One week left H.4102/H.2259

[GOAL C.M.]

One Week Left in Legislative Session

As of Monday, July 26, 2010 the Massachusetts Legislature has only one week left of “formal session”. Traditionally the last week of the session is a whirlwind of legislation. The last few days often go late into the night as legislative leaders rush to get out bills before the end. This is when we must be on our guard even more than usual as bills could be gaveled through at 1:00 in the morning.

The formal session ends officially on Saturday, July 31st after which it is doubtful that any controversial matters will be taken up. With very little time left, there are two major items we still have to deal with.

The first is the real threat to our civil rights via the Governor’s bill H.4102 “The Lawful Citizens Imprisonment and Profiling Act.” This bill was released favorably by the Joint Committee on the Judiciary. The bill currently resides in the House Committee on Ways & Means. The Committee Chair conducted a “pre-poll” of the members over a week ago, but no official action has been taken since then. There has been no further word if H.4102 will come to the floor for a vote, but it is clear that it still remains one of the Governor’s priorities. Knowing that, we must be on guard in these last few hours.

The other bill is GOAL’s “Civil Rights and Public Safety Act”, H.2259. That bill still remains in the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security. With less than a week left we must reluctantly come to the conclusion that the legislature is not going to take up the bill. There is always a chance that they will, but that chance becomes slimmer with each passing day. The good news is that many legislators outside of our normal circle of supporters are regularly talking about the bill in a positive way. That is clearly a result of the education our members have been providing to their local legislators.

GOAL members have proven time and again that they can respond to a legislative alert very quickly. As we enter into this last week, we would urge all of our members to stand by for any potential alerts.

Thanks,

GOAL Executive Director Jim Wallace/The GOAL Staff.

 

[yanici]

It's a shame to see 2259 languish in committee. It's so well written and just plain good and fair in substance. Hopefully it can come back in the next session with even more support in the legislature.

 

[center442]

Drat. I won't give up all hope, but....damn.

If you love freedom, being a resident of MA is like being the blind guy in a strip joint. You can tell from the sounds around you that something good is going on, but you can't see what it is, and you sure as hell can't touch it, even though it still keeps taking all your dollars.

I really hoped 2259 would pass.

 

[drumenigma]

The legislators are all too busy bickering over what to do about casinos. Civil rights seem to be taking a back seat to that right now at least from what I keep hearing on the news.

 

[M1911]

I really hoped 2259 would pass.

While I hoped it would pass, I figured we never had a chance.

 

[rchap36]

While I hoped it would pass, I figured we never had a chance.

In this state it never had a chance

 

[Garys]

GOAL has been doing great work on both bills. From my experience it averages five years for a bill to get through the process and finally be enacted. At least if it's a bill originated from a citizen or group of citizens. Which means that we might have lost the first round on 2259 but I have complete faith in GOAL to refile it for the next session.

 

[MA_Shooter]

(from the State House News Service)

ADVANCES – WEEK OF JULY 18, 2010
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

<snip>

Gov. Patrick’s gun bill. Speaker DeLeo said weeks ago that Gov. Deval Patrick’s gun bill, which includes a provision limiting purchases to one a month, would be debated by the House. On Friday, a DeLeo spokesman, asked if the debate would occur next week, said the bill “is still under consideration.”

 

[spider murphy]

2259 was probably too big a step for Mass lawmakers. I loved the bill but pretty much knew it was doomed when I read the section about machine guns.

 

[FreeWillie]

Well it seems 2259 won't make it through this session, so we need to get on the phones and make sure 4102 dies also. I'm hoping the casino squabble will keep everyone to busy to mess with "gun legislation".

 

[MA_Shooter]

Well it seems 2259 won't make it through this session, so we need to get on the phones and make sure 4102 dies also. I'm hoping the casino squabble will keep everyone to busy to mess with "gun legislation".

Check this page first: http://www.northeastshooters.com/vb....-4102-July-8th-4-30-pm-update.-please-see-OP

 

[drumenigma]

Why don't we just sue them as licensing for handguns is discretionary doesn't that go againt the recent ruling?

