and social climate. Michael Day, Dem Rep from Stoneham and author of the bill reported that the state has experienced 90 shootings that killed 40 Bay Staters and injured 86 others since July. The future of this bill now lies in the hands of the Massachusetts Senate.
The major gun reform bill passed 120-38 in the Massachusetts House. It contains sweeping updates across multiple facets of firearm regulation in the state. The legislation cracks down on “ghost guns” by requiring registration and serialization of weapon frames and receivers, and strengthens existing “red flag” laws, which allow a state court to temporarily remove firearms from a person believed to be a danger, by expanding the categories of people who can petition courts for extreme risk protection orders against unstable and dangerous individuals. Furthermore, the bill also limits the presence of guns in sensitive public places such as schools, polling stations, government buildings, and private homes without the resident’s consent. The process to obtain a gun license was also made more rigorous, as live firearm training methods were enhanced and standardized across Massachusetts. Other provisions in the bill include modernized definitions and further restrictions on assault weapons, closing automatic weapons loopholes, and introducing stiffer reporting measures for lost, stolen, or surrendered firearms. In a press release regarding the new gun safety reform bill, House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano ( D-Quincy) stated that “the comprehensive gun reform legislation that the House passed today will make Massachusetts residents safer and will further strengthen the Commonwealth’s status as a national leader in the effort to combat gun violence”. While opponents argue that the bill impedes lawful gun owner’s right to bear arms, there is no question that the bill provides critical tools for law enforcement while upholding public safety in communities.
On the federal level, additional legislation has also been introduced that aims to address the epidemic of gun violence in the United States. The Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety Act is one of the most comprehensive and progressive steps toward ending gun violence and covers a wide array of provisions to ensure complete gun safety. If passed, universal background checks on gun buyers would be federally required, and any loopholes that allow individuals to avoid background checks would be closed. A federal gun licensing system would be implemented and state or federal gun licenses would be issued for any purchase of a firearm. There would also be bans on carrying guns in school zones, military-style assault weapons and lethal gun accessories, and bulk gun purchases and straw purchases, among other new restrictions. This bill creates significant amounts of funding for research and intervention programs. By raising gun sales tax to 30% and ammunition sales tax to 50%, the bill is able to provide $120 million in annual funding for federal research into gun violence and create a new $100 million annual grant program for gun violence intervention programs. This legislation has been endorsed by a wide range of organizations and elected officials. Notably, Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, Massachusetts Medical Society, and Boston Medical Center all back this legislation. Amongst elected officials, State Senator Jamie Elridge, State Representative Micheal Day, Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll, and many other Massachusetts officials are backing this bill.
While it is true that Massachusetts has among the lowest rates of gun deaths across the country, thanks to its strong gun safety laws, there has been an upward trend in the rate of gun homicides and suicides in the state. From 2010 to 2019, the rate of total gun deaths increased by 16 percent. This included an increase in gun suicides by 7 percent and an increase in gun homicides by 26 percent. Since July, there have been 91 shootings in Massachusetts, resulting in 40 deaths and over 80 injuries. The situation is similar in other states as well, as yellow flag laws have been invoked in Maine over a dozen times since the October 25th mass shooting in Lewiston, ME which was the deadliest shooting ever recorded in state history. Similar to red flag laws, Maine’s yellow flag laws allow police to visit an individual and determine whether they should be placed in temporary protective custody following a warning made to law enforcement. This law has been used extensively in Maine recently to restrict access to guns during a mental health crisis, where tensions are high and acts of violence are becoming increasingly common.
While there is still significant progress to be made on the issue of gun violence in America, the recent legislation passed by the Massachusetts House of Representatives is a sign of ongoing commitment to the issue. With additional legislation getting pushed through on a federal level, America may finally begin to see a future where senseless killings come to an end. The need for a modern perspective on gun laws is more apparent now than ever before, and bills such as these are bold steps in the right direction. The fate of Massachusetts gun control now lies in the hands of its Senate, and hopefully, the decision to keep residents safe and secure will be made.
