Massachusetts Attorney General Unilaterally Changes Gun Laws
http://www.mass.gov/ago/public-safety/awbe.html
Without any prior notice or public hearings and while the legislature is on break for national conventions the Massachusetts Attorney General, Maura Healey, has issued an “Enforcement Notice” to firearm retailers throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts changing the longstanding definition of so-called “Assault Weapons”.
For nearly 18 years since the passage of the 1998 Gun Control Act firearm retailers, gun owners and state agencies have been operating under the same interpretation. Now, suddenly, without warning or any due process a single person with a clear political agenda decides to change the rules. All Massachusetts residents should be alarmed!
GOAL is currently trying to decipher the enforcement letter, but with as much information that it contains, it is not very clear what it means. Statements such as the following make it very convoluted: “… a weapon is a Copy or Duplicate, for example, if the operating system and firing mechanism of the weapon are based on or otherwise substantially similar to one of the Enumerated Weapons.”
Virtually every semi-automatic that utilizes a detachable magazine has the same operating system or firing mechanism, so what does this mean? The short answer is we simply don’t know. Our best advice to firearm retailers for now is to err on the side of caution. These new rules may cover a lot more than just what we might think.
GOAL is working with people and groups around the State and the nation to clarify these new interpretations and decide the best course of action. One thing is certain that this new interpretation is purely a political stunt and has nothing to do with public safety or real law.
Jim Wallace
Executive Director
Everyone should know that this Healey thing is a political stunt that came out of nowhere. The 2A-friendly legislators knew nothing about this before it happened, and they are pissed.
So what do we do now?
One thing that won't help: Petitioning Charlie Baker to overturn it. Contact him and let him know your feelings, but keep in mind he doesn't have the authority to overrule the AG.
This has to be fought in the courts, and by the legislature - which would have to create laws that would limit the power of the AG's office. Both will take time.
In the short term, we need to continue to contact the Governor and our Legislators to express our disapproval.
When the time comes, we will gather and make our voices heard.
I don't for sure know when that will be, but I ask that you all try to keep Saturday open.
EDIT:
IT'S ON!
Rally Against Rogue MA Attorney General
GOAL RALLY at MA State House – Front Steps - Saturday July 23, 2016 - 10:00 AM
Join us!
Rally against rogue actions by MA Attorney General Maura Healey, who decided to make hundreds of thousands of law-abiding gun owners “felons in waiting” via her sneak attack action posted this week while the legislature was away.
This Saturday, July 23rd the MA Legislature will be in a rare weekend special session to handle other matters – plan to be at the State House at 10:00 AM
Make your voice heard – Meet with your legislators – Protest the anti–freedom actions of Attorney General Healey.
Also, please note! CALL your legislator TODAY and urge them to join us against the rogue actions of AG Healey.
http://blog.goal.org/ra/
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