1. What are the key changes in Massachusetts' new gun law?
The new law, signed into effect by Governor Maura Healey, introduces several significant changes. It raises the legal age for owning semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21, aligns with the ownership requirements for handguns, and requires applicants for a License to Carry (LTC) to complete a new training curriculum.
2. What are the new requirements for firearms safety classes?
Applicants for an LTC must now complete a new training curriculum that includes a written test and a live fire component. This new curriculum has not been approved yet, and the law only exempts applicants before August 1 from the new requirement. However, its implementation has been delayed until October 2024.
3. What are the restrictions on certain firearms and magazines?
The new law prohibits firearms classified as 'assault weapons' and restricts magazines to a maximum of 10 rounds unless they were manufactured before September 13, 1994. Enforcement of this restriction may be difficult due to the lack of serialization on older magazines.
4. How are ghost guns regulated under the new law?
Ghost guns, which are unserialized firearms that can be assembled from kits or parts without a background check, are now subject to the same rules as any other firearm. The state has established a process for assigning serial numbers to existing homemade guns, making them traceable.
5. What new restrictions apply to business owners?
Business owners can no longer apply for an LTC in the town where their business is located. Non-resident business owners must acquire a non-resident temporary license if they wish to possess a firearm within Massachusetts. Additionally, those firearms must be registered.
6. What is the prohibition on firearms near polling places?
The new law prohibits the possession of firearms within 150 feet of any polling place entrance in Massachusetts. This change is particularly relevant during election seasons, limiting where you can carry a firearmeven if you have a valid LTC.
7. How does the law affect non-resident hunters?
Non-resident hunters cannot possess a firearm within Massachusetts unless their state has similar laws. This effectively creates a de facto ban on non-resident hunting in Massachusetts.
8. What additional prohibitions are included in the new law?
The new law adds those subject to 258E harassment prevention orders to the list of prohibited persons who cannot possess firearms. This adds another dimension of complexity for anyone who has been issued such an order.
9. How does the law impact business owners who carry firearms for protection?
For business owners who carry firearms for protection, this change adds another layer of regulation to their daily life. They must now navigate additional requirements and restrictions when dealing with firearms.
10. What are the implications of the new law on gun rights advocates?
Gun rights advocates have labeled the legislation an 'historic infringement on our civil liberties,' arguing that it creates unwarranted obstacles for law-abiding citizens wishing to own firearms. Activists are seeking to delay the law until voters can consider a potential referendum in 2026 aimed at its repeal.
11. What is the current status of lawsuits challenging the new law?
Lawsuits have been filed challenging the constitutionality of the new law, particularly regarding the licensing requirements and restrictions on firearms. These lawsuits argue that the law imposes extensive restrictions on firearms, magazine limits, registration mandates, and licensing prerequisites that are both onerous and historically unfounded.
