GOAL to Defend Resident LTC Holder on Assault Style Firearm Charges
A West Springfield License to Carry holder is facing five counts of possession of illegal “assault style firearms”, six counts of “untraceable firearms”, and one count of improper storage. The case originated from officers serving a protection order that was later dismissed. The case addresses many of the issues facing lawful gun owners after the passage of Chapter 135 in 2024.
In the arrest report:
- It is claimed that an AR lower is in fact an assault style firearm and the same goes with an upper. It is also the first time we have heard the term – “finished lower/upper”. That term does not appear in the law.
- The charges of unserialized lowers are concerning since the law states:
Chapter 140, Section 121C: All firearms shall have a serial number in accordance with the requirements of this section within one year after the online serialization system is available…
“This is a bomb that we have been waiting to be dropped on someone post Chapter 135,” said Jim Wallace Executive Director of GOAL. “There are so many unconstitutional layers to this case that it could be a landmark judicial scenario effecting hundreds of thousands of lawful citizens. From the beginning GOAL has taken a very conservative approach when advising the 2A community about these new laws. We have often taken criticism for “over reacting”, but this case is precisely why we have taken that stance.”
No doubt this case will take some time to work its way through the system, and we will keep the 2A community updated as it proceeds.
