Massachusetts Senate approves sweeping gun bill
BOSTON (AP) - The Massachusetts Senate approved a sweeping overhaul of the state’s gun laws Thursday, but not before stripping out a key provision that would have given local police chiefs more discretion over issuing firearms identification cards needed to buy rifles or shotguns.
The Senate bill had initially included the measure - which is part of a similar bill passed by the House - but it was eliminated during debate. The Senate bill would maintain current law which limits chiefs to conducting background checks before issuing FID cards.
The bill, which mirrored many other aspects of the House bill, was approved on a voice vote. That means the votes of individual senators were not recorded.
Gun rights activists hailed the change.
“I’m very pleased with what the Senate did today,” said John Hohenwarter, the National Rifle Association’s government affairs director for Massachusetts. “The bill’s in much better shape that it was when it came over from the House.”
Gun safety advocates said the change guts the bill.
John Rosenthal of the group Stop Handgun Violence, said giving police chiefs added discretion over the issuing of FID cards was the single most important aspect of the bill.
“Without it, it’s not worth the paper it’s written on,” Rosenthal said. “Shame on the Massachusetts Senate. Sadly they voted against police chiefs and against public safety and for the special interest gun lobby and people will die as a result.”
James Timilty, Senate chairman of the Public Safety Committee, said the change was in keeping with the Constitution’s Second Amendment.
He rejected the idea that the Senate bowed to pressure from the gun lobby when it accepted the amendment on a 28-11 vote.
Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...#ixzz37mUJdpFK
Follow us: @washtimes on Twitter
Site Information
About Us
- RonPaulForums.com is an independent grassroots outfit not officially connected to Ron Paul but dedicated to his mission. For more information see our Mission Statement.
Connect With Us