Local news
Massachusetts House lawmakers approved a sweeping bill Wednesday designed to tighten the state's gun laws.
The bill, which passed on a 112-38 vote, would strengthen local police chiefs' discretion over issuing firearms identification cards needed for the purchase of rifles or shotguns, much like the discretion they currently have over issuing licenses to carry concealed weapons.
The bill would require police chiefs to give written reasons for denying gun licenses, however. Their decisions would have to be based on public safety and could be appealed in court.
In opening remarks on the bill, Public Safety Committee Co-chairman Rep. Harold Naughton, D-Clinton, predicted its passage would “make the streets of this Commonwealth safer and will protect the rights of our lawful gun owners.”
Considering how many idiot gun owners there are another level of "checking" and responsibility, is welcome.
ReplyDeleteActually this seems to be more like shall issue licensing Mike.
ReplyDelete"The bill would require police chiefs to give written reasons for denying gun licenses, however. Their decisions would have to be based on public safety and could be appealed in court."
"Rep. John Fernandes, a Milford Democrat who said he represents a lot of gun owners, said the new version requires police chiefs to have “reliable and credible information” in order to deny a license, and must put the specific reasons and evidence into writing, which could later be reviewed by a judge."
I wonder where "reliable and credible" compares to other levels of evidence.
Really? It sounds like a perfect example of the may issue licensing that I consider part of proper gun control. It's the gun nuts that exaggerate the abuses that are liable to occur. Any reasonable may issue policy would include accountability and oversight. No one intends it to be a capricious and irrevocable decision made by corrupt cops. That's not may issue.
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