Regarding H03991
From: KilgoreTrout
Sent: Thu 6/19/2008 12:09 PM
To: Spellane, Robert - Rep. (HOU)
Subject: H03991
Good morning, Representative Spellane.
Bob, I'm writing today to urge you to vote against Governor Patrick's proposed bill, H03991, which is pending in the Judiciary Committee, should the bill come to a vote before the House. As a lawful owner of firearms, an avid outdoorsman, and competitive marksman, I am very concerned about the ramifications of this bill should it become law.
The very premise of the bill - that lawful owners of legal firearms within the Commonwealth are responsible for the illegal trade in firearms - is unfounded. This bill would make it a crime for those of us who have been deemed suitable by the Commonwealth and our local licensing authorities, and who lawfully possess a Massachusetts-issued license to carry firearms, to purchase more than one firearm within a 30 day period. The punishment proposed in the bill is unusually harsh (not more than $1,000 and/or a sentence of not more than 2 ½ years in a house of correction for the first offense), particularly because lawfully licensed individuals have been subjected to rigorous background checks, in-person interviews, certified training, and expensive licensing fees. We've already been found suitable to purchase firearms allowed by the type of license we have been issued. If an individual is not suitable to purchase firearms, that individual should not possess a license to carry or an FID card.
Bob, while I don't believe that I have ever purchased more than one firearm within a month, I can see how easy it would be to do so unwittingly. For example, if a particular model of interest becomes available at a sale or discount price, it may make financial sense to make a purchase within a month of a prior purchase. Still, it is not at all clear to me how restricting the lawful purchase of Massachusetts-approved firearms has any impact on the illegal gun trade or crime in general. Law abiding citizens and lawfully-licensed owners of firearms should not be punished, and their liberties should not be unnecessarily restricted, because of the actions of criminals. The target of this bill is misplaced.
Please urge your colleagues to read proposed bill H03991 and to recognize that the class of citizens most likely to be impacted by it are indeed law abiding, legally-licensed citizens of the Commonwealth. The bill's intent - to reduce gun-related crime - cannot be achieved by punishing lawful citizens.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/185/ht03pdf/ht03991.pdf
Best Regards,
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Response:
From: Spellane, Robert - Rep. (HOU) [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, June 20, 2008 10:50 AM
To: KilgoreTrout
Subject: RE: H03991
Importance: High
[Kilgore],
Hope all is well...I support your position.
[some personal drivel followed by boilerplate office hours stuff]
Make it a Great Day,
Robert P. Spellane
State Representative
13th Worcester District
State House, Room 254: 617-722-2220
District Office: 781 Pleasant St. Worcester, MA 01602
508-799-3948
www.bobspellane.com
-----
Thanks, Bob.
Good to hear from you and I'm glad we agree on this issue. Keep up the good work!
KT
From: KilgoreTrout
Sent: Thu 6/19/2008 12:09 PM
To: Spellane, Robert - Rep. (HOU)
Subject: H03991
Good morning, Representative Spellane.
Bob, I'm writing today to urge you to vote against Governor Patrick's proposed bill, H03991, which is pending in the Judiciary Committee, should the bill come to a vote before the House. As a lawful owner of firearms, an avid outdoorsman, and competitive marksman, I am very concerned about the ramifications of this bill should it become law.
The very premise of the bill - that lawful owners of legal firearms within the Commonwealth are responsible for the illegal trade in firearms - is unfounded. This bill would make it a crime for those of us who have been deemed suitable by the Commonwealth and our local licensing authorities, and who lawfully possess a Massachusetts-issued license to carry firearms, to purchase more than one firearm within a 30 day period. The punishment proposed in the bill is unusually harsh (not more than $1,000 and/or a sentence of not more than 2 ½ years in a house of correction for the first offense), particularly because lawfully licensed individuals have been subjected to rigorous background checks, in-person interviews, certified training, and expensive licensing fees. We've already been found suitable to purchase firearms allowed by the type of license we have been issued. If an individual is not suitable to purchase firearms, that individual should not possess a license to carry or an FID card.
Bob, while I don't believe that I have ever purchased more than one firearm within a month, I can see how easy it would be to do so unwittingly. For example, if a particular model of interest becomes available at a sale or discount price, it may make financial sense to make a purchase within a month of a prior purchase. Still, it is not at all clear to me how restricting the lawful purchase of Massachusetts-approved firearms has any impact on the illegal gun trade or crime in general. Law abiding citizens and lawfully-licensed owners of firearms should not be punished, and their liberties should not be unnecessarily restricted, because of the actions of criminals. The target of this bill is misplaced.
Please urge your colleagues to read proposed bill H03991 and to recognize that the class of citizens most likely to be impacted by it are indeed law abiding, legally-licensed citizens of the Commonwealth. The bill's intent - to reduce gun-related crime - cannot be achieved by punishing lawful citizens.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/185/ht03pdf/ht03991.pdf
Best Regards,
-------
Response:
From: Spellane, Robert - Rep. (HOU) [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, June 20, 2008 10:50 AM
To: KilgoreTrout
Subject: RE: H03991
Importance: High
[Kilgore],
Hope all is well...I support your position.
[some personal drivel followed by boilerplate office hours stuff]
Make it a Great Day,
Robert P. Spellane
State Representative
13th Worcester District
State House, Room 254: 617-722-2220
District Office: 781 Pleasant St. Worcester, MA 01602
508-799-3948
www.bobspellane.com
-----
Thanks, Bob.
Good to hear from you and I'm glad we agree on this issue. Keep up the good work!
KT
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