Vote “yes” on 9 to keep current updated gun legislation intact.
Question 9 needs a “Yes” vote to keep in place the modernization and updates passed and signed into law in August 2024 in Massachusetts.
One of the updates is to our red flag laws, expanding to healthcare workers and school administrators the ability to activate the due process to remove firearms from a person who is in crisis and at risk of harming themselves or others. It is temporary and allows for the person to get help that is needed, while it seeks to protect them and their community.
Another update bans devices that convert semiautomatic firearms into rapid-fire weapons firing hundreds of rounds per minute — such as bump stocks, so-called Glock switches, and trigger activators.
The law upholds the assault weapons ban in Massachusetts and, for the first time, requires that a serial number be obtained and applied to any guns manufactured by parts made or put together at home/shop.
It requires standardized safety training, curriculum, and, once fully implemented, live firearm training for firearm license applicants. The update requires that a person be 21 years old to own a semi-automatic rifle or shotgun.
There are many responsible gun owners in Massachusetts who practice safety and uphold the laws. Massachusetts continues to be a national leader in gun violence prevention and has a low rate of 3.8 deaths per 100,000 (national average is 12.8 per 100,000). Our current gun law seeks to close loopholes and increase tools for law enforcement to hold criminals accountable.
Let’s work together to do all we can to continue to keep our communities as safe as we can.
Vote “yes” on question 9 to keep our current laws.
Robin Neipp
Leyden