Gov. Patrick signs bill updating state gun laws

[SecularMotion]

Source: Boston Globe

BOSTON (AP) — Gov. Deval Patrick on Wednesday signed a sweeping overhaul of Massachusetts’ gun laws.

The bill stiffens penalties for some gun-based crimes, creates a Web-based portal within the state Executive Office of Public Safety to allow for real-time background checks in private gun sales, and calls for the creation of a firearms trafficking unit within the state police.

It also gives local police chiefs the right to go to court to try to deny firearms identification cards needed to buy rifles or shotguns to individuals they feel are unsuitable to have access to the weapons.

Police chiefs currently have the right to deny ‘‘licenses to carry’’ to individuals they feel are unsuitable to carry handguns. The bill would retain that authority, but would require police chiefs to give written reasons for any applications they choose to deny. Their decisions would have to be based on public safety and could be appealed in court.

Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2014/08/13/gov-patrick-sign-bill-updating-state-gun-laws/xFJfSsOOP9G38LlNHkNKhO/story.html?p1=ClickedOnBreakingNewsBox

[valerief]

1. Thanks, Gov. Patrick, although I wish the 1 gun per month limit was included.

Patrick has praised the bill, despite the fact that lawmakers failed to include his proposal that would have limited individuals to the purchase of no more than one gun per month.

The bill would also increase the penalty for carrying a firearm on school grounds; increase the punishment for being armed with a firearm while carjacking; create penalties for transporting firearms into the state for criminal activity or unlawful distribution; establish penalties for gun dealers who fail to report a lost or stolen weapon and mandate that an individual whose license to carry firearms has been revoked, suspended or denied must surrender all guns in their possession.

[kelliekat44]

2. I love this governor! And he gets help from citizens. nt

[SoapBox]

3. Has the howling from the NRA and GunNutters started yet?

...since it seems they like to have guns in the hands of every loon in the world.

[Marrah_G]

4. Good- all very reasonable things.

[hack89]

5. Someone will challenge the "may issue" clause based on Peruta v. San Diego

and Massachusetts will be forced to go "shall issue" for gun licensing, especially handguns. Peruta is why California and Hawaii changed their licensing laws to "shall issue".

The rest of the Massachusetts law makes sense.

[Trillo]

6. Interesting that the default position is for Police Chiefs

to deny, and it's up to the person the permit was denied to take to court to contest, rather than for the COP to be required to submit proof of prior conviction for violent offense.

This seems more of the Guilty until Proven Innocent paradigm.

[samsingh]

7. A brave Governor and a smart man

[onehandle]

8. Tyranny! nt