GOAL's Current Legislative Efforts 2019 – 2020 

See our listing of bills filed for MA 191st General Court below.

S.1421 An Act Clarifying Firearms Oversight

This bill removes regulatory authority from the attorney general via consumer protection laws. Click here for more information on this bill

H.2066 An Act Relative to Defensive Electric Devices 

This legislation will repeal the statutory prohibition on stun guns. Click here for more information on this bill.

H.2055 An Act Relative to Return of Property

What it does: This bill allows federally licensed entities such as an FFL to return (transfer) a firearm deemed “non-compliant” by MA law back to its rightful owner should such entity take possession of it. Click here for more information on this bill.

Listen to GOAL mini podcast about this legislation below

H.3297 An Act Relative to Violent Protection Order Violations 

This bill would enable the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to publish and provide information regarding lawful self-defense choice to people who file a protection order. The bill would also establish legal protections for those, having obtained a protection order, should they have to use some type of force to defend themselves. Click here for more information on this bill.

H.2072 An Act Relative to Non-Resident Firearm Licensing

Lawful citizens who are not technically a resident of Massachusetts face many restrictions placed on their civil rights in the Commonwealth even after they obtain a non-resident license to carry. This bill begins to address some of those issues by allowing people who own property or businesses in the Commonwealth to apply for firearm license as a resident. Click here for more information on this bill.

H.2153 An Act Relative to Previously Licensed Gun Owners

This bill would enable residents to obtain a firearm license they previously held, (essentially grandfathering) providing they have not committed any prohibiting acts since the passage of the law.. Click here for more information about this bill.

H.2131 An Act Relative to Fair Licensing

This legislation will do away with LTC restrictions and makes the license ” shall issue” for anyone who is not a prohibited person. Click here for more information on this bill.

H.2122 An Act Relative to Constitutional Rights

This legislation creates a new section of law that provides a presumption that the right to keep and bear arms is an individual civil right. For many years the courts and law enforcement entities have been confused due to the state’s poorly written laws. With a clearly defined presumption of rights, lawful citizens will be saved unnecessary harassment. Click Here for more information on this bill.

Listen to GOAL mini podcast about this legislation below

H.2144 An Act Relative to Firearm Owners Protection

On the federal level there is some legal protection for lawful gun owners traveling across the country. It is commonly referred to as FOPA, the Firearms Owners Protection Act. Basically this law allows citizens who are legal where they are starting from and going to transport firearms as long as they are unloaded and stored in the trunk or locked container. Sadly some states are causing problems with this federal protection. Because of these issues GOAL has found it prudent to file similar legislation on the state level. This bill would expand protection for people who have unexpectedly experienced travel delays Click here for more information

Listen to GOAL mini podcast about this legislation below

H.2130 & S. 1419 An Act Relative to the Lawful Sale of Handguns

Currently in Massachusetts we have two separate schemes that control the manufacture and sale of handguns in Massachusetts.

The first is the Attorney General’s regulations 940 CMR 16.00 that was originally initiated by Scott Harshbarger in an attempt to ban handguns without the consent of the legislature. The so-called authority to do so was predicated on the use of Chapter 93A “Consumer Protection Laws”. The Attorney General’s office could not find a single case of a consumer being harmed by a poorly manufactured handgun. Nonetheless the regulations were enacted.

The second scheme was passed into law with the 1998 Gun Control Act. The law is currently laid out in Section 123 of Chapter 140. This section provides testing and performance standards, how they were drafted no one seems to know. However, with these standards a manufacturer can submit their product for independent testing. Should the product meet the requirements they are then added to a roster of approved firearms.

The conflict now arises due to the fact that the Attorney General’s office does not formally recognize the official roster of approved firearms and warns licensed retailers of possible conflicts. Essentially what we have is a situation where two government entities from the same government are using different schemes to enforce their authority over lawful products.

This bill simply removes the Attorney General’s authority to regulate weapons and repeals the previous regulations. Click here for more information on this bill

Listen to GOAL mini podcast about this legislation below

H.1410 & S.1417 Suppressor Legislation

Section 10A of Chapter 269 of the Massachusetts General Laws bans the use of suppressors in Massachusetts unless the individual is a federally licensed manufacturer or law enforcement officer. This bill does away with the state prohibition. It also puts in place the federal definition for suppressor and creates severe penalties for the criminal use of such devices. Click here for more information on this bill

Listen to GOAL mini podcast about this legislation below

H.2154 An Act Relative to Unloaded Rifles or Shotguns

This law enables hunters to cross a road or public way without having to put their shotgun or rifle in a case while crossing. Click here for more information about this bill.

