Mass. House passes sweeping new gun control bill

The Massachusetts House of Representatives on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly to pass a comprehensive new gun reform package that would make the state's already renowned gun control laws even stricter.

As written, the measure would strengthen the state's assault weapons ban, limit where guns can be carried and crack down on unregistered, so-called "ghost guns." It also would expand the state's "red flag" law, which allows a judge to suspend the gun license of someone deemed at risk to harm themselves or others.

The House passed the bill 120-38, over the opposition of gun owners and police chiefs.

"Modernizing our firearms statutes is not an attack on anyone's rights," Stoneham Rep. Michael Day, the bill's author said during Wednesday's session.

The House rejected most of the amendments proposed during a long debate. But following criticism from the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, lawmakers amended the measure to allow off-duty police officers to carry their weapons in otherwise prohibited public places like schools and government buildings.

Republicans criticized the gun control bill in speeches on the House floor.

"We have a responsibility to keep people safe, but that doesn't mean we take away the freedoms and the rights enjoyed by those legal citizens," Republican Rep. Peter Durant of Spencer said.

Supporters of the bill said the new restrictions are needed to make the state, which has among the lowest rates of gun violence in the country, even safer.

"Today, House lawmakers have sent a resounding message: we will act to end gun violence in our Commonwealth,” said Donna Stevenson of the Massachusetts chapter of Moms Demand Action in a statement.

The path forward now lies with the State Senate. The body is working on its own gun control bill after House and Senate leaders couldn't agree on a committee assignment earlier this year.

Senate leaders have not announced a timeline. But speaking on WBUR's Radio Boston this month, Senate President Karen Spilka said she expected the two chambers would get a compromise bill to the governor's desk by the end of the session.

The current two-year legislative session ends July 31, 2024.

State House News Service contributed to this report.