 

[FreeWillie]

Check this page first: http://www.northeastshooters.com/vb....-4102-July-8th-4-30-pm-update.-please-see-OP

Got it! I'll sit tight and wait for the "go light" to come on.

ETA: Thanks for the heads up!

 

[center442]

Check this page first: http://www.northeastshooters.com/vb....-4102-July-8th-4-30-pm-update.-please-see-OP

Okay; holding pattern for now.

 

[terraformer]

GOAL has been doing great work on both bills. From my experience it averages five years for a bill to get through the process and finally be enacted. At least if it's a bill originated from a citizen or group of citizens. Which means that we might have lost the first round on 2259 but I have complete faith in GOAL to refile it for the next session.

I don't know about a 5 year plan as some wacky shit just seems to come out of nowhere but it is not uncommon to see a bill have to go up more than once if it is controversial or simply a comprehensive reform bill. Those sometimes take multiple sessions. I think the more important point as others have said and I believe your point alludes to is that the legislature is better off for having seen 2259, we are better off for having had 2259 debated and both of these couldn't have happened without Jim Wallace and GOALs help. Lets put some fire under the legislature in January with a new version of 2259 and start this over again.

I know that may sound frustrating but frankly having us on the offensive is paying off dividends. If it wasn't for 2259, the entire legislature would be focused on anti gun bills exclusively making it more likely they would pass one of those. With the pro gun bills in the play, we are getting to control the message more and not letting them bend us over. Their efforts to pass 4102 are stymied when they have to fight back our offensives too.

 

[Coyote33]

GOAL has been doing great work on both bills. From my experience it averages five years for a bill to get through the process and finally be enacted. At least if it's a bill originated from a citizen or group of citizens. Which means that we might have lost the first round on 2259 but I have complete faith in GOAL to refile it for the next session.

I think there should have been individual bills filed at the same time as the omnibus bill. That way, there could be "adjustments" made over time, as we got smaller pieces of it passed as we go along.

When you go for "all or nothing", there is a good chance of getting nothing.

Don't forget there ARE also some individual bills hanging in the balance out there. Perhaps we could get a few of these through instead before we run out of time.

...
<snip>
Gov. Patrick’s gun bill. Speaker DeLeo said weeks ago that Gov. Deval Patrick’s gun bill, which includes a provision limiting purchases to one a month, would be debated by the House. On Friday, a DeLeo spokesman, asked if the debate would occur next week, said the bill “is still under consideration.”

Do NOT trust them. They WILL push this at the bitter end (middle of the night).

2259 was probably too big a step for Mass lawmakers. I loved the bill but pretty much knew it was doomed when I read the section about machine guns.

They even said that at the 2259 hearing. We should have listened to them then.

 

[Coyote33]

Slots are held hostage Progress required on other bills

Friday, July 30, 2010 Slots are held hostage Progress required on other bills By Steve LeBlanc THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BOSTON — Gov. Deval L. Patrick offered Massachusetts lawmakers an ultimatum Thursday: Pass a series of stalled bills and he would consider signing a casino bill that includes a single slots parlor. Patrick has opposed allowing slots at the state’s racetracks, but now says he could accept a gambling bill with both casinos and one competitively bid slot parlor — but only if lawmakers first pass several key bills that have become bogged down. The Legislature ends its formal session Saturday night. “I am willing to consider that compromise if we get action to my satisfaction on all of these other bills,” Patrick told reporters outside his Statehouse office Thursday after meeting with House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray. Patrick ticked off his priorities, including an overhaul of the state’s Criminal Offender Record Information system, an economic development bill including a sales tax holiday, a small business health care cost containment bill and a bill overseeing the siting of wind energy turbines. “It is absolutely critical that we break this logjam,” Patrick said. “My willingness to compromise is not unlimited in either time or scope.” ... (click link for full story)

I don't trust him or them. Be VERY wary of them.