Dear Representative Ashe,
I am one of your constituents who has a class A Large Capacity License To Carry Firearms. I am in full support of rational efforts to reduce violent crime. I believe the citizens of Massachusetts who legally own and carry firearms are solidly behind positive action to keep us and our neighbors safe and secure. We demonstrate that every day by responsibly exercising our Constitutional Right.
The requirements I met to legally purchase and carry a firearm are:
· I took two training courses, (and have since taken 2 more for proficiency)
· I submitted fingerprints,
· I underwent a background check by the FBI which was submitted by MA and,
· was issued a photo License To Carry with a personal identification number.
I gladly went through the process to exercise my constitutional right. When I purchase, possess or carry a firearm I ensure that I comply with our laws. Each time I or anyone legally purchase a firearm the following occurs:
· a NICS check (FBI form 4473) and
· a MERCS check (MA form FA-10) are performed on the transaction.
Both checks record and store my MA ID number, the manufacturer, model and serial number of the gun. At the end of the process the Commonwealth and FBI have me and the gun on file.
When a gun is legally transferred between two MA citizens, both must have the appropriate MA license and permit. The gun must already be legally registered with MA and a MERCS FA-10 form is submitted to the state showing the legal transfer.
When I buy ammunition in MA, I am required to show my License To Carry, before the transaction.
It has been my experience that the current system is ample and sufficient. If the information is properly maintained by the Commonwealth then the system functions properly.
I and fellow legal gun owners are concerned about actions the Governor has proposed in his letter of January 16, 2013. The actions do nothing to address the core causal factors and have the potential to increase non-violent crime by turning legal gun owners into unintentional criminals.
In his letter the Governor states that the intent is to strengthen the current law, tackle gun violence and illegal firearm possession. Sadly, his filing does not accomplish the intended objectives.
The filing incorrectly draws a correlation between legal gun ownership and criminal activities. As I understand it the text of Legislation proposed
An Act To Strengthen and Enhance Firearms Laws in the Commonwealth lists the following:
1. Names and background information on licensed gun owners transmitted to US Attorney General.
2. New definition of a firearm
3. New laws for gun shows
4. Reduces the capacity of the magazines which makes many of the pre-ban magazines we own illegal.
a.Criminalizing and confiscating our magazines will have no effect on the murder/homicide rate.
5. Re defines an “Assault Weapon” and making pre-ban rifles subject to the new general laws.
a. Criminalizing and confiscating our rifles will have no effect on the murder/homicide rate.
This is proven by FBI statistics from 1992 – 2011. The rates have gone down every year before, during and after the 1994 – 2004 weapons ban in effect for the USA.
The ban had no effect on the murder rate.
6. Reduces the number of guns we can legally rent, lease or purchase from five per week to one per month.
a. The unintended consequence being, ranges that rent range guns can only be rented once per month by licensed citizen.
The changes Governor Patrick proposes are well intentioned but sadly misinformed. The reality is, these changes could not have prevented or measurably altered tragedies like Newtown. We will be better served to focus attention and energy on; mental health, violent movies and violent video games.
Legal gun ownership promotes responsibility, discipline and value of life morality. Legal gun owners are a valuable resource that is being wasted. Please understand, legal gun owners are not criminals or victims. We request you don’t try to treat us like one.