WHERE WE STAND
Program Book
League of Women Voters of Massachusetts
Last Updated October 2018
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Social Policy
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Handgun Control
Goal:
Elimination of the private possession of handguns
(1974) and assault weapons (1989).
The League supports:
- limitation of the sale and possession of handguns and assault weapons to law enforcement and military personnel
- a possible exception for sportsmen if the guns are used and stored away from the home under controlled conditions
Until such a time as a ban on the private
possession of handguns and assault
weapons becomes law the League
supports:
- improved and standardized licensing procedures
- training in the use of handguns and assault weapons and the responsibilities of ownership [Emphasis mine; see below/AHM]
- education of the public to the dangers of the handgun in the home
- strict enforcement of the present laws concerning handgun ownership
- measures to encourage the removal of all handguns and assault weapons from the home and street
League action
In 1975 LWVMA co-filed a bill to ban handguns to
all but police, military and certain other people. It did
not pass. In 1975 the League joined other groups in
collecting more than 102,000 certified signatures on
an initiative petition to ban the private possession of
handguns. After the bill failed to pass the legislature
in 1976, the League helped collect the additional
signatures needed to place the question on the ballot.
The referendum was defeated by a two-to-one
margin. The League's efforts to ban the "Saturday
night special" handgun have also failed.
LWVMA has worked for stricter licensing and
registration procedures and has met with no success.
During late 1976 and early 1977, LWVMA
participated in mediation sessions involving groups
on both sides of the limitation issue. Agreement was
reached on institution of administrative steps to be
taken by police chiefs to improve licensing
procedures, making them more uniform and strict.
LWVMA supported a bill to require handgun owners
to pass safety courses before being granted gun
permits, but general support for these kinds of
measures is weak
Background
- 1974: Delegates to state council adopted a short study on statewide control of the sale and possession of handguns. In the fall of that year, members, concerned about violence committed through the use of handguns, reached consensus in support of limiting private possession of handguns. Members agreed that the most effective way to control misuse of handguns is to limit their number.
- 1989: Delegates to state convention, responding to concern over violence committed with assault weapons, adopted, through concurrence, the addition of the words "and assault weapons" to the handgun control position.
- 1990: Delegates to national convention adopted, through concurrence, a national position on handgun control.
we should use their logo at all NES shoots.
Maybe "repurpose" some of those roadside signs they scatter about town.
"LWV Assault Weapon Training next Saturday".
It's the least we can do for them.