The debate on the expansive gun control bill introduced in the Massachusetts legislature will be delayed until the autumn due to disagreements between the two Democrat-controlled chambers.
“We continue to be disappointed that the Senate delayed our planned review of this gun violence legislation by insisting that it be referred to the Public Safety Committee,” House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano said in a statement to lawmakers on Monday evening.
The disagreement arises from the question of which committee should hold a public hearing on the 140-page bill introduced last month. The House favors the Judiciary Committee, which oversaw Beacon Hill’s response to the Supreme Court’s New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen decision, while the Senate favors the Public Safety Committee.
The bill proposes numerous changes to the current gun laws in Massachusetts, including mandatory registration of firearms and magazines, a ban on carrying on private property unless expressly permitted, a ban on human silhouette targets in shooting ranges, and a prohibition on individuals under the age of 21 purchasing or carrying semi-automatic shotguns and rifles, among others.
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“The House believes that the Joint Committee on the Judiciary is uniquely equipped to navigate the legal challenges brought about by SCOTUS decisions, just as it did during our initial response to Bruen and the overturning of Roe,” wrote Mariano.
Monday night, Politico Massachusetts Playbook reported that Senate President Karen Spilka remained steadfast in a statement, claiming, “we were hopeful that referral to the Public Safety Committee would expedite matters… we remain confident the Legislature will conduct an open and transparent process.”
Rep. Nick Boldyga, a Republican, told Fox News that the measure is “the most egregious and blatantly unconstitutional bill” he has witnessed in his 12 years as a representative.
“As a lifelong, responsible gun owner and former law enforcement officer, I am firmly opposed to this anti-Second Amendment attack against law-abiding citizens,” he stated. “I will vigorously oppose this legislation if it comes up for a vote.”
The National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR), which had previously issued a travel advisory regarding the legislation, praised the postponement in a statement.
“The Speaker is correct to back down, and if he were wise, he would kill the bill entirely,” said NAGR President Dudley Brown. “Delaying the bill until the fall will not alleviate the pressure; it will simply give us more time to rally our members in opposition.”
He also stated that the group’s travel warning will remain in effect.
“In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, gun rights and freedom are being relentlessly attacked,” Dudley remarked. “Nothing about the Speaker’s tactical retreat changes that.”
Mariano described the legal environment as “challenging” in the aftermath of the Bruen decision, which supported the right to carry a firearm in public under the Second Amendment.
“As you have heard me say many times, the Bruen decision fundamentally changed how courts review state gun laws and immediately jeopardized aspects of the laws that have made our Commonwealth a national leader in reducing gun violence,” the governor wrote. “A new legal environment will be the greatest threat to those efforts, but the House’s commitment to pursuing a comprehensive update remains unwavering.”
Mariano continued by saying that the bill should be examined during the summer and that members should consult with their constituents and offer comments until the end of the August break.
