Arming the Streets in MA

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The "Gun Owners Action League," the "official state assocation of the NRA," is pushing legislation here in MA that would eliminate the current requirement to renew firearms licenses every six years. The ostensible reason is the backlog. This is happening right now!!!

 

But have a look at the GOAL web site, and that lovely image of various firearms on their home page. Especially the one at the right.
...

http://www.goal.org/index.html

It might remind you of this one:

http://www.businessinsider.com/cnn-the-connecticut-shooter-used-a-bushmaster-rifle-like-the-dc-snipers-2012-12

It's more than apparent what this organization's goals are. The innocuously-titled bill is a smokescreen. And I find it downright reprehensible that today, December 14th, they updated their web site to inform us that the Speaker is inclined to help them.

You'll find more details in the letter I've written, below. What I'm suggesting is that we ALL call our state senators and representatives--along with Speaker DeLeo's legislative aid and the Governor--and demand that they stop cow-towing to the NRA and push for MORE, not LESS, regulation.

Will you make a call or four on Monday between 10 am and 12 pm?

Because they are. From the December GOAL newsletter: GOAL Executive Director Jim Wallace reported at the end of the last legislative session that the unrelenting phone calls from GOAL members to their state legislators were starting to be noticed by house leadership."

C'mon. It's time to start pushing back! It's time for US to be "noticed."

Governor Deval Patrick: 617.725.4005
Speaker Robert DeLeo: 617-722-2500
Find your state Sentor and Rep:
http://www.malegislature.gov/

Here's the text of my letter:

The Honorable Deval Patrick, Governor
The Honorable William Galvin, Massachusetts House of Representatives
The Honorable Brian Joyce, Massachusetts Senate
The Honorable Robert DeLeo, Speaker, Massachusetts House of Representatives
Mr. Andrew Keegan, Legislative Aid to Speaker DeLeo

Gentlemen:

I write to you in reference to the “emergency legislation, ” HD.4613, “An Act Associated with Incurring Fines for Delayed Firearms License Renewal,” cosponsored by Representative George Peterson and Senator Richard Moore. Their bill is currently in the State Senate awaiting concurrence before it can be sent to the Committee on Public Safety. According to an update on the Gun Owners’ Action League web site—dated today, oddly enough—Speaker DeLeo “has agreed to help us look into this matter.”

Before proceeding, I urge you have a look at the GOAL web site (goal.org). The homepage features a high-quality graphic depicting certain firearms along with the text, “the right of the people to bear arms shall not be infringed.” Prominent among the weapons pictured is a rifle which bears a striking resemblance to the .223 Bushmaster used today in the massacre of Connecticut schoolchildren. The goals of this organization (the official branch of the NRA here in the Commonwealth) are obvious—and they are odious. Again, take a long, hard look at that image. Chilling, isn’t it?

The legislation itself is specifically designed to circumvent the renewal process. While complaints regarding the backlog of weapons licenses may be valid, simply eliminating the renewal process altogether, which is what this legislation calls for, is no way to proceed. GOAL, and its NRA parent, are simply using the current situation as a ruse whereby to accomplish one of their long-term goals. Don’t buy it.

If anything, today’s outrage should cause us to look into more, and not less, regulation. According to the Boston Herald, "The state issued 7,100 gun permits in November [2012] alone, compared with 4,300 for the same month in 2011." It’s extremely difficult for many of us, today, to see this as a positive development.

Messrs Patrick, Joyce, and Galvin, I publicly endorsed your candidacies and happily gave you my vote. Your stance on this bill will help to establish that I was right to do so. Please do all that you can to prevent this legislation from being enacted, and please let me know at your earliest convenience what your position is.

Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

Respectfully,
Michael Horan
Stoughton Democratic Town Committee
Stoughton Town Meeting, Precinct 5
Warden, Trinity Episcopal Parish, Stoughton
Occupy Boston