May 20, 2025

Secretary Terrence Reidy

Executive Office of Public Safety and Security

1 Ashburton Place, Suite 2133

Boston, MA 02108

Dear Secretary Reidy,

We hope this letter finds you well. We write today on behalf of Gun Owners Action League’s (GOAL) membership and any other citizen of the Commonwealth who is intending to exercise their Second Amendment civil rights, in order to express our concerns about the upcoming public hearing regarding live-fire training. The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) should be holding these meetings in person rather than remotely.

According to § 152 of Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024 (section 152), the public must be given at least two (2) separate opportunities, in two different regions of the Commonwealth, to give input prior to the report and recommendations being issued:

Prior to issuing such report and recommendations, the secretary, or designee, shall conduct not less than 2 public hearings in different regions of the state to solicit public input regarding the implementation of the live firearm training requirement.

Additionally, Section 152 also requires that the report include:

…any recommendations to ensure that such training does not become cost prohibitive and that resources and facilities to conduct such training are adequate and reasonably available to individuals in all regions of the state.

GOAL questions the ability of EOPSS to effectively follow this provision without discussing and observing the operation of the gun ranges across the Commonwealth who will be tasked with accommodating these new requirements. As most ranges in Massachusetts are operated by private clubs, it is vital for the State to meet with club leadership to find out what can be reasonably expected from their facilities and organizations.

Given the specificity of the language and the spirit of the statute, GOAL and its membership does not believe that remote hearings are sufficient to satisfy this requirement and we respectfully request you hold these hearing in person. We believe that it is important for EOPSS to be physically present in the communities in the state that will be affected by these requirements. Being in the public in order to actually observe the limitations of the ranges and facilities that will bear the burden of this training is paramount to understanding how these requirements should be implemented.

We again implore EOPSS to follow the letter of the statute and hold these hearings in person rather than remotely – regardless of what the Open Meeting Law may or may not allow. Please let us know if we can be of any assistance moving forward, we have a number of affiliated clubs and ranges across the Commonwealth that would be willing to discuss the impacts of these regulations.

Sincerely,

James Wallace

Executive Director

Gun Owners’ Action League

SECTION 152. Notwithstanding any general or special law, rule or regulation to the contrary, the secretary of public safety and security or a designee shall study and report to the legislature on recommendations to ensure the effective implementation of live firearm training as required pursuant to section 131P of chapter 140 of the General Laws. Said report shall include, but not be limited to, any recommendations to ensure that such training does not become cost prohibitive and that resources and facilities to conduct such training are adequate and reasonably available to individuals in all regions of the state. Prior to issuing such report and recommendations, the secretary, or designee, shall conduct not less than 2 public hearings in different regions of the state to solicit public input regarding the implementation of the live firearm training requirement. The report and any recommendations shall be filed with the clerk of the house of representatives, the clerk of the senate, the senate and house chairs of the joint committee on the judiciary and the senate and house chairs of the joint committee on public safety not later than 9 months from the effective date of this act.