I'm sure this question comes up from time to time. "Who came up with this idea of "Firearm ID Cards" ? " Probably from someone you never heard of, a little history.
Both Massachusetts and Illinois got their inspiration for the ID from New Jersey Firearms ID law dating way back in 1966. Illinois started their FID scheme about 1968 and Mass did sometime later.
The person one has to 'thank' for the idea for these FID schemes is former Attorney General Arthur Sills of New Jersey. Mr. Sills was the architect for the FID scheme, he helped craft the law in NJ and also helped give input to Thomas Dodd on the 1968 GCA hearings and legislation.
Some have speculated that the idea for the Firearms ID card system might have come out of Germany's gun control act from the 1930's. But since we are talking about the U.S.,... Mr. Sills was a major player in gun control legislation in this country even though he was just an Attorney General from New Jersey.
Maybe someone more versed in the history of Massachusetts' gun control laws can explain more in depth on why it was implemented. Furthermore, I believe that there was a ballot with a proposal to ban all handguns in the Commonwealth Of Massachusetts back in the 70's or 80's. Perhaps there is a connection between that proposal and the FID law in Mass.
Both Massachusetts and Illinois got their inspiration for the ID from New Jersey Firearms ID law dating way back in 1966. Illinois started their FID scheme about 1968 and Mass did sometime later.
The person one has to 'thank' for the idea for these FID schemes is former Attorney General Arthur Sills of New Jersey. Mr. Sills was the architect for the FID scheme, he helped craft the law in NJ and also helped give input to Thomas Dodd on the 1968 GCA hearings and legislation.
Some have speculated that the idea for the Firearms ID card system might have come out of Germany's gun control act from the 1930's. But since we are talking about the U.S.,... Mr. Sills was a major player in gun control legislation in this country even though he was just an Attorney General from New Jersey.
Maybe someone more versed in the history of Massachusetts' gun control laws can explain more in depth on why it was implemented. Furthermore, I believe that there was a ballot with a proposal to ban all handguns in the Commonwealth Of Massachusetts back in the 70's or 80's. Perhaps there is a connection between that proposal and the FID law in Mass.
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