Listen to GOAL mini podcast about this legislation below

S.1423 An Act Relative to the Lawful Sale of Ammunition

Several years ago Attorney General Tom Reilly ruled that companies outside of Massachusetts could no longer sell ammunition or ammunition components through the mail to lawfully licensed citizens. Since the residents of the Commonwealth go through an extensive licensing process there is no reason why such transactions should not take place. This bill would make it clear that such transactions are lawful and all shipments require the signature of the licensee or adult agent. Click here for more information

Listen to GOAL mini podcast about this legislation below

H.2103 & S.1422 An Act Relative to Change of Address for Firearm Licensing

Under current law a Massachusetts resident who possesses an FID Card or License to Carry, who moves within MA, must within 30 days notify by certified mail the issuing authority, the local authority to where they are moving and the Firearms Records Bureau. A resident who moves out of state must also notify the issuing authority (city/town that issued license) and the Firearms Records Bureau. Failure to provide such notifications in either case, is cause for revocation or suspension of license for MA resident licensees. This could also trigger a denial of license for a resident who moved away, should they move back to MA.. Click here for more information

Listen to GOAL mini podcast about this legislation below

H.2576 An Act Relative to Tax Exemptions on Gun Safes and Trigger Locks

This bill would exempt gun safes and trigger locks from Massachusetts sales tax. Click here for more information

S.1681 An Act Relative to Gun Safe Tax Deduction

This bill would encourage citizens to purchase gun safes by allowing them to deduct up to $2,000 from their state income tax returns. Click here for more information

Listen to GOAL mini podcast about this legislation below

S.1420 & S.1434 An Act Relative to Equitable Firearm License Fees

This bill lowers the fee for obtaining a firearms license. While no citizen should ever have to pay to exercise a civil right, this bill reduces the current license fee of $100.00 to a far more equitable $40. These funds would then be split, with $20 going to the state and $20 going to the city/town that issues the license.

Click here to read more.

S.1424 An Act Relative to Non-Resident Firearm License Fees

This bill cleans up the non-resident LTC language making it a “shall issue”, extends the license to six years, establishes a prohibited person, and more. Click here for more information

S.468 FISH and WILDLIFE RELATED

An Act Relative to Outdoor Heritage

Section1. The current ATV laws under Chapter 90B of the general laws require that any gun be unloaded and enclosed in a case. Many hunters who utilize recreational vehicles are not aware of this law. There is also no exemption for lawful citizens who ride these vehicles and carry firearms for defense reasons. This language does away with the need for a cased gun as that part of the law serves no purpose. It also provides rightful exemptions for carrying defense arms.

Sections 2. Would allow the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife to establish Sunday as a lawful hunting day as it sees fit.

Section 3. GOAL has received many stories about a new increase in hunter harassment. These include property damage, threats of violence and posting of land that was not so authorized by the owner. This update to the hunter harassment law addressed these new issues and provides for stiff penalties for property damage and injuries caused by vandalism.

Section 4. Since the infamous passage of Question 1 in 1996 certain wildlife populations have increased dramatically. One of those species is the black bear. This is caused in part because the species adapts very well to our suburban settings. It is also caused in part because the use of bait and dogs was banned under Question 1. As this species encroaches on more urban areas it will become crucial to manage the population through safe and proven methods. One such method that will be vital is baiting. Hunting over bait in more heavily human populated areas will allow the hunter to put the animal in exactly the place need for a safe and successful harvest. This language would strike the statutory prohibition on such baiting.

Sections 5 & 6. Part of the language necessary to remove the prohibition on crossbow hunting.

Section 7 & 8. This language strikes the confusing current law dealing with hunting ammunition restrictions and replaces it with simplified language that allows the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife to regulate as needed. This also prevents the need for constant law changes as ammunition technology advances.

Section 9. Would allow the use of artificial lights for the hunting of coyote at night.

Section 10. Part of the language necessary to remove the prohibition on crossbow hunting.

Section 11. Under current law there is a prohibition for the use of dogs during the modern gun season for deer. There is one exemption for waterfowl hunter in the coastal zone only. This language would remove the statutory prohibitions and allow the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife to regulate the use of dogs for upland and waterfowl hunting should the seasons overlap.

Section 12. Would remove the statutory prohibition on moose hunting.

Section 13. Would remove the requirement that guns must be enclosed on a public way. This is a very troublesome law for hunters that are not aware of the requirement as they traverse through hunting areas. Furthermore, there is no safety issues that justify this particular legal requirement. GOAL also argues that the only reasoning behind it is to force us to hide who we are. No other sector of society would ever have to face such a requirement.

Legislative Action

Alerts – Action Center

During any two year legislative session it’s normal to have legislation “in play” that we ask our members to take action on.

This can include legislation that we support and are advocating for, or legislation that seeks to suppress our Second Amendment civil rights in one way or another.

We have a dedicated Legislative Alerts page that we urge our members to bookmark and check regularly, it includes any and all legislation and other issues which need to be discussed with your legislative representatives.

GOAL At The State House

GOAL employs a registered lobbyist who maintains a close watch on firearms and sporting related legislation pending before the Massachusetts General Court. GOAL offers testimony at public hearings and communicates our position in writing to the members of the legislature. GOAL sponsors bills each legislative session to make necessary improvements to our state’s firearms laws.

Recognizing that the GOAL staff cannot make changes to the laws by themselves, however, we work closely with our members to see that they take an active part in the legislative process. We keep in constant communication with our members through our website, social media outlets, Friday News weekly e-mail, and via email alerts.

Grassroots Efforts

GOAL encourages its members to take an active interest in the legislative process. We work with affiliated clubs through our Club Representative program. We also organize members in various grassroots campaigns for legislative reform with themes such as letter writing, phone calls and legislative contact in the community.

Voter Education

GOAL members often take an active interest in the legislative and political processes. We provide our members with information on candidates for office and their views on firearms related policies.

MA Laws Compared To Rest Of Nation

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