By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
The Democrat-controlled Massachusetts State Senate has released a new gun control measure (S. 2572) that is “so convoluted” as to be irreparable with any amendments, the head of the state’s Gun Owners Action League (GOAL) has stated in an alert to members Monday.
According to WBUR News, introduction of the legislation came after “months of closed-door talks between senators and various interest groups.” GOAL Executive Director Jim Wallace confirmed that
Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Creem, described as the bill’s chief architect, “had an open-door policy with GOAL.”
“We actually met with them on several occasions as well as other senators,” Wallace said. “The end product was very bad, but that part of the process was indeed better. At least we were not consistently lied to like the House leadership did.
“The fact that legislators are constantly telling us, well its better than the House bill, does not forgive the substantial assault on our civil rights,” Wallace added. “Like the House bill, there is absolutely nothing in this bill to address crime and mental illness.”
WBUR is reporting that the Senate bill would “expand” Massachusetts’ “red flag” law to allow health care providers to seek “extreme risk protection orders”—known as ERPOs—while not extending that authority to school officials or a person’s employer. Also, the station noted, the Senate bill “prohibits carrying firearms in government administrative buildings, including courthouses.” But there is no explicit ban on carrying guns in schools, polling place or private property, because that is already in existing state law.
But Wallace is miffed because, “The new language was only released on Thursday. Amendments are due on Monday and the bill is set to go to the Senate floor for a vote on Thursday with no public hearing.”
“GOAL is not seeking to file any amendments,” Wallace said. “Like the House bill, the Senate version is so convoluted that there is no way it can be fixed with amendments.”
The Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association has reportedly given its support to the Senate bill while officers statewide turned thumbs down on the lengthier House legislation.
Fast-tracking the legislation does not allow Second Amendment activists any time to mount an effective opposition, a situation in the past which has only infuriated gun owners while allegedly doing nothing to prevent crime.
Wallace’s group is asking its members to contact Senate President Karen Spilka and ask that the bill be tabled until a public hearing can be held, “with reasonable notice.”
“She is the only one who can slow this process down,” Wallace said in the alert.
