Laws & Rights
Massachusetts Cops Revolt Against Insane Gun-Control Bill

Good Cop! All the doughnuts!
Seems the Massachusetts state legislature would like to forget this whole “American Revolution” thing ever happened …
The “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” may have echoed from Lexington and Concord 248 years ago, but after much reflection, the state would like to take it all back, apologize to their British overlords, and respectfully request the reinstatement of a monarchy. You can’t really blame Massachusetts’ citizens for this … it’s probably because the last several years have taught them that they’d be better off under King George III. Whether or not Massachusetts’ voters want gun control, they’re going to get it–good and hard. At least, they will if HD 4420 is enacted. This bill is so insane that the state’s law enforcement departments are complaining about it on their official social media outlets. I’ve written better legislation with Word-a-Day toilet paper and a stomach bug. Think I’m exaggerating? Read on for this stranger-than-fiction rundown courtesy of the National Shooting Sports Foundation!
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MASSACHUSETTS’ POLICE DEPARTMENTS WARN OF ‘UNCONSTITUTIONAL’ GUN CONTROL PROPOSALS
Massachusetts lawmakers are so drastically overreaching with a 140-page gun control proposal that local police departments are flashing lights and blaring sirens because it is just that bad.
The Ware, Mass., Police Department posted a warning to citizens on the police department’s Facebook page that HD 4420 is just plain terrible gun control legislation.
“This Bill does not address criminals,” the post reads. “Rather it focuses on making criminals out of law-abiding citizens and further hampers police agencies from combating true crime.”
Massachusetts state Rep. Michael Day introduced what could be described as the most-sweeping gun control proposal ever introduced to a governing body in the United States. He submitted the bill after a nine-month “listening tour” across the Bay State but it is clear the only voices he was listening to were those ballyhooing gun control.
“A plethora of blatantly unconstitutional proposals litter this travesty of a Bill, too many to mention here; however, of particular egregiousness is the criminalization of carrying firearms in certain so-called ‘prohibited locations’, including businesses and private properties, EVEN WHILE HOLDING A VALID LICENSE TO CARRY,” the Ware Police Department post reads. “Not even off-duty police officers will be exempted from this appalling mandate.”
Warning Sirens
Ware police are repeating the same warnings that NSSF and Gun Owners Action League (GOAL) have been telling residents and licensed firearm retailers of the Commonwealth. This isn’t a crime control bill. This is an outright gun grab that would trample the rights guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution.
“Massachusetts’ state legislature is forgetting that a revolution was born in their state when a tyrannical government attempted to confiscate firearms from its citizens in Concord and Lexington more than 200 years ago,” NSSF’s Mark Oliva told Firearms News about the bill.
Ware is a town of just over 10,000 between Worcester, home to some of Kahr Arms production, and Springfield and about 80 miles west of Boston. Springfield, of course, is home to Smith and Wesson, the firearm manufacturer. Savage Arms is headquartered nearby in Westfield, Mass., just 30 or so miles from Ware. The Ware police are seriously concerned about HD 4420, enough that they’re actively encouraging citizens to get involved.
They’re not alone. Plymouth, Mass., Chief Dana A. Flynn wrote a letter urging state lawmakers to walk away from the bill.
“This bill seems more designed to invade the privacy and vandalize and confiscate the property of law-abiding citizens than it does protecting them.”
“We believe that public input and engagement are crucial in shaping legislation that reflects the diverse perspectives and concerns of our citizens,” The Ware Police DepartmentFacebook post reads. “Therefore, we encourage you, the citizens of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, who have a long and storied history of throwing off the chains of our oppressors (let not this tradition die in the hands of our generation), to actively participate in the democratic process by voicing your opinions and taking appropriate actions to safeguard your rights.”
Unconstitutional Gun Grab
NSSF warned that HD 4420 isn’t the run-of-the-mill gun control bill that only seeks to limit where a firearm can be legally carried. It’s much more and much worse. HD 4420 would:
- Authorize the state attorney general to empower state police to forcibly confiscate all post-1994 firearms.
