Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) announced the filing of its motion for summary judgment in Granata v. Campbell, a lawsuit that challenges Massachusetts’s ban on constitutionally protected handguns. The court filings can be viewed at firearmspolicy.org/granata.
Background on Granata v. Campbell
Granata v. Campbell is a critical legal challenge to Massachusetts’s strict regulations on handgun sales, which the plaintiffs argue violate the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution. Under current Massachusetts law, many handguns widely accepted and trusted across the nation are prohibited from being sold within the state, labeled as “unsafe” based on criteria that go beyond federal standards. This lawsuit contends that these restrictions improperly deny residents access to firearms that are commonly used for lawful purposes, such as self-defense, and are protected under the Constitution.
The case was brought by the Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC), four of its members, and The Gun Runner, LLC, a firearms retailer, who argue that Massachusetts’s laws unjustly interfere with the rights of individuals to purchase and own handguns in common use nationwide. By effectively banning these firearms, the plaintiffs claim that Massachusetts has overstepped its authority, substituting the judgment of state regulators for the rights of American citizens as recognized in landmark cases like District of Columbia v. Heller.
The plaintiffs are seeking to overturn these restrictions and restore access to constitutionally protected handguns in Massachusetts.
“Massachusetts has closed its borders to large portions of the modern handgun market, banning as ‘unsafe’ many of the firearms that are most trusted by the American people across the country, substituting its judgment for theirs. That it cannot do. As Heller explained clearly, it is the choices of ‘the American people’ that matter in deciding what is, and what is not, ‘in common use’ and therefore protected,” argues the motion.
“The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is not exempt from the United States Constitution and it cannot ban the sale of common handguns, full stop,” said FPC President Brandon Combs. “We look forward to eliminating this ban and continuing our progress and work restoring the right to keep and bear arms in Massachusetts and throughout the country.”
The Granata case is part of FPC’s high-impact strategic litigation program, FPC Law, aimed at eliminating immoral laws and creating a world of maximal liberty. FPC is joined in the litigation by four FPC members as well as The Gun Runner, LLC. FPC thanks FPC Action Foundation for its strategic support of this FPC Law case.
Firearms Policy Coalition
Firearms Policy Coalition (firearmspolicy.org), a 501(c)4 nonprofit membership organization, exists to create a world of maximal human liberty, defend constitutional rights, advance individual liberty, and restore freedom. We work to achieve our strategic objectives through litigation, research, scholarly publications, amicus briefing, legislative and regulatory action, grassroots activism, education, outreach, and other programs. Our FPC Law program (FPCLaw.org) is the nation’s preeminent legal action initiative focused on restoring the right to keep and bear arms throughout the United States. Individuals who want to support FPC’s work to eliminate unconstitutional laws can join the FPC Grassroots Army at JoinFPC.org or make a donation at firearmspolicy.org/donate. For more on FPC’s lawsuits and other pro-Second Amendment initiatives, visit FPCLegal.org and follow FPC on Instagram, X (Twitter), Facebook, and YouTube.
In addition to common arms, Massachusetts has closed itself off from a degree of tourism. Without digressing into the failures of the NRA, wouldn’t it have been great to hold this years annual meeting near Lexington and Concord, i.e. Boston, during the 250th anniversary of “the shot heard ’round the world”? How many of us avoid visiting that part of the country because of their gun laws and attitudes?
Every time I’ve driven through Massachusetts, the handgun ban has bothered me, because every time I’ve driven through Massachusetts, I’ve been armed.
Any gun ban is unconstitutional according to the constitution and anyone promoting this unconstitutional crap should be removed from office immediately and charged with violating the rights of Americans and the constitution and put in jail for their crimes .
I hope so.
There is never a end only a new beginning.
If the GOP plans to still exist post Trump, it’s going to need to do some serious work on behalf of gun owners.
Even if the GOP can’t get involved in court cases such as this, one would think if they were serious, they’d go on every social media account they have, and do interviews etc, railing against these anti gun laws.
AND… Run serious pro gun candidates…
But that’s a big IF.