License Fee Update - July 28, 2008

The following is the list of Massachusetts Representatives that have signed on to Rep. Guyer's amendment that would remove the Governor's proposed license fee hikes from the 2008 Supplemental Appropriations Bill. As of this update the bill remains in the House Committee on Ways & Means. Please take a moment to contact these legislators and thank them for their support of our civil rights.

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License Fee Update - July 16, 2008

On Tuesday July 15, 2008 the Governor's appropriations bill was assigned a number (H.4971) and sent to the House Committee on Ways & Means. We are very pleased to let our members know that within hours of the alert going out concerning this legislation, State Representative Denis Guyer sent this correspondence (shown below) to his colleagues in the State House. Many legislators have already informed GOAL that they have responded and signed onto the proposed amendments to be ready if and when the bill hits the House floor for a vote. GOAL members are urged to ask their local state representatives to sign on to the Rep. Guyer amendments. Our members should be sure to send Rep. Guyer a note of thanks. Rep.DenisGuyer@Hou.State.MA.US

With the bill now residing in the House Ways and Means Committee, we would urge our members to contact the members of that Committee and urge them to remove sections 24 through 27 while the bill is still in committee.

Contact Tip: We are at the end of the legislative session and every group imaginable is using bulk email systems in an attempt to get the attention of the Ways & Means Committee. For that reason we would strongly recommend contacting the Committee members by phone. If you can only make one or two calls, start with the top of the list as these are the senior members of the Committee, or, if you know any of the Committee as your local representative, contact them.

Other New England States charge the following for a license to carry firearms:

Rhode Island              $40, good for four years

Connecticut                $35, good for five years

Maine                         $35, good for four years

New Hampshire          $10, good for four years

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Governor Patrick Files Bill to Drastically Increase License Fees

On Sunday July, 13, 2008 Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick filed a special appropriations bill for fiscal year 2008. (As of the filing of this report, the bill had not yet received a number.) Within this bill sections 24 - 27 drastically increase certain firearm licenses.

Sections 24 & 25 attack lawfully licensed firearm dealers by increasing their license fees from $100 for three years to $250. Then it adds a $100 inspection fee in years two and three of the license. This tactic would now turn a $100 three year dealer's license into a $450 three year license.

Section 26 would increase a resident License to Carry fee from $100 for six years to $200 for six years.

Section 27 would increase a non-resident License to Carry fee from $100 for one year to $250 for one year.

"In light of the recent Supreme Court ruling, this new proposal from the Governor can only be viewed as an attempt to tax people out of their civil rights," said Jim Wallace Executive Director of GOAL. "With this new proposal, the Governor continues to demonstrate his willingness to attack lawful gun owners while doing nothing to reduce violent crime. The highest court in the nation has ruled that citizens have an individual right to possess a firearm and now our Governor is trying to tax us out of that right!"

GOAL is urgently requesting that our members contact their local representatives and senators immediately and ask them to make sure this ridiculous tax on our rights does not pass into law.

Members may also wish to contact the Governor's Office to voice their displeasure: 617-725-4005
 

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H.4971 - An Act Making Appropriations for the Fiscal Year 2008 to Provide for Supplementing Certain Existing Appropriations and for Certain Other Activities and Projects

CHSB ";“ License to Carry Fee -1

SECTION 24. Section 122 of chapter 140 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 28, the figure " $100"; and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $250.

CHSB ";“ Annual Dealer License Fee

SECTION 25. Said section 122 of said chapter 140, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word " Fund.";, in line 33, the following sentence:- Each year in which a license holder need not apply for a license renewal, the license holder shall pay to the licensing authority a license inspection fee of $100.

CHSB ";“ License to Carry Fee ";“ 2

SECTION 26. Section 131 of said chapter 140, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 240, the figure " $100"; and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $200.

CHSB ";“ Non Residential Firearms License Fee

SECTION 27. Section 131F of said chapter 140, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 53, the figure " $100"; and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $250.