February 27, 2025 GOAL Case Update
Escher v. Noble; Federal District of Massachusetts; 1:25-cv-10389
Escher v. Noble; Federal District of Massachusetts; 1:25-cv-10389
- Case challenging the Commonwealth’s new restrictions on 18 - 20 year-olds purchasing, possessing, transferring and carrying any semi-automatic firearm or handgun.
- Filed on February 14th, 2025 by GOAL in conjunction with the Comm2A, NRA, SAF, FPC, and GOA.
- Still in preliminary motions phase, no hearing scheduled yet and no substantive motions have been filed.
- Case challenging the constitutionality of the Commonwealth’s new licensing restrictions.
- Filed on August 1st, 2024 by GOAL.
- Case was withdrawn by GOAL on December 20th, 2024 as the MA Legislature passed a bill delaying the implementation of the new regulations that rendered the case moot and unable to move forward. GOAL reserved its rights to refile the case if necessary, upon the expiration of the Commonwealth’s extension (18 months).
- Case challenging the constitutionality of the impact of the Commonwealth’s restriction on out-of-state American citizens carrying guns in Massachusetts without a temporary LTC.
- The case was argued before the MA Supreme Judicial Court on September 9th, 2024 and is still under advisement by the SJC waiting for a decision to be rendered and handed down.
- Case challenging the use of “suitability” by licensing authorities in Massachusetts as a nebulous standard that is out of synch with the Bruen decision.
- Court denied Town of Belchertown’s motion for reconsideration asserting that suitability as used by licensing authorities in the Commonwealth to determine LTC eligibility is unconstitutional. Belchertown has since appealed the decision to superior court, and we are awaiting the results of that motion.
- Case challenging the use of “suitability” by licensing authorities in Massachusetts as a nebulous standard that is out of synch with the Bruen decision.
- Case is currently in motion process; the Commonwealth most recently filed a motion for judgment based on their support of the constitutionality of suitability. The Defendant’s attorney then filed a motion in opposition; the court is currently considering both motions.
- Case challenging the use of “suitability” by licensing authorities in Massachusetts as a nebulous standard that is out of synch with the Bruen decision.
- This case has been rendered moot and dismissed as the Plaintiff seeking to get his LTC from the City of Boston had to move out of the City due to circumstances beyond his control.
