Massachusetts Senate Introduces its Own Version of Gun Control Bill

Call your state Senator Immediately to Oppose S.2265

Confiscated Guns
In this twisted bill law enforcement would be given the discretion to keep seized firearms, sell them after a year and benefit from their profits…
NRA-ILA
NRA – ILA

Charlotte, NC –-(Ammoland.com)-  Late Monday, the Massachusetts Senate Ways and Means Committee introduced its own version of gun control legislation, Senate Bill 2265.

This language is the replacement language for House Bill 4285, and will be considered on the Senate floor this Thursday, July 17 2014.

S.2265 is similar to H.4285 and still contains language that would create new “may issue” FID issuance standards by giving issuing authorities unlimited discretion to deny firearm identification cards and would require Massachusetts to submit unnecessary records to NICS, including records of individuals who are NOT prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal law.  The Senate version also contains a new provision that would deny a person who has had their firearms seized the ability to have their personal property transferred within ten days to a lawfully licensed individual.

Instead, law enforcement would be given the discretion to keep the firearms, sell them after a year and benefit from their profits.

It isn’t difficult to imagine how allowing issuing authorities discretion in the issuance of FID cards will be abused if S.2265 becomes law.  For example, a government official with a personal grudge against an applicant or an opposition to individual gun ownership could use almost any “bad” conduct in an applicant’s past to deny the applicant, which might include any number of menial acts that wouldn’t normally prohibit a person from possessing a firearm.  Simple speeding tickets might be enough to show that a person “has exhibited or engaged in behavior that suggests the applicant or card holder could potentially create a risk to public safety . . . .”  Like current law, denials of a FID card would be reviewable by a court, however, because S.2265 does not include a standard for review of a denial under the new discretionary provision, a court would likely review those decisions under a very deferential “abuse of discretion” standard, which, in layman’s terms means that very few discretionary denials would likely be overturned.

State Senators have until 5:00 p.m. today to file amendments to S.2265.  It is critical that you contact your state Senator NOW and urge him or her to file amendments removing the discretionary provision for FID issuance and removing the requirement that Massachusetts submit unnecessary records to NICS.  Urge them to OPPOSE S.2265 in its current form, and ask him or her how they plan to vote.
About:
Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the “lobbying” arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Visit: www.nra.org

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oldshooter

Under NO conditions, should law enforcement, or the government generally, EVER be allowed to profit, in any way, from the use or sale of confiscated property. It simply creates far too much incentive to abuse the law, and ultimately becomes a license for legal theft. Look at how drug busts are already being misused when the property of the suspect can be confiscated and either used, or sold, by the police. It may sound like a reasonable budgetary move, but it is just too dangerous to the public good.

RDNK

I’m sure Ted is looking up and grinning ear to ear !