NRA to challenge state’s new gun law; proponents say ‘bring it on’

A new gun law in Massachusetts restricts the use of untraceable “ghost guns.”

A new gun law in Massachusetts restricts the use of untraceable “ghost guns.” AP

By CHRIS VAN BUSKIRK

Boston Herald

Published: 07-31-2024 3:36 PM

BOSTON — Massachusetts Democrats who helped pass a sweeping update to the state’s gun laws want opponents who have threatened to file a legal challenge to the new statute to “bring it on,” arguing the measure is rock solid and saves lives.

At a ceremonial bill signing days after the proposal had already become law, one of the measure’s chief authors, Rep. Michael Day, said he was not fazed by a potential lawsuit from the National Rifle Association, which promised “to restore rights guaranteed to Bay Staters by the U.S. Constitution.”

“To those who have already rushed forward to say that they will challenge this law in the courts, I say, bring it on,” the Stoneham Democrat said.

“Let me help you in your inevitable search for legislative intent by being clear here today, our legislative intent in modernizing our firearm laws … is to save lives. That’s it.”

In a statement last week when Gov. Maura Healey officially signed the measure into law, Randy Kozuch, the head of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action, said the proposal was “one of the most egregious and freedom-restricting laws in the history of the Commonwealth.”

“We are thankful for the bipartisan group of legislators who stood against gun registries and the banning of commonly owned firearms and standard magazines. NRA will be challenging this law to restore the rights guaranteed to Bay Staters by the U.S. Constitution,” Kozuch said.

The NRA’s announcement adds a powerful voice to the chorus of gun owners concerned that the law will essentially ban some common firearms.

Under the deal Democrats brokered last month, Massachusetts residents under the age of 21 are barred from owning semiautomatic rifles or shotguns, the use of untraceable “ghost guns” is restricted, and carrying a firearm in government buildings, polling places and schools is prohibited.

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The law also requires prospective firearms identification card holders to undergo live fire training and bans gun modifications that turn semiautomatic firearms into automatic ones.

House Speaker Ron Mariano said being sued by the NRA is a “real badge of honor for all of us that we have their attention and they’re not happy, which makes me very, very happy.”

The final version of the firearms law passed the House on a 124-33 vote and cleared the Senate by a tally of 35-5. A handful of Democrats joined all Republicans in opposition: Sen. Marc Pacheco of Taunton, and Reps. Colleen Garry of Dracut, Patricia Haddad of Somerset, Kathy LaNatra of Kingston, David Robertson of Tewksbury, Alan Silvia of Fall River, Jeff Turco of Winthrop and Jonathan Zlotnik of Gardner. Independent Rep. Susannah Whipps of Athol also voted no.

The bill also changes how state law defines “assault-style firearms,” which has some gun owners worried that many modern semi-automatic rifles could be considered illegal under the new law.

The new law considers a gun an “assault-style firearm” if it is a semiautomatic shotgun, or any semiautomatic centerfire rifle or semiautomatic pistol with the ability to accept a detachable feeding device that features at least two of the following features: “a folding or telescopic stock, a thumbhole stock or pistol grip, a forward grip or second handgrip or protruding grip that can be held by the non-trigger hand, a threaded barrel designed to accommodate a flash suppressor or muzzle break or similar feature, or a shroud that encircles either all or part of the barrel designed to shield the bearer’s hand from heat, excluding a slide that encloses the barrel.”

That provision has attracted the attention of gun owners, some of whom said the features included as part of the “assault-style firearm” definition are common and often cosmetic in nature. The Gun Owners Action League, the local arm of the NRA, said in its summary of the law that the new definition “includes most, if not all, semi-automatic rifles and shotguns.”

Material from the State House News Service was used in this report.