My Challenge to You

[Marcus5aurelius]

We need all the help we can get in order to pass H2259 "An Act relative to civil rights and public safety" in MA. If you're from MA, or even if you're not we would appreciate the support behind H2259 because in the end it's creating what we all believe in. If you can help, please post a picture of the 16 letters to this thread, we have 118 members so far from NES who have met the challenge and I'm sure we can do even better than that

Here is a link to the original post:
http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/showthread.php/95517-My-challenge-to-you
Sample letters are available on Post #58 and even a mailmerge template if you need it.

Here's some background to "An Act relative to civil rights and public safety":
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/186/ht02pdf/ht02259.pdf

Here is a list of representatives on the committee:
STATE SENATOR JAMES E. TIMILTY
State House
Room 507
Boston, MA 02133

STATE SENATOR STEPHEN M. BREWER
State House
Room 109-B
Boston, MA 02133

STATE SENATOR STEPHEN J. BUONICONTI
State House
Room 309
Boston, MA 02133

STATE SENATOR GALE D. CANDARAS
State House
Room 213B
State House
Boston, MA 02133

STATE SENATOR BRIAN A. JOYCE
State House
Room 413-A
Boston, MA 02133

STATE REPRESENTATIVE MICHAEL A. COSTELLO
State House
Room 167
State House
Boston, MA 02133

STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHRISTOPHER J. DONELAN
State House
Room 167
State House
Boston, MA 02133

STATE REPRESENTATIVE TIMOTHY J. TOOMEY, JR.
Room:238
State House
Boston, MA 02133

STATE REPRESENTATIVE BRUCE J. AYERS
State House
Room 167
State House
Boston, MA 02133

STATE REPRESENTATIVE DAVID M. NANGLE
State House
Room 527A
State House
Boston, MA 02133

STATE REPRESENTATIVE GERALDO ALICEA
State House
Room 33
State House
Boston, MA 02133

STATE REPRESENTATIVE LINDA DEAN CAMPBELL
State House
Room 174
State House
Boston, MA 02133

STATE REPRESENTATIVE KEVIN AGUIAR
State House
Room 23
Boston , MA 02133

STATE REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN M. ASHE
State House
Room 540
Boston, MA 02133

STATE REPRESENTATIVE JEFFREY D. PERRY
State House
Room 136
State House
Boston, MA 02133 

STATE REPRESENTATIVE BRADFORD HILL
State House
Room 128
State House
Boston, MA 02133

 

[Sam1911]

Can you provide a synopsis of this bill, explaining exactly what it will do?


Thanks!

 

[Marcus5aurelius]

In MA, firearm owners must proceed through a very thorough registration process before obtaining an FID or LTC. Whether or not an LTC is issued is based on the discretion of that particular town's police chief. Some towns simply will not issue unrestricted LTCs despite the fact that the applicant meets all requirements and has no prior criminal background. This bill will help by eliminating many obstacles for applicants who meet all requirements and intend to legally possess firearms. This bill will not only help applicants, but will help enforce penalties for criminals who use firearms in criminal activity. That's a very brief synopsis for right now, I am attempting to recruit one of my more well versed friends to define the bill in more depth in relation to current MA laws. Thanks

 

[Kevlar]

Most importantly, it would make Massachusetts "shall issue", but here is a synopsis...

Here's how our reform would strengthen our criminal laws:

*It creates a special unit of the State Police, known as the Criminal Firearms and Trafficking Division, that will be attached to the Department of the Attorney General and will assist that office with the investigation and prosecution of all crimes of violence involving the criminal use of a firearm and intrastate firearms trafficking.
*It will create tough laws to punish prohibited persons who are in possession of firearms.
*Creating laws regarding breaking and entering with the intent to steal a firearm.
*Creating clear to understand unlawful transfer laws.
*Creating laws to punish those engaged in unlawful intrastate commerce of firearms.
*Creating laws preventing the unlawful confiscation of firearms.
*Creating laws regarding the use of a "Deceptive Weapon."
*Creating a separate definition section for the criminal enforcement chapter.
*Creating a "State Firearm Crime."

Here's what our reform would do to enhance individual rights:

*Make it very clear that there is an individual civil right to keep and bear arms and that the government must operate under that presumption.
*Reduce the number and types of firearm licenses (currently four) to one.
*Create understandable and commonsense terminology that is currently used and understood by the firearms owning community.
*Create a new definition of a "Prohibited Person" and using that term throughout the laws as the means of legitimately denying a citizen a firearm license.
*Make the rights inherent for the license based on the age of the holder rather than having to acquire a new license at a particular age.
*Remove the authority of local licensing agents to deny a persons civil rights without due process.
*Remove the laws regarding the state licensing of retailers already licensed by the federal government.
*Create clearer language for the judicial review process of a denied license.
*Remove jail sentences for lawful possession infractions and moving any jailable offenses to the criminal enforcement chapter.
*Remove restrictive storage laws that have been found to be unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court.
*Making laws easier to understand and find by separating into concise short sections those that are unnecessarily long and complicated.

A more in depth summary can be found here...

http://www.massgunlawreform.com/Summary.htm

Thanks in advance for the help guys...LET"S MAKE THIS HAPPEN!

 

[Sam1911]

Thanks! I was curious as I am a former MA (Boston) resident and remember "fondly" the FID, etc.

I also like to read carefully what kind of "compromises" these bills often come with regarding enforcing penalties against criminals, etc. Some times they are a little too enthusiastic in creating special "gun crimes" or "gun penalties' which are harmful, IMHO.

Thanks for posting the in-depth explanation when your friend gets it written up!

 

[Marcus5aurelius]

Might as well start this off, here are mine. Who else will join in and help?