- Expand the definition of already banned “assault weapons” to include a single cosmetic feature that has no bearing on the function of a firearm.
- Require all lawfully-possessed firearms to be registered with the state.
- Require firearm owners to notify the state if a firearm is modified even if just adding optics or a sling to hunting rifle.
- Require the serialization and registration all magazines.
- Require notification to police if magazines are lost, stolen or destroyed.
- Ban “downloadable gun code” from the Internet, a First Amendment violation.
- Restrict where a concealed carry permit holder can lawfully carry a firearm, effectively nowhere.
The legislation is so poorly-drafted that hunters wouldn’t be allowed to hunt on their own property unless they post it as open to carrying firearms. As the Ware police pointed out, there’s no exception for police, meaning off-duty law enforcement wouldn’t be able to carry their firearm and respond to emergencies.
“We recognize that the right to bear arms is a fundamental aspect of our nation’s history and an essential component of personal and collective security,” Ware police wrote. “As members of the police force, we are committed to upholding the law and defending the rights of our community members.”
The police department noted that these efforts are counterproductive to community safety.
“Gun Free zones have been proven to have no effect on stopping crime, in fact they embolden criminals to seek out these areas as soft targets of opportunity, where their chances of meeting resistance will be minimal,” they wrote.
Speed Zone Ahead
Rep. Day expected his bill to sail through Massachusetts’ statehouse. Antigun Democrats have supermajorities in both chambers. That might be why Rep. Day scheduled the largest auditorium in the Capitol building for a joint hearing of both the state House of Representatives and Senate Judiciary Committees for June 29 and 30, and then for July 13 and 14. He hit a road bump though. No Judiciary Committee hearing was publicly advertised for any of those dates.
Rep. Day is keeping up the pressure to force the legislation through, even as public opposition is ramping up. Half of the House is meeting behind closed doors to discuss the bill on Monday, July 17 and the other half on Tuesday, July 18. An aide to Massachusetts House Speaker Ron Mariano, a bill backer, said he is trying to grease the skids.
“To encourage candid discussions, we will organize the meetings by Floor Division and they will be Members only,” the aide told media.
Rep. Day and Speaker Mariano said they ultimately want the bill passed and ready for signature before the end of the month, but Rep. Day told media his rush was so intense, he needed the legislation passed “yesterday.”
The Massachusetts-based Gun Owners Action League (GOAL) said HD 4420 is a “historic attack against the entire 2A community being pushed by House Speaker Ron Mariano and Chairman Michael Day.
“There is no telling when the Speaker may try to ram this through. Although we have been told the bill will have a hearing, we have been told a lot of things, most of which have turned out to be intentionally false,” the group wrote last week. “The bill is so egregious that it is impossible to amend, so don’t try.”
GOAL is reaching out to Massachusetts gun owners. They published a lengthy video last week, explaining their opposition to the bill and the need for voters to call their elected representatives and senators in Boston. The message was clear. There is no fixing this bill and the effects would be disastrous for Constitutional rights.
NSSF is also urging Massachusetts licensed dealers and residents to speak up. Speaker Mariano is pulling lawmakers behind closed doors but not listening to voters. Speaker Mariano and Rep. Day have lost police support for their gun grab. Voters need to tell them to heed the flashing warning lights and stop this unconstitutional bill.
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Robert Webb
July 27, 2023 at 5:41 pm
How did that old saying go? “When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns”.
Don Mobley
July 27, 2023 at 12:17 pm
History has away of repeating itself! I’m ready!!
Bill Boy
July 27, 2023 at 10:42 am
The Supreme Court needs to shut this down. Clarify recent decisions to make it clear states cannot restrict the type of firearm that may be possessed by non felons. Establish constitutional carry as the law of the land and prevent restrictions on where a firearm may be carried. (Hint: criminals don’t abide by these laws)
Paul
July 20, 2023 at 4:00 pm
It’s time that politicians that introduce these bills (and anyone who support it including judges or bureaucrat) are the ones to be sued, not the state. This is a clear violation of the US Constitution and I’m sure the state’s constitution, which apparently doesn’t mean shit to this scum bag communist mike day.
