Commonwealth Continues to Refuse to Clarify New Gun Laws

Safari Club International's request for meeting with Attorney General Ignored

On November 22, 2024, Safari Club International (SCI) sent a letter to the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General. The letter represented a request to discuss the Second Amendment violations in Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024 with respect to non-resident and youth hunters. SCI also wanted from the AG that hunting access will remain open.. Like everyone in the 2A community, SCI had great concerns that their members would run afoul of the law, specifically non-residents. 



Since the last official "guidance" was issued from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, it has become obvious that there will likely be no further attempts to clarify the law. Could this be because every time they do they weaken the law in their eyes?

"Either the state is unable to tell lawful citizens what the law actually means or the entirety of Chapter 135 was a public safety ruse designed to trap and persecute lawful members of the 2A community," said Jim Wallace Executive Director of GOAL. "We have said from day one that it is the latter."

The SCI request outlined, at least, four major concerns regarding non-residents:

1.    That nonresident hunters cannot possess a firearm within Massachusetts unless they hold a permit, card, or license issued from their state of residence, which has substantially similar requirements to those of the commonwealth for a firearm identification card.

"We understand that the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife MassWildlife has interpreted Section 129C(j) to control and issued guidance to this effect.  But we remain concerned that an enforcement agent might not be aware of this guidance."

2.    Second, the new law violates the Second Amendment by imposing an ambiguous registration requirement on nonresident hunters. The new law mandates that “all” firearms "possessed in the commonwealth shall be registered in accordance with this section."

"MassWildlife failed to address the issue of nonresident hunter registration in its guidance. The registration requirement is exceptionally onerous on nonresidents. Nonresidents who hold nonresident hunting licenses and who would potentially consider relying on MassWildlife..."

3.     The new law violates the Second Amendment rights of youth hunters ages 15 to 17.

"While those under 15 may hunt with a firearm as long as they hunt with a parent and those over 17 may hunt with a firearm with a nonresident hunting license, the new law prohibits nonresident youth ages 15 to 17 from hunting with a firearm unless that firearm is "furnished" by a Massachusetts resident holding a firearms identification card or license."

4.    Last, the firearms identification card contemplated in the new law entitles the holder to purchase, transfer, possess, and carry rifles and shotguns that are not large capacity or semiautomatic, and the ammunition therefor. The new law's broad definition of "large capacity firearm" and its broad application of "semiautomatic firearm" encompass a number of firearms commonly used in waterfowl hunting…

"This expanded restriction significantly impacts waterfowl hunters and infringes their Second Amendment right to carry firearms for hunting."