Legislation recently passed a bill aiming to reduce gun violence in Massachusetts. Changes to the current law include real time background checks in private gun sales by mandating that Massachusetts join the National Instant Background Check System, increased penalties for some gun related crimes and creation a State Police firearms trafficking unit.
The lawmakers under H4278 initially gave police chiefs discretion on issuing the ID cards, however a compromise bill gave police chiefs 90 days to go to court to try to deny firearms identification cards needed to buy rifles or shotguns to individuals they feel are unsuitable. In the final bill police chiefs are required to give written reasons for any applications they deny.
Additional changes to the current law requires schools have access to two-way communications devises with police and fire departments and mandates school districts provide two hours of suicide awareness and prevention training to school personnel every three years.
See our page Massachusetts Law About Guns and Other Weapons