Mm
July 22, 2023 at 8:58 pm
100% agree. They should be jailed for the blatant disrespect to our constitution.
Michael
July 20, 2023 at 6:15 am
I’m from Illinois and I thought our recent anti-gun bill was bad. This is going to keep happening all over the US in these Democratic controlled states until “We the people” finally take a permanent stand against it. As a former police officer I have never heard of anything so outrageous as to disarm an off duty police officer. We already have an open season on police in many areas, so now we are going to disarm them so they can no longer protect others or themselves?! Your Governor must be related to ours.
Lee
August 4, 2023 at 9:24 am
Immediate reprisal by the police would help. Make sure the butt wipe legeslator gets at least a traffic ticket a week until he looses driving privilages. Maybe during one of those stops the officer could “see some drugs” in his vehicle. Send him straight to jail.
Courageous Lion
July 19, 2023 at 6:34 pm
There’s no way to rule innocent men. The only power government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. ~Ayn Rand
Russell
July 19, 2023 at 5:06 pm
Attachment
LOL
DDriscoll
July 19, 2023 at 12:15 pm
The game here seems obvious:
‘Blue states’ will now pass ridiculous pieces of anti-gun legislation (which will be illegal per the NYSRPA vs. Bruin decision and others) to force pro-gun groups to spend down their war chests by suing those states.
The new laws, in most cases, will be rescinded/repealed, but new ones will continue to be created and passed. This will bring about a revolving-door scheme of relentless legislation designed to be legally challenged and impoverish the NRA, GOAL and other state level 2A groups.
Lee
August 4, 2023 at 9:26 am
Fix that by including losers (including individuals) pay resonable attorney fees.
Michael Mattia
July 19, 2023 at 10:31 am
There is another aspect of these anti gun bills that they will be hit with is the loss of tax revenue. The tax from new firearm sales, Ammo sales, hunting license taxes, new hunting clothing sale tax, firearm cleaning supplies tax, fuel tax loss from not traveling to hunting property, restaurant food sales tax from outdoors-men traveling to and from hunting areas, additional maintenance on vehicles to prep for hunting trips. All of these loss of tax revenue are not taken into account so the “politicians who work for the citizens” will have to raise taxes on all other goods and services. “Career politicians never met a tax they didn’t like”
Greg
July 19, 2023 at 10:27 am
Please ask your local police department what they think of this bill.
Ronald T Folger
July 19, 2023 at 9:54 am
MA lawmakers should be very careful to NOT WAKE A SLEEPING GIANT of law abiding gun owners. One realizes how egregious this bill is when police depts and especially the MA Chiefs of Police speak out AGAINST HD4420.
A sincere ‘thank you’ to all for standing up for our Constitution.
John Cain
July 19, 2023 at 9:35 am
The massachusetts gun laws are the reason I left massachusetts. These massachusetts legislators have taken it upon themselves to see that kg3 finally wins at subjugating the people of Massachusetts. Massachusetts legislators are obviously too comfortable in their positions.
Lee
August 4, 2023 at 9:30 am
Now all you have to do is convince your liberal vote how they feel neighbors to think and vote these bozos out of office. Get involved and really post the insanity they are pushing.
Thomas R. Curtis
July 19, 2023 at 8:41 am
“KEEP YOUR POWDER DRY” and “DON’T FIRE UNTIL YOU SEE THE WHITES OF THEIR EYES” !
David Folsom
July 19, 2023 at 8:14 am
The big difference between KG3 and our current crop of tyrants is that King George imposed a minute tax on a citizenry of armed adults. Today’s tyrants “borrow” the tax from generations that have yet to be born.
Ardvark
July 19, 2023 at 7:57 am
Democrats across the country apparently fear that the little people having weapons will interfere with their perceived goal of total domination! Notice how this is kicking into high gear across the country, probably due to they know they have the next election in the bag with fraud and then they plan to go full communist! Others having weapons gets in the way if that!