Open letter on Massachusetts Gun Control

Dear Rep.

I am writing you as a concerned independent voter.  Once again our civil rights are under attack by people with little to no understanding of the laws already in place and who are ignoring the fact we do not have a gun problem in MA now.  In addition, we are actually well below the national average for any kind of gun crime. 

At the same time gun ownership in the state is on the rise.  In 2015 ABC news was reporting we had a 66% increase in gun licensing over the previous 3-4 years.  Last year they reported an increase of 7.8% in 2016 alone. . . .

As a Massachusetts certified instructor, I can tell you my club holds monthly classes and we get 18-20 folks EVERY month at the class looking to get their permits.

Based on this I find it hard to believe there is any real support in this state for more gun control.

We need to clean up the gun laws we have, end the confusion that our patchwork of laws has created, and get the Attorney General out of the lawmaking business and back to enforcing what is passed by our legislature.  Gun laws should be easy to understand and if you would not put that restriction on voting you should not be looking at it for gun ownership which is also a right.

I ask that you vote against any new restrictions on our rights.  I know the next open meeting on upcoming bills is on the 16^th, but like many, I have a job and bills to pay so will not be able to attend.  I am especially concerned about the following bills:

H.1281 – We do not have a magazine problem in this state and there is no reason to pass more regulation on it that will be impossible to enforce.  Criminals will still do what they want and use whatever magazine they want.  This does nothing to keep us safe.  And if you do take lawful citizens magazines, who will reimburse them for the money lost?  How much per mag is the state going to pay?

H.2495 – Required insurance to own a gun and exercise a right?  How is this Constitutional?  This is no more than an attempt to make it too expensive for the very people who need a gun for protection to own one, our elderly, poor and middle class.  This is a poll tax with a different name.  

H.3610 – This has already been looked at and is dealt with through protective orders which already restrict gun ownership.  We don’t need more laws when we already have laws in place that cover this and include due process for all involved.

S. 1298 – As I stated MA has some of the lowest ratings for gun crime, well below national average.  We do not need more taxes on gun ownership and taxes is another way to price a right out of existence for the poor, elderly and middle-class people of our state.  Enough.

I am saddened to see us wasting time on these bills while we have folks dying of overdoses all over our state.  The legislatures time would be better spent dealing with our illegal drug problems and how to get these people treatment and off drugs.  That would really save lives.