Mass. Voters Face Gun Law Challenge After SCOTUS Ruling
Massachusetts voters may decide fate of 2024 gun law amid Second Amendment push.
2 min read
Massachusetts voters could potentially overturn a 2024 gun law that was pushed through the state legislature following a landmark Supreme Court ruling, if a campaign by pro-Second Amendment activists succeeds on Tuesday. The law, which imposes additional restrictions on law-abiding gun owners, was enacted after the Supreme Court struck down New York’s discretionary system for issuing concealed carry permits in the 2022 case New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen.
Like other states with ‘may issue’ systems, Massachusetts lawmakers used the ruling as an opportunity to pass stricter gun control measures. Outside groups, such as Moms Demand Action, also supported the legislation by participating in anti-Second Amendment rallies and events, according to the Gun Owners Action League (GOAL).
Pro-Second Amendment activists, including GOAL, had previously gathered nearly 100,000 signatures to place a referendum on the 2026 Massachusetts ballot, asking voters if they supported H.4885, a law passed in 2024. However, Democratic Governor Maura Healey added an emergency provision in October 2024 to keep the law in effect, bypassing the referendum process.
The legislation includes provisions that further restrict modern semiautomatic firearms, requiring registration for certain muzzleloaders, new license requirements for owning semiautomatics, and additional stipulations for home-built firearms. Training prerequisites for carry permits are also included. Nonresidents face additional hurdles, including the need for a ‘temporary’ license to carry, the requirement to register all firearms, and compliance with the state’s serialization requirements. The law also prohibits out-of-state residents from taking children hunting in the state.
GOAL expressed concerns about the legal implications of the law, particularly for nonresidents. The group stated that despite exemptions in the law, the current legal climate created by the state’s gun laws could lead to significant legal challenges for individuals transporting firearms properly.
The police are three minutes away. What do you do until they arrive? Protect your right to protect your family. Vote No on 9 on November 3. #NoOn9 #Massachusetts #CivilRights https://t.co/Ewf9nVZ3Xe
A recent poll by the MASSInc Polling Group indicated that most Massachusetts voters support the gun-control measure, with 70% of respondents expressing a ‘yes’ vote. The survey, conducted from September 14 to 22, included 800 likely voters and was commissioned by the CommonWealth Beacon.
Source: Daily Caller
