The Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association released a report last week urging opposition to HD 4420. This package of new laws is an unconstitutional overreach unsurpassed by even the most anti-gun states.
Retired Chief Vincent C. Alfano, who penned the report, wrote that “to respond to every section of this Bill that is problematic would require an extensive detailed study and response beyond the scope of this summary.”
In other words, even as gun rights opponents race to ram the package through, it is full of issues that must be addressed.
Foremost on Alfano’s mind is the alarming expansion of so-called “gun free” zones. These, of course, only prevent law-abiding citizens from exercising their right to self-defense and do nothing to prevent criminals from carrying weapons.
The group noted that banning the legal carry of firearms beyond schools, prisons and courthouses is proven to not reduce crime. Instead, these expanded locations now become “soft targets of opportunity” where violent offenders know that armed resistance is unlikely.
As Alfano wisely observed, criminals are not beholden to rules.
The history of mass shooters is that when they meet armed resistance, they tend to either take their own life or are put down by armed defenders of innocent civilians. They rarely surrender.
HD 4420 is an onerous package seeking to strip away most gun rights from Massachusetts citizens. It would ban so-called “assault weapons,” even semiautomatic weapons already owned by private citizens. It requires registration of all guns and feeding devices and serial numbers on all firearm parts.
As noted, it dramatically expands the range of locations where concealed carry is illegal in the state.
Amazingly, it also bans anyone under 15 from participating in shooting sports and training.
Clearly this egregious collection of mandates is designed to eradicate lawful gun ownership in the state, and the Chiefs of Police Association would be more than justified to take a stand against its passage.
