Another challenge to Massachusetts' gun law
Oct 08, 2024
BOSTON (WWLP) - Massachusetts' new gun law is facing another legal challenge after Governor Healey moved to immediately implement the law last month.
The gun law itself bans firearms in some public places, works to crack down on untraceable ghost guns, and expands the "red flag" law that allows authorities to seize firearms from those deemed dangerous.
The newest complaint was filed by the owner of a gun shop in Bellingham, and it alleges that one section of the law that changes how assault rifles are defined violates the Second Amendment--the right to bear arms.
In the 10-page complaint, the shop owner says he would lose about 70% of his business if the new law stands. This is the second lawsuit filed in response to the bill being signed in July.
The first, which was filed by the Gun Owners' Action League, focused on new gun licensing requirements.
They argued that the new requirements were impossible to meet. Six weeks after their complaint the legislature passed a bill including a policy reform that delays the new licensing requirements from being implemented until April 2026.
The Gun Owners' Action League says they plan to keep their lawsuit active despite the delay in implementation. When the governor signed an emergency preamble last month--which enacts the law immediately--a group of Second Amendment supporters called the Civil Rights Coalition began to collect signatures to file a ballot initiative.
Should enough signatures be certified, it would delay the enactment of the law until voters can weigh in, in the 2026 state elections.
This group held a press conference on the State House steps on Tuesday to announce that they have gathered enough signatures to submit to local officials for certification.
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