Massachusetts Governor Signs Comprehensive Gun Control Bill

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed a comprehensive gun control bill, H 4885, aimed at enhancing public safety. The new law addresses the proliferation of ghost guns by requiring all firearms to have serial numbers and introduces penalties for untraceable guns. It expands the state's ban on assault-style weapons and tightens licensing requirements, while also broadening the state's gun registry. The legislation allows courts to take firearms away from individuals deemed a threat and bans firearms in specific public spaces like schools and polling places. Healey and gun safety advocates argue the law is necessary to counteract the effects of the Supreme Court's 2022 Bruen decision, which they believe undermined existing gun laws. However, the bill faced opposition from all Republicans and some Democrats in the state legislature.