H4885 includes significant changes to firearm regulations: expanding Massachusetts’ existing assault weapon ban, prohibiting large capacity magazines (LCMs) over 10 rounds, and broadening gun-free zones. It introduces new training requirements for concealed carry, bans ghost guns and 3-D printed firearms, and expands the ban on automatic conversion parts. The bill also increases the number of individuals who can request firearm confiscation under “red flag” laws, establishes a commission to study emerging firearm technology, creates a new crime for firing at occupied buildings, and mandates the state’s gun registry share information with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
The Massachusetts State House of Representatives passed H4885 on July 18, 2024, by a vote of 124 to 33. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this legislation is one of the most intrusive 2nd Amendment violations in the country. The bill’s extensive restrictions on firearm ownership and usage infringe upon the constitutionally protected right to bear arms, effectively criminalizing law-abiding gun owners. The right to bear arms is protected by the U.S. Constitution, particularly in the 2nd, 9th, and 10th Amendments, and should not be infringed. By expanding the definition of prohibited areas and increasing the scope of “red flag” laws, it undermines due process and individual freedoms, violating the 4th Amendment. Moreover, the sharing of state gun-registry information with federal authorities raises serious privacy concerns and could lead to federal overreach. The bill represents a significant move towards increased government control and diminishes the ability of citizens to protect themselves.