Massachusetts Legislature Looks to Lead in Gun Reform Efforts with New Legislation

The Massachusetts legislature has the opportunity to strengthen its already robust gun safety laws as Representative Michael Day (D-Stoneham) introduced An Act modernizing firearm laws on October 5th. The legislation is one of 145 gun control bills filed in the legislature just this session, including bills that address concerns in the firearm industry and the age of purchasing guns in the Commonwealth. In this week’s blog, we unpack some of the pieces of legislation aiming to increase firearm regulations in Massachusetts.

HD4607 - An Act modernizing firearm laws

HD4607 is the updated version of HD4420, which is an extensive gun reform bill that was brought before the House earlier this year. HD4607 completely rewrites the process of purchasing and possessing a firearm in Massachusetts by imposing new registration, licensure, safety, and reporting requirements. The bill would create a new process for local authorities to issue licenses and permits for carrying firearms, as well as establish a category of “prohibited persons” who cannot acquire a license. These “prohibited persons” may not receive a license based on mental health or substance abuse concerns and criminal record issues. 

HD4607 also tightens the registration requirements for firearms in the Commonwealth. If passed, the bill would require the individual to provide contact information as well as the type of firearm and serial number. This registration information would also be required to be updated in an electronic portal if the firearm is sold or transferred to another individual. 

The proposed bill would also update the existing assault weapons ban in Massachusetts by changing the term “assault weapon” to “assault-style firearm.” The updated legislation defines the term in more detail to include models such as all AK and AR rifles, including the AR-10 and AR-15. The AR-15 model has been used in at least 10 of the 17 deadliest mass shootings in the country, and has become a central part of the debate to ban assault style-firearms 

HD4607 would also crack down on the possession and registration of ghost guns. Ghost guns are privately assembled firearms that do not require a background check nor registration process to purchase the assembly kits. The bill would require these types of firearms to be registered in the same way as traditionally purchased guns, such as the utilization of a serial number to identify the ghost gun. 

The proposed legislation would also establish reporting protocol for firearms that were used in criminal acts. Under HD4607, the responding authority or agency would report data such as make, model, the type of crime committed, whether the firearm was related to known gang activity, and other points related to the firearm or crime. This data would be reported to an electronic system maintained by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives as well as the Department of State Police’s criminal firearms and trafficking unit.    

The updated bill was brought before the House after the original version was met with outcries from gun rights advocates. The updated version’s assault-style firearm ban is less restrictive than the original, exempting weapons that were legally owned before August 2024. However, gun owners are still saying that the bill goes too far. The Gun Owners’ Action League calls HD4607 a “little less toxic” version of HD4420, which they described as a “very toxic anti-civil rights” bill. 

HB2380 - An Act relative to firearm industry accountability and gun violence victims’ access to justice

 HB2380, sponsored by Representative Frank A. Moran (D- Lawrence), seeks to create a Firearm Industry Standard of Responsibility Conduct, which would require that members of the firearm industry establish and implement controls over multiple facets of the industry. Such requirements include controls over the manufacturing, distribution, importation, marketing, and sale of all firearm products. 

The bill also identifies the following firearm products as being “abnormally dangerous” and a risk to public health and safety: 

• Assault weapons

• Bump stocks

• Fifty caliber rifles

• Large capacity feeding devices

• Large capacity weapons

• Machine guns

• Sawed-off shotguns 

• Short-barreled rifles

• Trigger cranks

If passed, HB2380 would also establish an enforcement authority in the office of the Attorney General and establish a private cause of action for violations of industry standards of responsible conduct. 

HB2369/HD3429 - An Act to raise the age for possession of a firearm

HB2369 and HD3429 both propose raising the minimum age to purchase a firearm from 18 to 21 years of age. Under current regulation, Massachusetts residents can purchase long guns and rifles at 18 and handguns at 21. Representative David Paul Linsky (D-Natick) is the sponsor of HB2369, and if it passes Massachusetts will become the ninth state to raise the universal purchasing age of firearms to 21. California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Rhode Island, and Vermont have already raised the minimum age to purchase a firearm to 21.

Massachusetts as a National Leader

If the proposed bills pass in the legislature, Massachusetts will continue to add to its stature of being a national leader in gun reform and firearm protection. According to Giffords Law Center, Massachusetts has the 6th strongest gun law ranking in the nation along with thelowest amount of gun death rates. The Commonwealth has some of the strictest gun safety laws in the nation, including a high capacity magazine ban, universal background checks, and safe storage requirements. 

Community violence intervention programs have also contributed to reducing the number of violent crimes in Massachusetts. Earlier this year, Governor Maura Healey announced that $1.5 million would be invested in reducing youth violence in areas that are deemed as being at risk for gang violence. The initiative supports District Attorney’s offices by funding “prevention, intervention, and/or diversion programming” for at-risk youth and young adults by prioritizing collaboration between local organizations and law enforcement. 

Firearm safety and regulation is a top issue in the State House, and can be quite tricky to navigate. InstaTrac makes it easy to follow updates on legislation as they happen with access to  bill summaries and committee hearings. For more information, email us at info@instatrac.com and follow us on Instagram, X, Substack, Facebook, Youtube, and Medium!